aion IBEX User manual

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 1
PROJECT NAME
IBEX
BASED ON
EFFECT TYPE
PROJECT SUMMARY
DOCUMENT VERSION
Roland AF-100 Bee Baa
An early silicon fuzz with a prominent mid-scoop and footswitchable clean boost mode.
Silicon fuzz 1.0.0 (2021-10-22)
BUILD DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
Actual size is 2.3” x 2.14” (main board) and 2.3” x 1.05” (bypass board).

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Project Overview 7Drill Template
2Introduction & Usage 8Enclosure Layout
3-4 Parts List 9Wiring Diagram
5Build Notes 10 Licensing
6Schematic 10 Document Revisions
INTRODUCTION
The Ibex Silicon Fuzz is based on the AF-100 Bee Baa, Roland’s first fuzz pedal from 1972, the same year
they were established as a company.
The “Bee Baa” name presumably comes from the two tone settings: a mid-scooped buzz that sounds
like a swarm of bees, and a softer-edged tone that might evoke sheep, though you may need the help of
some of the fashionable hallucinogenics of the decade in order to get there.
There were a lot of Japanese products in the 1970s that had poorly-chosen English names, but the
Bee Baa stands tall as one of the worst. Along with along with “Funny Cat” and “Bee Gee”, this likely
contributed to Roland’s failure to get a foothold in the United States during their first couple of years.
Regardless, the Bee Baa is a classic fuzz, and original units command high prices today. In addition to the
searing fuzz tones, it also has a treble-emphasized boost mode with its own volume control, so it can be
used as a two-channel effect. The boost mode is capable of some grit, but is nowhere near a dirty treble
booster like the Rangemaster.
The Ibex is a direct clone of the Bee Baa, shrunk down to fit in a 125B enclosure but including a
secondary footswitch to toggle between boost and fuzz modes. The Tone Select footswitch has been
changed to a toggle since it’s not a good application of a footswitch, but otherwise everything is exactly
as it is in the original unit. An internal midrange trimmer has also been added to dial back the mid scoop.
USAGE
The Ibex has four controls, a toggle switch and a second footswitch:
• Sustain controls the input level of the effect in fuzz mode.
• Boost Level controls the input level of the effect in boost mode, and also acts as the volume control
in this mode.
• Tone is a low-pass filter that cuts highs. It comes after the tone switch and impacts both modes.
• Volume is the overall output of the effect in fuzz mode.
• Tone Select (toggle) selects between two different tone modes. “Bee” mode is a steep mid-scoop
while “Baa” mode is warmer and more balanced.
• Boost (footswitch) selects between boost mode and fuzz mode. In boost mode, the second and third
transistor stages and the tone-shaping section are switched out, leaving only the first transistor
stage which acts as a semi-clean boost with treble frequency emphasis.

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 3
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—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 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R2 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R3 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R4 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R5 18k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R6 1k8 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R7 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R8 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R9 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R10 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R11 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R12 1k5 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R13 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R14 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R15 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R16 1k5 Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R17 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R18 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R19 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R20 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R21 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R22 22k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R23 68k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R24 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R25 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W
R26 100R Metal film resistor, 1/4W
LEDB 4k7 Metal film resistor, 1/4W LED current-limiting resistor. Adjust value to change LED brightness.
LEDR 2k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W LED current-limiting resistor. Adjust value to change LED brightness.
C1 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C2 100pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C3 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C4 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 4
PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
C5 6n8 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C6 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C7 4n7 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C8 10uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C9 1uF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C10 OMIT Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm 4n7 in some vintage units, but usually omitted.
C11 10uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C12 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C13 2n2 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm 4n7 in some vintage units.
C14 100n Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C15 2n2 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C16 22n Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C17 47uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C18 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C19 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor.
D1 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41
Q1 2N5088 BJT transistor, NPN, TO-92 Substitute. Original uses 2SC644.
Q2 2N5088 BJT transistor, NPN, TO-92 Substitute. Original uses 2SC644.
Q3 2N5088 BJT transistor, NPN, TO-92 Substitute. Original uses 2SC644.
MID 25k trimmer Trimmer, 10%, 1/4”
SUS. 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
TONE 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
VOL. 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
B.LVL 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot
TONE SPDT on-on Toggle switch, SPDT on-on
LED 5mm red LED, 5mm, red diffused
B.LED 5mm green LED, 5mm, green diffused
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.
DC 2.1mm DC jack, 2.1mm panel mount Mouser 163-4302-E or equivalent.
BOOST 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT
FSW 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT
ENC 125B Enclosure, die-cast aluminum Can also use a Hammond 1590N1.

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 5
BUILD NOTES
Midrange trimmer
The “Bee” mode has a very steep mid-scoop reminiscent of the Superfuzz or Hyper Fuzz. An internal
trimmer has been added to dial back the amount of mid scoop (in other words, increase the mids) if it’s
too much. Generally speaking, the “Bee” mode is more useful than the “Baa” mode, so this allows a little
more fine-tuning to make this mode work across a wider variety of settings.
Setting the boost LED mode
The boost sub-circuit in the Ibex is engaged with its own footswitch and has a LED to indicate that it’s
engaged. The boost circuit is tied to the master footswitch, so the whole circuit is bypassed regardless of
whether it is in boost or fuzz mode.
However, there are competing opinions on what should be done with the boost indicator LED when the
whole unit is bypassed. Some playeers want to be able to know the boost status even when the unit is
bypassed, while others would expect that none of the LEDs would be illuminated in bypass mode.
The footswitch PCB has jumpers to select which type of operation you want it to have:
• If you expect the boost LED to be on when the boost circuit is enabled, even if the whole effect is
bypassed, then solder a jumper wire between the top and middle pads (marked “On”).
• If you expect the boost LED to be off when the effect is bypassed, even if the boost circuit is
internally engaged, then solder a jumper wire between the middle and bottom pads (marked “Off”).

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 6
SCHEMATIC
TO
PCB
INPUT
TO
OUTPUT
JACK
FROM
PCB
OUTPUT
FROM
INPUT
JACK
FROM
BOOST
OUTPUT
TO
BOOST
INPUT
TO
BOOST
PATH
TO
FUZZ
PATH
FROM
BOOST
CONTROL
FROM
SUSTAIN
CONTROL
4k7
5MM
1N5817
100uF
GND
+9V
100n
VA
100R
4k7
5MM
+9V
100kA
100kA
10k
GND
1k
GND
1k
1uF
18k
2N5088
1k8
GND
GND
100k
10k
100pF
1k
10uF
47uF
GND
GND
VC
VC
VC
1uF
220k
GND
6n8
10k
47k
1uF
15k 100k
GND
VA
2N5088
4n7
10k
VA
1k5
GND
10uF
GND
1uF
15k 100k
GND
VA
2N5088
OMIT
10k
VA
1k5
GND
10uF
GND
1uF
33k
10k
2n2
47k
GND
100n
47k
2n2
22k
GND
68k
100kA
22n
GND
100kA
GND
25kB
INPUT
OUT
BOOST OUTPUT
TO
PATH
BOOST
TO
FUZZ
PATH
BOOST IN
CONTROL
BOOST
FROM
FROM
SUSTAIN
CONTROL
LEDR
LED
D1
C18
A2
A3
A1
FSA
B2
B3 B1
FSB
C2
C3
C1
FSC
C19
R26
LEDB
BOOST_LED
C2
C3
C1
BOOST C
B2
B3 B1
BOOST B
A2
A3
A1
BOOST A
BOOST_LEVEL
1
2
3
SUSTAIN
1
2
3
R1
R2
R3
C1
R5
Q1
R6
R4
R7
C2
R25
C3
C17
C4
R8
C5
R9
R24
C6
R11 R10
Q2
C7
R13R12
C8
C9
R15 R14
Q3
C10
R17R16
C11
C12
R18
R20
C13
R19
C14
R21
C15
R22
2
3
1
TONE SELECT
R23
TONE
1
2
3
C16
VOLUME
1
2
3
MIDRANGE
1
2
3
GND
GND
GND

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 7
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.
Top jack layout assumes the use of closed-frame jacks like the Switchcraft 111X. If you’d rather use
open-frame jacks, please refer to the Open-Frame Jack Drill Template for the top side.
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.
ø3/8” ø1/2”
0.385”
0.625” 0.625”
ø3/8”
125B
OUT DC IN
x: -0.65, y: +1.71 x: 0.65, y: +1.71
ø9/32” ø9/32”
x: -0.65, y: +0.41
ø9/32”
x: 0.65, y: +0.41
ø9/32”
x: -0.765, y: -1.675
ø15/32”
x: -0.765, y: -1.675
ø15/32”
x: -0.95, y: -1.10
ø5/16”
x: +0.95, y: -1.10
ø5/16”
CENTER (0,0)
x: 0, y: +1.06
ø1/4”
0 1 2
CM
0 1
INCH

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 8
ENCLOSURE LAYOUT
Enclosure is shown without jacks. See next page for jack layout and wiring.
125B

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 9
WIRING DIAGRAM
125B
S.OUT L.OUTGNDB.ININ OUT B FFB
SUS
OUT
PCB
IN
B.IN GND L.OUT
+V
+V+V JACK GND JACK
OUTIN
OUT B FFROM
BOOST

IBEX SILICON FUZZ 10
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 cannotbe 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 (2021-10-22)
Initial release.