The 'GuitFET' is a
vibrant sounding guitar pre-amp with overdrive capability using all discrete single-ended
class 'A' circuitry.
This preamp features an overdrive control that goes from almost totally clean to full tilt valve type distortion, with the added advantage of tone controls before the OD stage. It has an overall treble bias to keep the sound bright
and lively, but ample treble cut as well. With the tone controls wound back it produces a mellow
but cutting 50's type middy sound reminiscent of the early 50's
R&B records. It also sports a true bypass stomp switch of course.
It uses a FET transistor on the high Z input, and utilizes bass
/ treble tone controls before a level controlled FET overdrive stage.
There is also a master volume output control of course. It is a
simplified version of one I made many years ago which also had an
input level control as well. It
runs on mains power, and has the usual true bypass foot switch.
It is configured (using a dual gang pot) so that the volume out does not increase significantly
when the overdrive level is increased.
I originally embarked on the project because I was using, and still
use, an old Marshall combo (pictured below
) which has no natural breakup or overdrive capability. With a guitar
going straight into it, it sounds like a guitar being played in
a rainwater tank! It's a very warm sound, but not "quick" enough
to play live in a typical R&R band. I was never happy with conventional pedals such as
the Boss OD-1, Ibanez Tube Screamer or the even the DOD-250 which
was the best of them I thought. |