Distorber for electric guitar. Scheme, description

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RADIO ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
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Distorber for electric guitar. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

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Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering / Musician

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For electric guitars, the signal amplitude decreases rapidly - after 2-4 seconds after the string is plucked, it is only 20-30% of the maximum level. At the same time, the timbre coloring of the instrument's sound also changes. This circumstance limits the possibility of using the electric guitar as a solo instrument. That's why the natural "voice" of the strings has been replaced with an electronic likeness at a constant volume level. For the first time such a device was used by the Beatles ensemble. Now similar electronic prefixes to EMR are known as a distorter (distorter), or "FUZZ".

In the distorter, the signal from the electric guitar is amplified hundreds of times, then subjected to two-way limitation, and at the output of the set-top box it has a constant amplitude and timbre color. The device can extend the sound of the played tone (note) up to 10 seconds.

The sound effect is especially noticeable if low-noise transistors with h219 = 300-500 are used in the distorter, which allow obtaining a satisfactory signal clipping at a low noise level. However, some samples show clipping behavior dependent on the magnitude of the electric guitar signal, resulting in a fuzzy, fuzzy sounding tone. In addition, it is almost impossible to obtain symmetrical clipping in a transistor distortion due to saturation of semiconductor triodes at a high input voltage level. That is why, without a sound generator and a sensitive oscilloscope, it is so difficult in amateur conditions to carefully tune the "FUZZ" prefix.

The distorber, the description of which we bring to the attention of readers, differs in principle from existing developments, has a two-way limitation and a noise suppressor, and is easy to set up. Here is how the device works.

The signal from the electric guitar is fed to the input of a pre-amplifier made on a field-effect transistor V1 of the KP103K, L or M type (see the circuit diagram). The sensitivity of the cascade is regulated by a variable resistor R2, depending on the particular musical instrument.

Schematic diagram of the distorber (click to enlarge)

Then, electrical oscillations of sound frequency with an amplitude of at least 25-30 mV are fed to the limiting amplifier assembled on the A1 chip. After it, the signal has a two-sided clipping, constant amplitude and constant duty cycle, giving a clear sounding tone with an enriched timbre spectrum.

Since the total gain of the distorter is over 100, it has a noise gate that keeps out stray hum, electric guitar hum, and the amp's own noise at the output.

These functions are performed by silicon point diodes V2 and V3, which attenuate the level of background and noise by 100 times.

After the noise suppressor, the useful signal is fed to an additional limiter, made on germanium transistors V4 and V5 connected according to the diode circuit. In combination with resistor R9, they provide high quality output clipping at 0,5mV or higher electrical oscillation voltage from the electric guitar.

The variable resistor R10 controls the timbre of the sound of the distorber, and R12 - the volume. Turn on the prefix with the S1 button. The electric guitar is connected through the X1 connector of the SG-3 type. At the output connector X2 of the brand SG-5, pins 4, 5 are used to automatically turn on the power source.

The device consumes a current of no more than 2 mA, which ensures its long-term operation from the Krona VTS battery.

Resistors are used in the distorber: constant MLT-0,125, MLT-0,25, variable SPZ-1 (R2), SP-1, SPZ-4 (R10, R12); electrolytic capacitors type K50-6, the rest - KLS.

All parts, except for R10, R12, are mounted on a circuit board, 100x40 mm in size, made of 1,5 mm thick foil fiberglass (see figure).

Electric guitar distorber
Attachment circuit board with parts diagram

Set up the device as follows. First, the value of the resistor R3 is selected so that the current of the transistor V1 is 0,5-0,8 mA, and then, using the variable resistor R2, the sounding time of the distorber is set within 6-10 s.

The prefix contains a sensitive amplifier, so it must be placed in a metal case and grounded.

When working with a distorter, the player must turn on the neck pickup on the electric guitar and turn off the others. This increases the clarity of the limiter and, as a consequence, the entire device as a whole.

See other articles Section Musician.

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