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PROJECT NAME
PENUMBRA
BASED ON
ZVEX Woolly Mammoth / Mastotron
EFFECT TYPE
Bass fuzz
PROJECT SUMMARY
A full-frequency silicon fuzz, originally designed for bass but just as suited for guitar. Famously used by
Chris Wolstenholme of Muse.
This documentation is for the kit version of the project. If you purchased the PCB by itself, please
use the
PCB-only version
are completely different due to the specialized parts and assembly methods used in the kit.
PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ
VOLUME
TONE
BASS FUZZ
IMPORTANT NOTE
of the documentation instead. The circuit is the same, but the instructions
BUILD DIFFICULTY
Easy
DOCUMENT VERSION
1.0.0 (2022-01-21)
9V
LOW
FUZZ
OFF
ON
PINCH
PICKUP
SIMULATOR
1
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for alon PENUMBRA
Summary of Contents for alon PENUMBRA
- Page 1 This documentation is for the kit version of the project. If you purchased the PCB by itself, please use the PCB-only version of the documentation instead. The circuit is the same, but the instructions are completely different due to the specialized parts and assembly methods used in the kit. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
20 Enclosure Layout: Main & Footswitch PCBs 21 Enclosure Layout: Input/Output PCB 22 Final Assembly & Testing 23 Schematic 24 Full Parts List 25 Troubleshooting Information 26 Support & Resale Terms 27 Legal Information & Document Revisions PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 3: Introduction
It’s recommended to read through all of the instructions before you start, particularly if you’ve never built a pedal before. If you familiarize yourself with the entire process ahead of time and you know what the goal looks like, each step will make more sense. Now, on to the fun stuff! PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... - Page 4 Film Capacitors Resistors NAME NAME 1n (0.001) 100R 10n (0.01) 33n (0.033) 68n (0.068) 220n (0.22) Electrolytic Capacitors NAME 100uF Transistors MLCC Capacitors NAME NAME PN4303 or 2N5457 100n (marked “104”) 2N3904 Diodes Transformer NAME NAME 1N5817 42TL019 PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
- Page 5 9V battery snap 3-pin wire assembly header DC jack 4-pin wire assembly header Input/output jack Mounting nut, jack, 0.54" Outer washer, jack, 0.6" Lock washer, jack, 0.5" (thin) Enclosure Enclosure screws PCB, main circuit PCB, footswitch PCB, input/output/DC PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
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Page 6: Tools Needed
The tip should used to tighten the dress nut to avoid lot of pedals! be no more than 0.1” (2.5mm) wide. scratching or denting it (which can happen with metal tools). PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 7: Component Identification
“multi-layer ceramic capacitor.” is marked. OP-AMP / IC IC SOCKET TRANSISTOR OR JFET TRANSFORMER Charge pumps and delay chips also look like this. They may have more than 8 legs. WIRE ASSEMBLY WIRE ASSEMBLY HEADER DC JACK LED BEZEL PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 8: Hardware Identification
MOUNTING NUT DRESS NUT LOCK WASHER DIAMETER: 0.36” / 9.1mm DIAMETER: 0.375” / 9.5mm DIAMETER: 0.4” / 10.1mm FOOTSWITCH MOUNTING NUT DRESS NUT LOCK WASHER DIAMETER: 0.6” / 15.2mm DIAMETER: 0.77” / 19.6mm DIAMETER: 0.6” / 15.2mm PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 9: Pcb Assembly Overview
Generally speaking, you should populate the components in this order: 1. Resistors 2. Diodes 3. MLCC capacitors 4. Film capacitors 5. Transistors 6. Electrolytic capacitors 7. Transformer PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 10: Resistors & Diode
If this is your first time soldering, watch tutorial videos on YouTube and make sure you get it down before you begin. You don’t want to practice or experiment on this board! PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 11: Transistors
Bend the outer leads of the transistors to hold them in place on the board. Then, solder them and clip the leads. The two 2N3904 transistors are interchangeable and it does not matter which one is used for Q2 and which one is for Q3. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 12: Capacitors (Non-Polarized)
Note: The blue box film capacitors (C2 and sometimes C4 and C7) have the value printed on the top, while the red capacitors have the value on the side. The text on the side of the blue capacitors is not related to the value and can be ignored. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 13: Wire Headers
They do fit pretty tightly in the holes, though, so press firmly. There’s also a 4-pin header on the I/O board that we will do in a later step. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 14: Capacitors (Polarized)
100uF Populate the electrolytic capacitors. They are polarized (i.e. they will only work in one direction), so note the vertical mark that indicates the negative side. The longer leg is positive and fits in the square pad. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 15: Transformer
“PRIMARY” label on the silkscreen (in other words, facing toward the top of the PCB). As with earlier components, first bend the six legs to hold it in place as shown in the diagram below. Solder the legs and the two outer tabs and then clip them short. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 16: Footswitch Pcb
BLUE MARKING Once all three wire assemblies are soldered, set the footswitch PCB aside. We’ll solder the actual footswitch and LED in a later step. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 17: Input/Output Pcb
Red is positive (+), black is negative (-). After soldering, pull it tight. For even more strain relief, you can thread the snap through the loop to form a knot. (not shown) PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 18: Enclosure Layout: Panel Mounts
You’ll need to hold the bezel in place when OUTER WASHER tightening the nut. The top of the bezel is fairly MOUNTING NUT sharp, so try using a rubber band for grip instead of pressing your finger against the bottom. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 19: Enclosure Layout: Panel Mounts (Cont.)
MOUNTING NUT LOCK WASHER BEZEL MOUNTING NUT & LED The dress nut acts as a mounting nut, unlike the footswitch dress nut. Use flat- nose pliers on the flat sides of the nut to tighten securely. FOOTSWITCH 125B PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 20: Enclosure Layout: Main & Footswitch Pcbs
“box it before you rock it”. If you’ve read the documentation carefully and followed all the instructions, there’s a good chance you will get it right the first time! PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 21: Enclosure Layout: Input/Output Pcb
Note the use of two mounting nuts on each of the jacks, one inside and one outside. The inner nut acts as a spacer to set the DC jack flush with the outside of the enclosure. The inner nuts should be threaded as far down as they can go. MOUNTING NUT OUTER WASHER LOCK WASHER MOUNTING NUT 125B PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... - Page 22 Don’t over-tighten or you could damage the set screw. However, if it’s not tight enough then the knob will be prone to falling off or losing its alignment with the markings on the enclosure. Last, just close the panel on the back using the four screws. That’s it! PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
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Page 23: Schematic
SCHEMATIC 100R 1N5817 100n 100uF XFM1 42TL019 SW2B 2N3904 SW2A 2N5457 2N3904 100uF PINCH 500kB 220n PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 24: Full Parts List
68n (0.068) 2N3904 10n (0.01) 100uF electro 100uF 100uF electro electro 100uF 100n electro MLCC 10n (0.01) Potentiometers Switches Transformer PART VALUE PART PART Fuzz SPDT on-off-on 42TL019 Pinch 500kB DPDT on-on Tone 10kB 3PDT stomp Volume 10kB PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... -
Page 25: Troubleshooting Information
Sometimes a bad solder joint doesn’t look any different than a proper one, so you can’t be certain that all the joints are solid just by looking at them. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ... - Page 26 Aion FX kits, but please don’t go out of your way to hide it. The guitar effects industry needs more transparency, not less! PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
- Page 27 All content and graphics in this document are original works and are copyrighted by Aion FX and may not be used without permission. DOCUMENT REVISIONS 1.0.0 (2022-01-21) Initial release. PENUMBRA BASS FUZZ...
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