ETI Project

Guitar Effects Unit

Our guitar effects unit isn't just a fuzz box. Use it to give you a new
sound to play with.

LIKE US, YOU probably thought that FUZZ l* STRUZZ

MAKE-UP
one guitar effects unit was much the
same as any other. After fuzz and Construction should not pose any
Wah-Wah, what do you do? Well, we problems. It's even easier if you use
think we have come up with a new our PCB. Make sure the electrolytic
one, which we have christened capacitors are put in the correct way
struzz. round. As always, don't plug in the
guitar effects unit
With this unit you can select either ICs until you have checked the circuit
a conventional fuzz effect or our new thoroughly.
struzz effect. A depth control allows Happy fuzzing and struzzing.
you to alter the sustain rate of the
effect. If the neighbours start
banging the wall, you can instantly
cut out the crunchy effects with a
bypass switch.
Internal view of the effects unit

SMASHING SOUND

Now you are wondering what struzz

sounds like, aren't you. Well, it's a
distortion of fuzz. The fundamental
frequency of the input is full wave
rectified but the numerous harmonics
are not. The result sounds rather like
an antique piano finally succumbing
to the ravages of woodworm, and
collapsing. If you play the guitar
(we don't) you will, no doubt, find
many more musical uses for this
effect than we could.
Switching between fuzz and struzz
while playing produces an interesting
sound. You might like to use a
footswitch for this purpose.

15
ETI CANADA-JANUARY 1980
 Guitar Effects Unit

RV1

PARTS LIST
RESISTORS (all 5% 1/4W)
RI 680k
R2 6k8
R3 270R
R4,6,9,10,11 10k
R5 8k2
R14 100k
R7 39k
R8 820R
R12,13 1k
POTENTIOMETERS
RV1 IMO
CAPACITORS
C1,3 luO electrolytic
C2 560p polystyrene SK1
SEMICONDUCTORS BYPASS
Q1 MPS6515 SW1
ICI 741
IC2 LF356
D1,2 I N4148
SWITCHES
SW1 SPDT Footswitch FUZZ
SW2 SPOT SW2 RV1 -Ve
SW3 DPDT Fig.1. (above) PCB component overlay
MISCELLANEOUS o GUITAR EFFECTS UNIT o
Two 1/41n. mono jack sockets

1 If;
PCB

Complete PCB

For pcbs for this project, contact: Spectrum

Electronics, P. 0. Box 41660, Hamilton Ont.,
L8V 4L5, or B & R Electronics, P. 0. Box
owl: a ma>0

6326F, Hamilton Ont. L9C 6L9. Northern

Bear Electronics has available a "parts only"
kit, see classified ads.

cel
Fig.2. (Below) Circuit diagram

R9
10k

R6
R2 10k
6k8 R11
10k

R4 9V
10k
+'1 +
-r
RV1 9V
1M0
DEPTH
R1 C2
680k 560P
R14
100k R12
1k
SK1
IN C 01
C1
140
ON o OFF
R3
270R
SW3a

V
BYPASS IN
a SW3b

SK2 1771 SW1 NOTES

ON
c.
OUT 01 IS MPS 6515 + OFF
ICl IS 741 -r
1C2 IS LF 356N ¡ 9V
D1-02 ARE IN 4148 PIN 4 PIN 4
IC1 IC2
4

16
ETI CANADA-JANUARY 1980
 ETI Project
Electronic
Music and
Creative Tape
Recording

HOW IT WORKS
THE SIGNAL from the guitar pick-up is divider Ra-R9, and is a perfectly conven-
fed to common -emitter amplifier Q1 via tional, heavily -clipped, fuzz signal, with
blocking capacitor Cl. Ql has a voltage variable depth and sustain. The struzz
gain of about twenty-five, and brings the output, on the other hand, is very unu- Electronic Music is the new music of
guitar signal up to a reasonable level for sual, and is taken from the output of IC_é the 20th Century. It plays a large part In
driving the fuzz and struzz circuitry. The via potential divider R13 -R14. In the "Pop" and "Rock" music and, in fact,
response of Q1 is rest- mode the original guitar signal is there Is scarcely a group without some
ricted by C2, in the interest of circuit full -wave rectified, so that its fundamen- sort of electronic synthesiser or other
stability. tal tone (which passes through zerc effects generator.
Operational amplifiers ICI and IC2 are cross -over points in each cycle) has 't: It is possible with relatively simple
wired together as a 'precision' full wave frequency doubled, but the overtones apparatus to create complete
rectifier, with its true output signal (which modulate the fundamental and de compositions using electronic and
appearing at pin 6 of FET op -amp 1C2. A not pass through zero cross -over poin's) sometimes non -electronic musical
very heavily clipped version of the input do not have their frequencies altered. The sources.
(Ql collector) signal appears at pin 6 of struzz output signal also has amplitude
ICI, and has a peak -to -peak amplitude of distortion imparted to it, due to the full - This book sets out to show how
about 1.2 volts. RVI enables the small - wave rectifier action. Electronic Music can be made at home
signal voltage gain of ICI to be varied Thus, the fuzz output signal has very with the simplest and most inexpensive
from x 10 to about x 110, and controls the heavy amplitude distortion, and tie equipment. It describes how the sounds
depth and 'sustain' characteristics of the struzz output has both amplitude and are generated and how these may be
sound effect unit: ICI has a 'large -signal' frequency distortion. The sound effects recorded to build up the final
gain of unity. unit can be switched in and out via bypass composition.
The fuzz output of the unit is taken switch SW1, and should be interposed
from the output of ICI via potential between the guitar and the ma n With the constructor in mind, several
amplifier. ideas are given to enable a small studio
to be built including a mixer and various
sound effect units.
Circuits are included for VCOs, VCAs,
Envelope Shapers, VCFs, Active and
Passive Mixers, Fuzz, Noise Generators,
The PCB and batteries, mounted Metronomes and a 10 -Note
in the case, showing one of Programmable Sequencer etc.
the jack sockets on the side of All the units shown have been
the case. successfully built and used by the
author and most of the projects can be
built by the beginner.
An unusual, fascinating and highly
rewarding application of electronics.

Babani No: BP51

Price: $4.50 plus
30c postage and
handling. Please use
card in this issue
to order.

ETI CANADA-JANUARY 1980 17