Master Blaster - EQ + EP Boost + Clean Boost

 

Loving the look of the Delay I just made, Using the same slider knobs I removed from an old Technics unit, it was natural to design this one in a similar fashion. If you want to make something that looks like this by hand, it takes a fair bit of time. Drawing/ designing, cutting, filing, polishing metal, the whole etching process, epoxy resin coloring , top-coating, putting it all together, circuit and off board wiring. It all adds up. But hell it's worth it.

This pedal will replace the MXR 109 6band Eq      ( which I always had to leave on, because it had a tone-sucking buffer system when it was switched off, but did work well on) and the BOO instruments boost which is also a great clean boost pedal. This is a double pedal ➕ solution for a bit more space on the board

The box is a 1590BB2 and contains 4 seperate circuit boards all up.

1  The EQ circuit is haha a straight replacement for my old one, the MXR 109 6 band - NOW with true bypass. Thanks to Dirtbox layouts again - link here     dirtbox MXR . I was quite happy with the old one when it was on and this circuit works exactly as well.

2 The Clean Boost, controlled by the 2nd footswitch is again from Dirtbox - Creation Audio Labs 4.23 Clean Boost dirtboxlayouts search CREATION.

It is a crystal clean boost and matches my Boo Instruments very well. You'll need an opa2134 IC and I used a MAX1044 for the built in charge pump .

3 A 2nd boost The Xotic EP Booster Dirtbox has a layout for this easily found. I used the one from Mark @ tagboard layouts as the vero size suited me better to fit it in. It is switchable with a 3pdt toggle switch, led indicator on bottom plate. I didn't want a 3rd footswitch and I am now using the EP as an almost always on end of chain volume control with a little bit of magic to it. Whereas the clean boost is for upping the game a bit for solos etc so it gets the footswitch. On the back of the pedal I have externally placed a dipswitch. This is for the fat and bright switches you will see on the circuit, which set different ways can give you a 3 mode selection of Std -unity- vintage. The original pedal has this inside the pedal I believe. You could also set these up as 2 separate on-off toggle switches if you want.

Circuit No 4 is actually a separate, toggle switchable 18v charge pump for the EP booster. More headroom at the end of my chain. You bet.

There's even another strip of vero in here for the row of LED's. I'm often using more than 1 in my designs and have started fitting multiple LED setups to vero with resistors on board.

All of this required tidy wiring, careful placement extra insulation between circuit boards, but I've managed to fit it all comfortably with no issues. one circuit is placed components down.

The pedal itself is fantastic sounding 1, 2 and 3 on seperate, together, whatever. It really is a     MASTER BLASTER