various diode clipping mods

[Al Heeley]

I wanted to add in a load of diode clipping options into a tubescreamer circuit. This is pretty basic, wired into a rotary 6-way 2 pole switch.

I reckon there should be a much more efficient way of achieving this. Any suggestions?

[Gus]

I wire diodes to the switch no board when I build something like that.   You can make one side of the diode sets common and switch to the other sides.

[Kearns892]

Why not add a smoothing cap switch to further increase the tonal possibilities?

[panterafanatic]

Stand the diodes up, so they can occupy 2 holes each.

Also, I think you only need 1 pole.

[Al Heeley]

There is a smoothing cap option via the orange wires.

Here's the perfboard setup, not yet tested.
Not sure if I understand Gus comment - the LED's are for diode clipping stage, not on/off switch status

[Kearns892]

Yes, but if you set the smoothing cap up as a separate switch you could use it with every diode combination instead of just the 1n4148 which you use twice.

And I think Gus is saying that since the components involved are so small they can be soldered directly to a rotary switch to negate the need for the wires and a board.

Still though these are just suggestions, what you have should work and looks very neatly put together. Good job, let us know if you get it fired up and working.

[Al Heeley]

This is a simpler setup:

[Al Heeley]

Here's the final item using the clipping module.

Sonic Kitchen is a Tubescreamer (SRV Special, ex maxxon) circuit with the clipping module added to replace the original two side-by-side diodes, and with an extra input cap on a mini toggle switch which combines a 0.47uF and a 0.047uF (the original) cap.
The bigger cap gives a huge extension to the bass range making for some dark grungy overdrive also highly suitable as a Bass guitar distortion pedal.
Leave freq on high for the original characteristic Tubescreamer mid-boost, for lead guitar work.
The clipping switch works nicely, theres some subtle differences to the distortion characteristics trying out the different modes. A couple of sweet smooth creamy overdrives on the asymmetric, the Ge/Si mix and the smoothing cap setting, as well as some much higher gain, raw distortion tones using the LED settings.
Basically 6 overdrives in one, with a huge tonal range extension built in. The ultimate tubescreamer!

[runmikeyrun]

that thing looks awesome!  Soundclips!!

[sgmezei]

Hey man the ScreamerX looks awesome. I am trying to do the same thing with a general guitar gadgets board and the rotary switch is confusing me. Does it need to be a single or double pull? Also, I am using a bigger big muff pie style enclosure so I have room for the extra perf board, but am wondering if I should attach the options right to the switch.

Thanks folks

[sgmezei]

Still waiting to hear if anybody has some tips. Oh and I meant to ask if the rotary needs to be a single or double "pole". Also, is there anywhere I can check out the Heeley Tubescreamer X?

[Labaris]

that thing looks awesome!  Soundclips!!

+1!!

It looks great

[Al Heeley]

single pole rotary is fine. I've built a few of these now and gone back to a mini 3-way toggle switch as only 3 of the diode combinations are significantly different enough for me.
I go for:
1) red led pair
2) one Si and one Ge diode
3) asymmetric 3 Si diodes (4148 or similar)
Not found the smoothing cap to make much difference that cannot be covered by gain/vol pot settings, I love having the input cap switch giving a HUGE bass boost if you want to use it, gives a glorious thick guitar overdrive or makes it brilliant as bass distortion unit.