Tootposting (Toot's Pedal Gallery)

[tootsMcgee]

Table of Contents

• #001: BYOC Modded Fuzz (Fuzz Face)
• #002: BYOC British Blues Overdrive (Bluesbreaker) (TBD)
• #003: Aion FX Onyx Volume Swell (Boss SG-1) (TBD)
• #004: Aion FX Vulcan Octave Fuzz (fOXX Tone Machine)(TBD)
• #005: Aion FX Heliodor (Boss OD-3)(TBD)
• #006: Aion FX Lumitron (Mu-Tron III)(TBD)
• #007: Aion FX Refractor Professional Overdrive (Klon Centaur™) (TBD)
• #008: Aion FX Yacana (Way Huge Red Llama) (TBD)
• #009: Aion FX Draco Amp Distortion (Dr. Boogie) (TBD)
• #010: Aion FX Elysium (Ibanez Echomachine) (TBD)
• #011: Aion FX Aurora (Ross/Dyna Comp) (TBD)
• #012: Toots Totally Tubular (DOD FX53 Classic Tube) (TBD) (Build Thread)
• #013: Toots Unnamed #1 (MXR Distortion+) (TBD)
• #014: Aion FX Vulcan Octave Fuzz (fOXX Tone Machine)

Current Build List

(Shoutout to Taylor for sending me a few extra boards to tinker with when MusicPCB closed down)

• Toots custom FX50B/FX55C overdrive (planning)
• MusicPCB Uglyface (finished, waiting on CMOS 7555)
• MusicPCB Gristlizer (finished, needs enclosure)
• MusicPCB Meat Sphere (WIP)
• MusicPCB Tap Tempo Tremolo (WIP)
• MusicPCB Echo Base (WIP)

Other Projects

- TBD

Update log:
5/8/2024: Added #001: BYOC Modded Fuzz

[tootsMcgee]

BYOC "Modded Fuzz"

(previously sold as Classic Fuzz)

Toots Serial Number: #001
Name: Modded Fuzz
Year Built: 2020
Vendor: Build Your Own Clone (BYOC)
Type: Fuzz
Base Circuit: Silicon Fuzz Face


Description and Build Notes

This is the first pedal I built. It is a Fuzz Face clone with an external Bias pot for the Q2 collector voltage and a switch to select between three input caps, ranging from 2.2uF for a fat, overwhelmingly bassy sound like the original Fuzz Face, down to 12nF for a much thinner sound.

When I bought it, it was sold as the "Classic Fuzz" kit. BYOC has since revised and streamlined the silicon Fuzz Face kits into "Classic Fuzz" (2 knob, internal bias trimpot, no tone controls) and "Modded Fuzz" (three knob, external bias, tone switch).

I took zero pride in my work back then, as you can tell by the terrible soldering, leftover flux, and period-correct vintage "Rattle-Can Red" finish. This is not an official finish provided by BYOC. This is me being cheap.

I went back yesterday and cleaned up all the internals. In particular I reran the power wires using longer wires. One of them (the battery switch terminal) was not even soldered fully to the power jack.

The kit came with an "Innie" style power jack, which I don't like. BYOC has since updated their kits and instructions to allow the builder to pick their own jack style. Outie gang represent.

The PCB is high quality and relatively resistant to soldering iron slipups. The instructions are sparse but serviceable. It was very easy to put together for a beginner. Everyone should build at least one or five of these.

The kit came with a pair of 2n5088 transistors and I tried a few others, eventually settling on a pair of BC109s with a measured hFE of around 190. The site I bought them from implied they should be a lot higher than that (400s) so I may have measured them wrong...they sure look cool though.

Performance Notes

I love the sound of the Fuzz Face, but I don't understand how to play fuzz well. This pedal sounds harsh and spiky through a Hot Rod Deluxe when played as the only effect in the signal chain.

I've found that using a modeling amp with a Marshall-like preset or chaining into an overdrive pedal can tame the highs and result in that very ragged sounding fuzz from my favorite records. I stacked into a Boss OD-3 clone, but I think just about anything will work. You may have to take the time to find the right combination of guitar volume/tone, fuzz knob, bias, OD tone knob, and amp settings to avoid the second pedal making the fuzz sound too muffled.

Sound Demos

TBD

Favorite Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 1/5
Sound: 6 strings out of 6, sounds like a trainwreck
Practicality: I don't know how to use fuzz in a live setting

[tootsMcgee]

BYOC "British Blues Overdrive"

Toots Serial Number: #002
Name: British Blues Overdrive
Year Built: 2020
Vendor: Build Your Own Clone (BYOC)
Type: Transparent Overdrive
Base Circuit: Bluesbreaker

Description and Build Notes

I loved K'Nex and Legos as a child. This is literally just the same thing but for adults. It's awesome.

BYOC full kits are fun. They ship you all the parts and say "have at it". While their instructions are not as refined as some other vendors, they make up for it in flexibility. This kit came with a baggie of extra capacitors to try swapping in various places for different tone options. I don't remember exactly which one I used, but one of them allowed a little more high frequencies through, which was nice for a very warm/dark humbucking guitar I have.

Obligatory disclaimer that "Relic Black Overspray" is not a BYOC-provided finish, i.e., don't let it reflect on their kit quality, because their kits are very nice, unlike my spray-painting skills. I see now that I can actually order printed enclosures from them, which is what I will do in the future.

Straightforward build. You have one TL072 and four diodes. Hard to beat that simplicity. I did mess up the tone pot and had to order a new one after pushing down too hard on the opamp to seat it. I think I didn't solder in the socket level. Learning experience! If it isn't going into the socket, don't press harder.

Performance Notes

I have seen the light. No longer do I yearn for the assertive mid-boosted tones of a Strat through a Tube Screamer, nor the ragged, organic chaos of a Fuzz Face, nor the legendary warmth of a Klon probably run as a clean boost and therefore not using the Ge diodes at all, nor the strident snarl of an OD-3. No. I have built a Bluesbreaker, and I am unworthy.

This is a low-gain overdrive and it works great anywhere from slight boost/tone shaping (think Boss BD-2 at very low gain levels) to a working man's crunch, especially with hotter pickups. It's the only pedal that has been on my pedalboard consistently for the past four years. I have it at the end currently but sometimes I put it at the front as a boost like JHS does.

Speaking of, now I understand why the Morning Glory is one of JHS' most popular pedals, and the King of Tone/Prince of Tone are the first things that come to mind when I think of Analog Man. The circuit is so simple yet so versatile. You can use it for anything, anywhere.

Use it as a clean boost. Use it as a transparent crunch. Put a SD-1 in front of it to goose it into lead tones. Put a fuzz face in front of it to tame the FF's fizzy. Put it at the front of your chain. Put it at the back of your chain. Buy two and put them at the front and back of your chain. Buy three, I won't stop you.

Really, you can use it anywhere. Use it on your board for live gigs. Put it in front of your amp at home for practice. Use it at the studio. Use it in the shower. Take it with you and use it at the grocery store. Bring it to the beach. Bring it to your office job and put it in your cubical. People might look at you funny but that's their problem--they don't have a Bluesbreaker yet, and they're jealous. The solution is easy: build more of them. They're small and easy, a great pedal for a beginner to build. Make one for your envious friend. Make one for your spouse. If they don't play guitar yet, don't worry, they too will see the light when they hear the tight, crunchy tone. Don't rest until everyone has at least one Bluesbreaker on their pedalboard.

Anyway I like it.

Sound Demos

TBD

Favorite Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 1/5
Sound: 6 strings out of 6, extremely versatile.
Practicality: It literally never leaves my pedalboard except for that one time I did and I regretted it immediately.

[tootsMcgee]

Aion FX "Onyx Volume Swell (Boss SG-1)"

Toots Serial Number: #003
Name: Onyx Volume Swell
Year Built: 2023
Vendor: Aion FX
Type: Noise Gate/Volume Swell
Base Circuit: Boss Slow Gear (SG-1)


Description and Build Notes

Aion FX stands out for their excellent build documentation and well thought-out PCBs. Did you know that the rounded corners give it more soulful tone? Me either, I just made it up, but I still like the rounded corners as a little quality of life/craftsmanship thing. To date, I have built all of the pedals from base PCB + my own parts sourcing (mostly from Stompbox Parts and some from Mouser). The kits look VERY nice, but I have tons of parts lying around and I enjoy sourcing my own components.

There's not much to say about this aside from noting that my build techniques have improved a lot since I built it, especially with offboard wiring and cleanliness.

Photographing the exterior was hard because the finish is iridescent and I couldn't find an angle I really liked to get the coolest color out of it. It was a B-stock (blemished) 125B enclosure from Stompbox Parts for a good price. There's a little blob on it that you basically can't see unless you're within a foot or so of the surface. It's a shame though that when you're actually playing, in a probably dark-ish environment, the pedal just looks straight black. At least I know that it looks cool in the light.

Performance Notes

I'll be straight with you: I have NO idea how to use this. I bought it because I thought the idea was cool and I'm not very good at volume knob swells. The idea is better than the implementation, or maybe it just needs to be in the hands of someone competent. It makes some beautiful violin sounds, but it takes some conscious playing and careful control settings to avoid repeatedly triggering the swell when you don't want it.

Sound Demos

TBD

Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 2/5
Sound: 6 strings out of 6, sounds like pearly gates
Practicality: It won't make you into Eric Johnson but it sounds cool so you should build one anyway

[tootsMcgee]

Aion FX "Vulcan Octave Fuzz (fOXX Tone Machine)"

Toots Serial Number: #004
Name: Vulcan Octave Fuzz
Year Built: 2023
Vendor: Aion FX
Type: Octave Fuzz
Base Circuit: fOXX Tone Machine


Description and Build Notes

The usual very clean Aion PCBs. Not much to say about them that I haven't said already (I really like these boards).

I ran into trouble with the film caps. Aion specs fancy WIMA box caps (the red ones). For the most part, the sizes match other brands, like Kemet, but WIMA's 1uF caps are smaller than most. I bought a ton of Kemet caps and the 1uF caps are physically wider than the WIMA caps. It happened that this was the first board that had several 1uF caps next to other capacitors and there was not enough clearance with the Kemet caps. You can see I pogo-sticked one cap on top of another because I ran out of room. Not recommended. Looks funny though.

In general I buy Kemet for any size except for 1uF, because that's just how I happened to start and it's what the site I buy from stocks. I buy the 1uF WIMA separately from Mouser. Some of the other Kemet sizes are thicker as well (.68uF I think) but I haven't used many of those so I haven't run into problems yet.

Aion suggests different transistors depending on if you want early or late era gain levels. I wanted lower gain so I went with 2n3904s.

Performance Notes

It sounds like ASS. It's amazing. It snarls. It growls. Tracking falls apart if you play chords (don't do that). The non-octave fuzz modes sound rich and deep. The octave fuzz mode is more pronounced on neck pickups than on bridge pickups. Lots of different sounds to play with here.

There are two different non-octave modes, one designed to prevent crossover distortion. I can't hear a difference. They both sound nice to me.

Sound Demos

TBD

Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 2/5 (Watch out for the close 1uF cap spacing. Use WIMA caps or similar sized.)
Sound: "I stabbed my speaker cones with a letter opener a few times". Highly recommended.
Practicality: Yes. Octave fuzz cuts through really well live. The non-octave fuzz is decent but not the star of the show.

[tootsMcgee]

Aion FX "Heliodor Amp Overdrive (Boss OD-3)"

Toots Serial Number: #005
Name: Heliodor Amp Overdrive
Year Built: 2023
Vendor: Aion FX
Type: Overdrive
Base Circuit: Boss OD-3


Description and Build Notes

The fact that this pedal work is a testament to how tough the PCBs are. I shorted out the 3PDT the first time around and tried to unsolder it. It took an hour. I applied so much heat. I'm shocked I didn't rip out any pads or traces. You can see all the scars from where I poked and pried at the board.

I also accidentally bought one too few of the matched 2SK209-GR JFETs, but I had a spare 2SK208-GR and by chance I soldered it into the position where it doesn't really matter (input buffer). I have lingering doubts about whether or not it particularly impacts the pedal's sound. No pedal ever sounds like the ones on YouTube so I'd have to buy an actual OD-3 for comparison and I'm too lazy to do that.

Soldering the little legs onto the SMD adapter boards turned out to be more annoying to me than just soldering SMD, so in the future I'll probably just do the SMD components directly.

Performance Notes

It's very hard for me to fall in love with this pedal and I don't know why. It's a perfectly nice overdrive. But it sounds very "samey" to me all over the tone and drive knob ranges. Too compressed and flat. Maybe a little strident/bright/snarly on single coils as well. In comparison, to my ears, the BD-2 feels like it has a ton of dynamics and a more interesting sound. Clearly I need to go buy more pedal kits to find what I like.

Sound Demos

TBD

Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 3/5
Sound: 3/6 strings, I can't make it work for me. Every guitar sounds squished down to the same generic kind of overdrive with not a whole lot of variation in character.
Practicality: Still sounds great driving a hot amp, it's just not for me.

[tootsMcgee]

Aion FX "Lumitron Resonant Filter (Mu-Tron® III)"

Toots Serial Number: #006
Name: Lumitron Resonant Filter
Year Built: 2023
Vendor: Aion FX
Type: Filter
Base Circuit: Mu-Tron® III


Description and Build Notes

Lots of little parts but smooth build. Not much to report here. This was when I started experimenting with weird offboard wiring routing to try to make it look pretty. The ground wire between the two jacks is probably too short and will break if mishandled too much. I would make it slightly longer and curved these days for some strain relief.

The "Purple Fury Metallic" enclosure is one of my favorite colors, it's very distinctive.

I have a hard time with the switch positions because they were not originally labeled on the drill template, but Aion has since updated the template with everything labeled nicely. Now if only I was competent enough to know which settings to pick.

Setting the "sweep" trimpot by ear was challenging. I'm still not exactly sure what I was listening for but I seem to have found a good spot. It's a set once sort of thing.

Performance Notes

It's an auto-wah. You've heard it on Higher Ground. I find it useful for funky songs mostly. I haven't tried it on bass yet but I like it when other people use bass filters (think Bootsy Collins). One of the switches controls the frequency range used for the frequency detector, to make it more useful for guitar vs bass.

Sound Demos

TBD

Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 3/5, just lots of little components to keep track of and tuning the Sweep trimpot is annoying.
Sound: 5/6 strings, very situational but good for some funky stuff.

[tootsMcgee]

Aion FX "The Klon't" Refractor Professional Overdrive (Klon® Centaur)

Toots Serial Number: #007
Name: Refractor Professional Overdrive
Year Built: 2023
Vendor: Aion FX
Type: Overdrive
Base Circuit: Klon® Centaur


Description and Build Notes

It's not a Klon, but it's NOT a NOTAKLÖN. It's a "Klon't". original name dont steal. i made the custom graphics myself, how did i do?

Straightforward build. I used silicone diodes because I have a very dim view of NOS components. I can't hear the difference.

Photos are crunchy because it was a gift for someone and it is no longer in my possession.

Performance Notes

Did you know that the gain knob actually works past like 9 o'clock? From watching JHS' channel you'd think that everyone's knob got stuck right about there.

In all seriousness: it sounds like a Klon. I like the sound and I kinda dislike that I like the sound.

Sound Demos

TBD

Videos

Rating
Build Complexity: 3/5
Sound: 5/6 strings, it's a Klon type sound, if you like it you like it.