aion EMBER User manual

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 1
PROJECT NAME
EMBER
BASED ON
EFFECT TYPE
PROJECT SUMMARY
DOCUMENT VERSION
Amptweaker Tight Metal / Tight Rock
A high-gain metal & hard rock distortion pedal by James Brown, formerly of Peavey where he designed
Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 and Joe Satriani’s JSX amps.
Distortion 1.0.0 (2022-11-25)
BUILD DIFFICULTY
Advanced
Actual size is 3.44” x 2.42” (main board) and 3.44” x 0.97” (bypass board).

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Project Overview 11 Drill Template
2Introduction 12 Enclosure Layout
3Usage 13 Wiring Diagram
4-7 Parts List 14 Licensing
8-9 Build Notes 14 Document Revisions
10 Schematic
INTRODUCTION
The Ember Metal Distortion is based on the Amptweaker Tight Metal. From 2009 to 2019, Amptweaker
was the creative outlet of James Brown, the designer of several legendary Peavey amplifiers such as the
5150 and JSX as well as others for companies such as Kustom and Bad Cat.
In 2020, James Brown sold the Amptweaker company and took a job with Fender as the lead designer of
their EVH-branded amplifiers. The Amptweaker lineup was fully redesigned under the new ownership,
with a different enclosure style and artwork.
The Tight Metal gets its namesake “tightness” from a low-cut filter that comes before the distortion
stages, a trick also used by the Friedman BE-OD / Dirty Shirley pedals and a number of classic high-gain
amplifiers. Bass frequencies often have a flabby or boomy character especially when palm-muting, so by
dampening these frequencies, the tone is more percussive and cutting.
The Tight Metal is very similar to another Amptweaker circuit, the Tight Rock, with only a few
differences. The Ember project incorporates these changes as toggle switches, so with a little bit of
tweaking, you can have all of the tones of both pedals as well as several new combinations. The only
features omitted from this version are the two effects loops: one that was engaged when the pedal was
on, and a second that is engaged in bypass mode).
The Ember project is based on the final version of the original Tight Metal (called the “ST”) and Tight
Rock before the company changed hands. We also added an optional charge pump so it can be run at
either 18V or 9V, with an internal slide switch to select the voltage. The noise gate functionality has also
been modified slightly, which is described in the build notes.

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 3
USAGE
The Ember Distortion has the following controls:
• Tight cuts low frequencies before the first gain stage.
• Gain controls the amount of gain in the first stage, before the EQ and drive section.
• Gain Boost (toggle switch) increases the gain when in the “Down” position.
• Gate sets the threshold of the noise gate, or disables it when turned all the way down.
• Tone is a Big Muff-style balance control that pans between a bass emphasis on the left and a treble
emphasis to the right, with the 12:00 position being roughly flat.
• Style (toggle) switches between Rock and Metal modes.
• Mids (toggle) engages a midrange scoop mode that depends on the position of the Style switch.
Metal mode has a steeper scoop is called “Thrash”. Rock mode has a milder scoop is called “PlexEQ”.
• Volume sets the output volume of the effect.
• Cut (toggle) cuts the highs slightly after the volume control.

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 4
PARTS LIST
This parts list is also available in a spreadsheet format which can be imported directly into Mouser for
easy parts ordering. Mouser doesn’t carry all the parts (most notably potentiometers) so the second tab
lists all the non-Mouser parts as well as sources for each.
View parts list spreadsheet →
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
R1 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R2 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R3 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R4 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R5 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R6 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R7 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R8 1k5 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R9 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R10 475k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R11 22k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R12 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R13 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R14 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R15 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R16 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R17 4k7 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R18 1k5 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R19 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R20 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R21 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R22 330R Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R23 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R24 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R25 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R26 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R27 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R28 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R29 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R30 100R Metal film resistor, 1/4W

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 5
PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
R31 100R Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R32 100R Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R33 6k8 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R34 18k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R35 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R36 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R37 150k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
RPD 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W Input pulldown resistor.
LEDR 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W LED current-limiting resistor. Adjust value to change LED brightness.
C1 470pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C2 33n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C3 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C4 4n7 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C5 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C6 100pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C7 33n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C8 47n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C9 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C10 3n3 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C11 220n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C12 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C13 22uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C14 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C15 22n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C16 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C17 47n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C18 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C19 22n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C20 220n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C21 1n2 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C22 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C23 220n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C24 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R
C25 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R
C26 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 6
PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
C27 22uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C28 22uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C29 22uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C30 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm
C31 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm
C32 470n MLCC capacitor, X7R
C33 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C34 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C35 470n MLCC capacitor, X7R
Z1 1N4742A Zener diode, 12V, DO-41
D1 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41
D2 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
D3 1N4733A Zener diode, 5.1V, DO-41
D4 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
D5 1N4733A Zener diode, 5.1V, DO-41
D6 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
D7 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
D8 1N4733A Zener diode, 5.1V, DO-41
D9 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41
D10 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41
IC1 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC1-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC2 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC2-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC3 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC3-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC4 LT1054CP Charge pump / voltage converter, DIP-8
IC4-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
VOLTAGE DPDT slide Slide switch, DPDT E-Switch EG2207
GAIN 500kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
TIGHT 100kC 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
TONE 10kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
GATE 500kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
VOLUME 10kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
STYLE DPDT Toggle switch, DPDT on-on

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 7
PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
CUT SPDT Toggle switch, SPDT on-on
GAIN BOOST SPDT Toggle switch, SPDT on-on
MIDS SPDT Toggle switch, SPDT on-on
LED 5mm LED, 5mm, red diffused
DC 2.1mm DC jack, 2.1mm panel mount Mouser 163-4302-E or equivalent.
IN 1/4" mono 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent.
OUT 1/4" mono 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent.
BYPASS 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT
ENCLOSURE 1590BBS Enclosure, die-cast aluminum

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 8
BUILD NOTES
Tight Rock / Tight Metal modes
The Tight Rock and Tight Metal are very closely related, with only a few small changes between the
two. The Tight Rock came after the original Tight Metal, but some of its features such as the gain boost
switch were back-ported into the Tight Metal for its next revision, which makes a unified version a lot
more straightforward.
Comparing the final revisions of the Tight Rock and Tight Metal, there are only two real differences:
• The mids section after the tone control has different values between the two circuits, both the
Bridged-T mid-scoop and the capacitor value of the mids switch (called “Thrash” or “PlexEQ” when
engaged, depending on the circuit).
• The Tight Rock removes the hi-cut at the end of the circuit and adjusts the gain of this stage slightly.
We’ve included a “Style” switch to go between Tight Rock and Tight Metal midrange modes. Note that
the “Cut” control also switches between the Tight Rock and Tight Metal settings—so both of these
switches will need to be in the same position for it to be identical to either of the original circuits.
However, the effect of the Cut switch is minimal compared to the Style switch.
Gate design
In the original pedal, the noise gate was tied to the drive control. A dual potentiometer controlled both
the gain level and the gate threshold, so as the gain was turned up the gating was more aggressive.
Separate from this, the gate could be disabled entirely with a slide switch.
In this project, we split out the gate and gain controls, which improves the flexibility as well as
simplifying the control scheme. To mimic the original, just set the gate to the same position as the gain
control. And by turning the gate control to zero, it’s identical to the gate bypass switch in the original.
9V/18V operation
The Ember Distortion includes a charge pump for 18V operation as well as an internal slide switch to go
between 9V and 18V mode. If you want to hard-wire it at either 9V or 18V, you can omit the switch by
jumpering the pads as shown:
9V MODE 18V MODE
If you do decide to hardwire it to 9V mode, you can leave out IC4, D9-10, and C34-35. They can just be
omitted entirely—nothing else needs to be jumpered except the slide switch pads.

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 9
BUILD NOTES, CONT.
Enclosure size
This project was designed for the Hammond 1590BBS enclosure, which has the same height as the
125B or 1590N1. If you don’t use the Hammond brand, be careful—not all 1590BBS enclosures are the
same. For example, Love My Switches sells two different types, and the CNC Pro version is correct while
the standard one is too short.
The 1590BB2 seems like a close equivalent, but it’s about 4mm shorter. It may be possible to fit this
circuit in a 1590BB2, but we have not tested it, so you’re on your own!
Another alternative is the 1590C (also available from Tayda and Love My Switches). It’s about 10mm
taller than necessary, but if that’s all you can find then it will definitely work.

SCHEMATIC
EMBER METAL DISTORTION 10
OUT
IN
5.1v zener
5.1v zener
5.1v zener
1N5817
+9V
500kA
100kC
10kB
500kA
1M
GND
100uF
1N4742A
GND GND GND
GND
GND
GND GND
LT1054CP
1N5817 1N5817
470n 470n
10uF
10uF
GND
100uF
470pF
GND
100k
6k8
22uF
GND
18k47k
22uF
GND GND
100k150k
22uF
GND GND
33n
1N914
TL072P
TL072P TL072P
TL072P
TL072P
TL072P
GND GND
GND
100n
330k
GND
4n7
47k
1M
1N4733A
100n
470k
1N914
47k
100pF
33n
15k
GND
47n
1k5
GND
220k
3n3
475k
22k
100n
1N4733A
10k
220n
1N914
10k
10k
470k
1N4733A
3k3
100n
4k7
1k5
22uF
GND
3k3
100n
GND
GND GND
3k3
330R
47n 100n
22n 100n
3k3 3k3
22n
220n
10kA
220k
100k
1n2
470k
100n
47k
GND
1k
220n
33k
GND
100R
100n
GND
100R
100n
GND
100R
100n
GND
VA VB VC
VD VE
VD VD
VD
VE VE
VE
VA VB
VC
D1
1
2
3
GATE
TIGHT
1
2
3
TONE
1
2
3
1
2
3
GAIN
RPD
C30
Z1
GAIN SW.
2
3
1
MIDS
2
3 1
CUT
2
3
1
STYLE A
A2
A3 A1
STYLE B
B2
B3 B1
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
IC4 D9 D10
C32 C35
C33
C34C31
C1
R1
R33
C27
R34R35
C28
R36R37
C29
C2
D2
IC1A
2
3
1 6
5
7
IC1B
2
3
1
IC2A
IC2B
6
5
7
2
3
1
IC3A
IC3B
6
5
7
84 84
84
C3
R2
C4
R3
R4
D3
C5
R5
D4
R6
C6
C7
R7
C8
R8
R9
C10
R10
R11
C9
D5
R12
C11
D6
D7
R13
R14
R15
D8
R16
C12
R17
R18
C13
R19
C14
R21 R22
C17 C18
C15 C16
R20 R23
C19
C20
VOLUME
1
2
3
R24
R25
C21
R26
C22
R27
R28
C23
R29
R30
C24
R31
C25
R32
C26
SW1A
2
3
1
SW1B
5
6
4

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 11
DRILL TEMPLATE
Cut out this drill template, fold the edges and tape it to the enclosure. Before drilling, it’s recommended
to first use a center punch for each of the holes to help guide the drill bit.
Ensure that this template is printed at 100% or “Actual Size”. You can double-check this by measuring
the scale on the printed page.
LED hole drill size assumes the use of a 5mm LED bezel, available from several parts suppliers. Adjust
size accordingly if using something different, such as a 3mm bezel, a plastic bezel, or just a plain LED.
0 1 2
CM
0 1
INCH
1590BBS
x: 0, y: -1.775
ø15/32”
x: -0.775, y: -1.775
ø5/16”
ø3/8” ø1/2”
0.385”
0.9” 0.9”
ø3/8”
OUT DC IN
FOOTSWITCHLED
x: -1.35, y: +1.71
ø9/32”
x: -0.45, y: +1.71
ø9/32”
x: +0.45, y: +1.71
ø9/32”
x: +1.35, y: +1.71
ø9/32”
y: +0.56
x: -1.35 x: -0.675 x: 0 x: +0.675 x: +1.35
CENTER (0,0)
ø1/4”
y: +0.56
ø1/4”
y: +0.56
ø1/4”
y: +0.56
ø1/4”
y: +0.56
ø9/32”
VOLUME TONE TIGHT GAIN
GATEBOOSTMIDSSTYLECUT

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 12
ENCLOSURE LAYOUT
Enclosure is shown without jacks. See next page for jack layout and wiring.
1590BBS

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 13
WIRING DIAGRAM
IN +VGND PGND NC OUT
PCB
IN
GND +18V +V JACK GND JACK
OUTIN
+9V GND PCB
OUT

EMBER METAL DISTORTION 14
LICENSE & USAGE
No direct support is offered for these projects beyond the provided documentation. It’s assumed
that you have at least some experience building pedals before starting one of these. Replacements and
refunds cannot be offered unless it can be shown that the circuit or documentation are in error.
All of these circuits have been tested in good faith in their base configurations. However, not all the
modifications or variations have necessarily been tested. These are offered only as suggestions based
on the experience and opinions of others.
Projects may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless specifically noted. No
attribution is necessary, though a link back is always greatly appreciated. The only usage restrictions
are that (1) you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior arrangement, and (2) you cannot
“goop” the circuit, scratch off the screenprint, or otherwise obfuscate the circuit to disguise its source.
(In other words: you don’t have to go out of your way to advertise the fact that you use these PCBs, but
please don’t go out of your way to hide it. The guitar effects industry needs more transparency, not less!)
DOCUMENT REVISIONS
1.0.0 (2022-11-25)
Initial release.