Another Distraction - GGG Green Ringer Kit

Enclosure and Bag of Components

Front of Enclosure

Completed Wiring

I bought a Green Ringer pedal kit during the General Guitar Gadgets recent sale. I had attempted 2 unsuccessful builds of a Green Ringer on vero board in the past.

The kit came with 2 2N5089 transistors (Q1, Q3) and a MPSA92 PNP transistor (Q2), with 1N4148 diodes.

I had originally tested the pedal by reamping a recorded guitar signal, and came across a persistent hum. I rechecked continuity through all of the solder joints.

However, the effect worked properly with an electric guitar, which I used for testing later. The effect is sensitive to impedance. With a pickup simulator in front of the pedal, the hum was not present.

The pickup simulator is an older build, based on the project on the AMZ website (Link). I used the same 42TL019 10KCT:600CT transformer, with switchable capacitor values based on the AMZ (330pF) and DIYRe (820pF) versions. The transformer secondary is switchable between using the full windings and the center tap to simulate Humbucker and Single Coil pickups respectively.

Pickup Simulator

Pickup Simulator Wiring

Clips of the Green Ringer to come.

Plexi and 5E3 Turret Board Progress

As I upgraded some of the 2W metal film resistors to 3W on the 1987 turret board, I started populating a board for a future 5E3 head build that I have been putting off.

All passive components are now ordered except for the filter capacitors and a diode for the 1987 board. I am now considering installing a hi/low B+ voltage switch on the Plexi. I plan on using the 625V tap on the ClassicTone 40-18095 power transformer, but am thinking about utilizing the 690V or 560V taps.

The 5E3 will likely  be a straightforward build, with little or no modifications. Parts will be Vishay metal film resistors, Vishay MKT1813 and Cornell Dubilier 150 film capacitors, F&T filter caps, Cornell Dubilier silver Mica capacitors, and ClassicTone transformers.

Budget Dirt Pedalboard

Signal Flow
DOD Carcosa
Way Huge Havalina
Way Huge Saucy Box
BBE Green Screamer
DOD 250
DIY SHO Clone
DIY Fetto Clone
DIY Red Llama Clone
DOD Boneshaker
DIY Distortron Clone

The pedals were mounted with Velcro on a piece of 22”x12” lexan. A Roadrunner All-In-One Pedalboard Gig Bag houses the pedals. A 10-pedal daisy chain is used for power connections. EBS flat patch cables and pancake patch cables were used to interconnect pedals.

All pedals are either DIY or impulse sale/clearance buys.

Video of Green Screamer, Saucy Box, 250, SHO Clone, SD-1 (not on board) boosting a Fender Pro Junior

Video of Jet City JCA22H boosted by the same pedals plus a DOD Boneshaker

Start of Plexi Turret Board Work

I started populating the turret board with the components on hand. There were a couple of parts that had leads that were too short for this board.

• The V1A cathode bypass capacitor is 1uF, with off-board values of 3.3µF and 220µF to be switched in parallel.
• I couldn’t get the 2.7kΩ resistor onto the V1B cathode and will order a 2W metal film resistor for this position.
• The V1B coupling capacitor on the board is 0.0022µF, with 0.022µF switchable in parallel.
• The mix capacitors will be switchable off-board on either channel.

• The V2A cathode bypass capacitor will be switched into the circuit off-board between 0.68µF and 330µF.
• I will switch out the 2W metal film resistors above for the 3W for a more uniform look.
• The tone stack will be switchable between lead and bass. Bass spec values (250pF, 56kΩ) are laid out on the board.
• The 0.022µF coupling capacitors will be switchable to 0.09µF via parallel 0.068µF capacitors.
• The bias pot will be installed on the chassis.
• A diode still needs to be installed. The leads on the 1N4007 that I ordered had were too short for the terminals on the board.