FuzzDog AstroTone User manual

Scrambler V3
Ampeg Scrambler with
optional Post-Boost (v2.0)
Contents of this document are ©2016 Pedal Parts Ltd.
No reproduction permitted without the express written
permission of Pedal Parts Ltd. All rights reserved.

Schematic
+ B M
R1 1M
R2 1M
R3 4K7
R4 2K2
R5 470K
R6 4K7
R7 220R
R8 8K2
R9 220K
R10 220K
R11 1K
R12 4K7*
R13 47K
R14 47K
R15 2K2 (CLR)
R16 100K
R17 1M
R18 390R
R19 10K
R20 470R
C1 10n
C2 4u7 elec
C3 1u elec
C4 4u7 elec
C5 100u elec
C6 4u7 elec
C7 1u elec
C8 1u elec
C9 1u elec
D1-5 1N4148
Q1,3,4 MPSA13**
Q2 2N3904***
Q5 2N5088
BAL 50KB
TEXT 10KB
V L 100KA
R16-19, C8-9, Q5 and V L
are the optional post-boost
section. More info later.
*10K trimpot supplied in
place of fixed 4K7 to allow
you to tune the octave to
your own taste.
**High-gain NPN
darlington transistors are
required. riginal used
2N5306.
*** riginal used BC169B.
Please see later notes
regarding transistor
pin-outs.
Shaded area shows
optional Boost section

PCB Layout ©2016 Pedal Parts Ltd.
If you’re building the circuit without the optional
post-boost, leave out R16-19, C8-9, Q5 and VOL.
Place a jumper as shown in red above.
This connects pin 3 of BALANCE straight to
the OUT pad.
Extra pads have been added for Q1-4 to allow non-
standard pinout transistors to be used. The three
standard pins are configured for EBC pinouts, so
transistors such as 2N3904 and MPSA13 should be
placed to follow the part on the silkscreen. These
are also used in the build in the front cover image.
The extra Emitter pad has been added so you can
use non-standard BCE pinouts, as per the original
circuit (2N5306, BC169B).
The power and signal pads on the PCB conform to
the FuzzDog Direct Connection format, so can be
paired with the appropriate daughterboard for
quick and easy offboard wiring.
Be very careful when soldering the LED,
transistors and diodes. They’re very sensitive to
heat. You should use some kind of heat sink
(crocodile clip or reverse action tweezers) on each
leg as you solder them. Keep exposure to heat to a
minimum (under 2 seconds).
The cathode (striped end) of the diodes go into the
square pad. The anode (long leg) of electrolytic
capacitors go into the square pad. C5 can be bent
over the adjacent resistors to save on height, giving
more clearance when mounting in the enclosure.
Snap the small metal tag off the pots so they can
be mounted flush in the enclosure.
If you’re using a footswitch daugherboard don’t
bother soldering R15. You’ll use that on the
daughterboard instead.
Pots mount on the back side of the board. You can
use vertical-mount pots or just wire up ‘normal’
ones. It’s a good idea to place the pots in their
holes in the enclosure when you’re soldering them
in place on the PCB. That way you know they’re
going to line up ok. Best way to do it is to solder a
single pin of each pot in place, then do a visual
check to see that they’re sitting at the same height.
If not, melt the joints and readjust any that are off.
nce built and tested, adjust the trimmer for your
required amount of octave-up.
E C BE

Test the board!
NDER NO CIRC MSTANCES will troubleshooting help
be offered if you have skipped this stage. No exceptions.
Once you’ve finished the circuit it makes sense to test is before
starting on the switch and LED wiring. It’ll cut down
troubleshooting time in the long run. If the circuit works at this
stage, but it doesn’t once you wire up the switch - guess what?
You’ve probably made a mistake with the switch.
Solder some nice, long lengths of wire to the board connections for
9V, GND, IN and O T. Connect IN and O T to the jacks as shown.
Connect all the GNDs together (twist them up and add a small
amount of solder to tack it). Connect the battery + lead to the 9V
wire, same method. Plug in. Go!
If it works, crack on and do your switch wiring. If not... aw man.
At least you know the problem is with the circuit. Find out why, get
it working, THEN worry about the switch etc.
BATTERY
IN OUT
Your nice, new circuit board
INCLUDING WIRED POTS!!!!
IN 9V GND OUT

(if using a daughterboard please refer to the relevant document)
Wire it up - with battery
This circuit is standard, Negative GND. Your power supply should be
Tip Negative / Sleeve Positive. That’s the same as your standard pedals
(Boss etc), and you can safely daisy-chain your supply to this pedal.
The BOARD GND connections don’t all have to connect to one point. They
can be daisy-chained around the circuit, using larger connection points
(such as jack socket lugs) for multiple connections. As long as they all
connect together in some way.
L
E
D
BOARD
OUT
BOARD
9V
BOARD
GND
BOARD
GND
BOARD
GND
BOARD
INPUT
BATTERY
+
IN
OUT
L
E
D
BOARD
GND
BOARD
LED+
+

(if using a daughterboard please refer to the relevant document)
Wire it up - DC only version
This circuit is standard, Negative GND. Your power supply should be
Tip Negative / Sleeve Positive. That’s the same as your standard pedals
(Boss etc), and you can safely daisy-chain your supply to this pedal.
The BOARD GND connections don’t all have to connect to one point. They
can be daisy-chained around the circuit, using larger connection points
(such as jack socket lugs) for multiple connections. As long as they all
connect together in some way.
L
E
D
BOARD
OUT
BOARD
9V
BOARD
GND
BOARD
GND
BOARD
GND
BOARD
INPUT
+
IN
OUT
L
E
D
BOARD
GND
BOARD
LED+

This template is a rough guide only. You should ensure correct marking of your
enclosure before drilling. You use this template at your own risk.
Pedal Parts Ltd can accept no responsibility for incorrect drilling of enclosures.
PedalParts.co.uk
Drilling template
Hammond 1590B
60 x 111 x 31mm
It’s a good idea to drill the
pot holes 1mm bigger if you’re
board-mounting them.
Wiggle room = good!
Recommended drill sizes:
Pots 7mm
Jacks 10mm
Footswitch 12mm
DC ocket 12mm
32mm
21mm