Weekend Project: Building and Modding a Pedal Clone

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With my kids sick we had to quickly change our plans from visiting Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to well, something else entirely. After we got the kiddos plugged into their iPads and mending, I decided it was time to pull out a Build Your Own Clone "Coloursound Overdriver" pedal kit (more info) that I had been sitting on. Let's be honest, it is way better than laundry. 

Not one to do it by the book, I naturally went off-script and plugged in URS sourced components in concert with those provided by the kit. For my build I ended up using the following from premium URS stock:

  • Wima MKS2, Kemet PHE426 & R82 film box capacitors. 

  • Panasonic FC-A Low-ESR electrolytic capacitors

  • Gavitt cloth covered pre-tinned pushback wire

  • NTE carbon comp resistors 

Do not get me wrong, BYOC kits include quality components, I simply had a hankering for mixing it up. Of note - the pre-tinned Gavitt pushback wire made it a cinch to wire up the input, output, and DC jacks. From an aesthetic standpoint the handsome coloration of capacitors and resistors are on point! As for how the Carbon Composition Resistors function within the circuit, I cannot tell you specifics as that is still beyond my knowledge. However, this article on CC resistors may help shed some light on the subject, even if the author is amused when people (like me) put carbon comps in 9V powered pedals. 

After putting it all together, I tested the circuit side by side with my current Coloursound inspired OD. Now powered up, the light turned on and I let it rip. It was loud and crisp - perfect as a treble boost of which I wantonly desire. Side-by-side both pedals were nearly indistinguishable' however, I did note that the newer build had a bit more harmonic depth and volume. As noted by my colleague, the carbon comps might be changing the bias current for the gain stages. "Wild Card!" 

Because I love this circuit, I plan on doing some builds replacing the BC109 transistors with 2N2222A, PN2222A, 2N5088, and a wild card, the NTE47 (spec). A few other things might get tweaked to dime the treble even further and/or purposely throw a Charlie Kelly-style wild card into the fray. 

In addition to the parts above, URS has a ton of op amps (ICs, BJTs, JFET), N- and P-Channel MOSFETS, 555 timer chips, enclosures, audio jacks, DC power inputs, old school Cinch terminal strips, toggle switches, MLCC capacitors, Orange Drop capacitors, strip boards, breadboards, header pins, quick connects, multiple gauges of hookup wire, etching solution, and all the tools to make your project happen.

More to the point, URS Electronics has a lot of cool raw materials for making "the magic" happen - heck, my coworker just found some killer two gate MOSFETs!

This weekend I am going to trick out a Klon Centaur clone kit in similar fashion. I think I will call it "Horsey Sauce". 

So...what are you going to do this weekend? 

For more information on cool parts and projects please inquire with our sales team at (503) 233-5341 - sales@ursele.com OR stop in the shop, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. 

Finished pedal with some useful tools. Also, I am totally bringing back the pocket protector.