What is guitar stompbox?
A stomp box (or stompbox) is a percussion instrument consisting of a small box placed under the foot, which is tapped or stamped on rhythmically to produce a sound similar to that of a bass drum. A stomp box allows a performer such as a singer or guitar player to create a simple rhythmic self-accompaniment.
What do resistors do in guitar pedals?
An input resistor adjusts the amplitude of the input signal that will be amplified by a transistor. By changing this resistor, you can change the amount of signal entering the circuit, and thus you can change the overall gain of the pedal.
What is a germanium transistor?
The germanium transistor was the first to be mass-produced and made commercially available to the public. This transistor was used extensively in radio technology, helping to create the first portable AM radios, as well as the first car radios. It was even used in a few of the first guitar effect pedals in the 1960s.
Do capacitors affect tone?
Choosing the Right Capacitors Tone capacitors are wired to the tone pot so the signal from the guitar pickup will pass high frequencies to ground when the tone pot is rolled down. The higher the value of the cap the wider the range of frequencies that get rolled off to ground.
How do resistors affect guitar tone?
Simple. A Resistor is “Resisting” the flow of electricity, so, when you pull up, instead of sending 50% of the Humbucker to ground, it will only send, say, 33% of it. This allows you to have a stronger single-coil tone when pulled up.
How do I find the schematics for a stompbox?
The schematics are listed by manufacturer or type or designer with the name of the stompbox and the web site that it is located at. I encourage you to look through these great websites and learn more from the excellent articles on them. About the files:
Where can I get sound samples for my stompboxes?
Voltage Doubler Circuit Sites with Sound Samples/Settings Budget Boutique Stompboxes focuses on getting sounds out of your existing boxes. GTRFX.COMsound samples of several boxes.
Why does my stompbox sound different from the original?
Your stompbox could sound different from the original, especially if you don’t use the recommended parts or values. This is especially important when using certain types of transistors such as FETs. Many times, even the brand and type matters, especially for capacitors!
How can I support freestompboxes?
Please, support freestompboxes.org on Patreon for just 1 pcb per year! Or donate directly through PayPal Completed builds: so fucking many goddamn pedals it would make your ass hurt just looking at ’em all!!!!!