Schematics for pedals using 2N5457?

J

jdduffield

Member
I recently purchased some 2N5457s and 2N5458s and am wondering if there are some simple pedal circuit schematics out there that use those transistors. I know the Rat uses it, and I may start there, but am wondering if there is a better or more simple place to start.
 
How "simple" ?

"Better" is subjective.

The Rat... well...


I typed "2N5457" into the search bar of my hard-drive, and got back WAY too many hits to list here (100s), so I narrowed it down by adding "PedalPCB":

  • ADHD v2 [Fullltone OCD w enhanced bypass] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Bloodshot [Heavy Electronics Red Eyes] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Brownout OD [Subdecay Variac] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Clandestine [Chase Tone Secret Freq Preamp] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Drebbel [ICTINEO/SUBMARINE] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Episode booster [EP BOOSTER] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Fingers [PPCB DISCRETE OD (YATS?)] PedalPCB.PDF
  • GloryHole [JHS Morning Glory aka BB] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Lemonade [Lumpy's Tone Shop Lemon Drop - ZII - Series 7] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Median Compressor [WAMPLER EGO 76] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Mofeta [EAE Model feT] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Nobleman [Noble ODR1] PedalPCB.PDF
  • ObtuseBoost [FULLTONE FB-2 FAT BOOST] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Octuplet-[PPCB ANALOGUE OCTAVE UP] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Pharmacist [Aclam Dr. Robert] PedalPCB.PDF
  • PoisonApple [Mad Professor Snow White Autowah] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Pro10-Green [Browne Amplification Protein (Nobels ODR-1)] PedalPCB NO SCHEM.pdf
  • Promethium [BOSS HM-2] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Provocateur [Fulltone Catalyst Fuzz] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Submersible [Zeibek Submarine] PedalPCB.pdf
  • System Overdrive [Systech OD] PedalPCB.PDF
  • WilhelmScream [PPCB Discrete OD (YATSish)] PedalPCB.PDF

Are you looking for amp-in-a-box type circuits? The 2N5457 and 2N5458 are VERY popular in those.

Boosts? ODs? FUZZ? Preamps? Compressors? Phasers? EQ?
You'll find the 5457 in a lot of different types of circuits.



I'll recommend the Tillman Preamp (which can boost).
Mr Tillman has built his preamp with 2N5457, J201 and probably a few other JFET transistors.
 
Feral Feline said:
How "simple" ?

"Better" is subjective.

The Rat... well...


I typed "2N5457" into the search bar of my hard-drive, and got back WAY too many hits to list here (100s), so I narrowed it down by adding "PedalPCB":

  • ADHD v2 [Fullltone OCD w enhanced bypass] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Bloodshot [Heavy Electronics Red Eyes] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Brownout OD [Subdecay Variac] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Clandestine [Chase Tone Secret Freq Preamp] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Drebbel [ICTINEO/SUBMARINE] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Episode booster [EP BOOSTER] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Fingers [PPCB DISCRETE OD (YATS?)] PedalPCB.PDF
  • GloryHole [JHS Morning Glory aka BB] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Lemonade [Lumpy's Tone Shop Lemon Drop - ZII - Series 7] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Median Compressor [WAMPLER EGO 76] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Mofeta [EAE Model feT] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Nobleman [Noble ODR1] PedalPCB.PDF
  • ObtuseBoost [FULLTONE FB-2 FAT BOOST] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Octuplet-[PPCB ANALOGUE OCTAVE UP] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Pharmacist [Aclam Dr. Robert] PedalPCB.PDF
  • PoisonApple [Mad Professor Snow White Autowah] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Pro10-Green [Browne Amplification Protein (Nobels ODR-1)] PedalPCB NO SCHEM.pdf
  • Promethium [BOSS HM-2] PedalPCB.PDF
  • Provocateur [Fulltone Catalyst Fuzz] PedalPCB.pdf
  • Submersible [Zeibek Submarine] PedalPCB.pdf
  • System Overdrive [Systech OD] PedalPCB.PDF
  • WilhelmScream [PPCB Discrete OD (YATSish)] PedalPCB.PDF

Are you looking for amp-in-a-box type circuits? The 2N5457 and 2N5458 are VERY popular in those.

Boosts? ODs? FUZZ? Preamps? Compressors? Phasers? EQ?
You'll find the 5457 in a lot of different types of circuits.



I'll recommend the Tillman Preamp (which can boost).
Mr Tillman has built his preamp with 2N5457, J201 and probably a few other JFET transistors.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Plenty here to explore. By “simple” I meant a circuit that is roughly around the complexity of the Electra, or at least not exceeding the complexity of the Rat. I’ll look into these schematics and see what I can find.

One thing I’ve noticed about the Rat is it has a power section that filters the power. That’s not a problem for me, but will be a first. Also, since it has an OpAmp it lowers the voltage for it. Working with OpAmps is new to me too, but looking forward to it.

I’ve always been curious about the OCD pedal (or the ADHD). I have a friend who swears by it but I’ve not heard one or tried one yet. That could be a fun build.
 
A friend pointed me to that particular HTML page, because if you go to the github project the most easily accessible thing is very (far too) granular, having individual resistor values…

Like, imagine having it filled out with every tagboard project and searching up "1n4001" or "1n5817". It'd end up giving you every project, because power sections have some kind of reverse current protection. Would need to omit those in some fashion to make its UX more friendly.
 
When I see these, how do I know if they are polarized? I know the straight lines mean non-polarized, but the one that has a curved line and a straight line sometimes means polarized and sometimes not, right? (Where the straight line represents the positive side.) But I’m unsure because some sites suggest it is only polarized if it has the plus symbol displayed as well. Or is it like polarized but the plus symbol ones mean electrolytic or something like that? Please help clear that up for me.
 

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jdduffield said:
When I see these, how do I know if they are polarized? I know the straight lines mean non-polarized, but the one that has a curved line and a straight line sometimes means polarized and sometimes not, right? (Where the straight line represents the positive side.) But I’m unsure because some sites suggest it is only polarized if it has the plus symbol displayed as well. Or is it like polarized but the plus symbol ones mean electrolytic or something like that? Please help clear that up for me.
Click to expand...
That symbol is for non polarized but a polarized cap could be used with (-) to ground.
It may just be lazy schematic drawing.
 
What can be also be confusing is that schematics drawn by our friends across the pond can have different symbol standards. I have to double-check them all the time. There are a lot of traces and redrawn schematics out there that use other drawing standards.

1737301165090.jpeg
 
Here's one of Vitalii Bobrov's traces. Uses the UK/Euro symbol, but with the positive marked
www.freestompboxes.org

Exar OD-02 OverDrive

I've opened Exar OD-3 recently, and it appeared to be the same circuit - they changed transistors (probably just what was available at the time) and improved power supply filtering a bit. Schematic is in the attachments.
www.freestompboxes.org www.freestompboxes.org
 
jwin615 said:
non polarized but a polarized cap
Click to expand...
Does this mean I’d use an electrolytic but could ignore its orientation?

I should know this but I don’t. Just making sure it is clear. I thought non polarized is like film, ceramics, MLCCs, and that those do not have a polarized cap.
 
Last edited:
Typically I'll use polar unless the schematic calls for bipolar/non-polar specifically. I'll try to find higher quality ones.

That symbol with both the curved (negative) and straight (positive) lines is definitely a polar cap— just without the polarity indicator.

Bipolar I've seen as two curved lines mirrored —) (—

Sorry if this is too beginner, but in most circuits in this hobby, film or ceramic caps fall in the pico (pF), nano (nF), and maybe in the 1μF (micro) and rarely the 2μF values. Other μF range caps will be polar or bipolar electrolytic and tantalum forms.
 
jdduffield said:
When I see these, how do I know if they are polarized? I know the straight lines mean non-polarized, but the one that has a curved line and a straight line sometimes means polarized and sometimes not, right? (Where the straight line represents the positive side.) But I’m unsure because some sites suggest it is only polarized if it has the plus symbol displayed as well. Or is it like polarized but the plus symbol ones mean electrolytic or something like that? Please help clear that up for me.
Click to expand...

BuddytheReow

TUTORIAL Thread 'What Are All Those Symbols? - Intro to Schematic Reading'

You've got your breadboard, jumper wires, offboard components, and breadboard components in hand and are ready to go. You download a build doc from PedalPCB website, skip the pretty picture of the PCB, skip the components listing since your order came in the mail 3 and a half minutes ago, get to the schematic and all the anxiety in the world is telling you to run away and return everything you just bought because you see THIS...
1629312645778.png

Don't worry! We are here to help you!

For purposes of this thread I would rather talk about what the components are rather than the why/how...
  • Like
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jwin615 said:
If polarized, negative to ground
Click to expand...

If it's an NPN circuit, but if it's a PNP... It'd be positive to ground.





Bio77 said:
I'd recommend hoarding these JFETs. They are needed in lots of circuits and will take effort to get replacements. If you have the building bug, you are definitely going to use them down the road.
Click to expand...

And I'll add that they are available as SMD, which can be soldered to adapter-boards for usage on through-hole PCBs, perf, and vero;
some vendors even offer the SMD-version pre-soldered on the adapter-boards.

It's a great way to dip you toe into SMD-soldering — get the transistors and adapters separately and do your own soldering.
 
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