Lithium Grim Supreme Leader Instruction Manual

Supreme Leader
Building instructions
v1.0

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
2
Table of contents
PCB layout ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Components ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Build sequence ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Drilltemplate............................................................................................................................................ 6
Off board wiring ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Potentiometers and switches.............................................................................................................. 7
Modifications........................................................................................................................................... 8
Boost (foot)switch............................................................................................................................... 8
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Schematic .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Read this entire manual thoroughly before you start building the effect! There are some available
options and you should choose which one you want to incorporate before starting your build.
Last update: 24-11-2019

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
3
PCB layout
Dimensions: 83 mm x 49,55 mm
3.27 inch x 1.95 inch

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
4
Components
Name
Value
Comment
Name
Value
Comment
C1
680p
MLCC
R1
1k
1% metalfilm
C2
47n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R2
1M
1% metalfilm
C3
1u
SMF/MKT/Wima
R3
1M
1% metalfilm
C4
56n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R4
10k
1% metalfilm
C5
22n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R5
1k
1% metalfilm
C6
51p
MLCC/Silver Mica
R6
1M
1% metalfilm
C7
220p
MLCC
R7
1M
1% metalfilm
C8
220n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R8
1M
1% metalfilm
C9
22n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R9
1M
1% metalfilm
C10
1u
SMF/MKT/Wima
R10
220k
1% metalfilm
C11
10n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R11
6k8
1% metalfilm
C12
10n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R12
4k7
1% metalfilm
C13
4n7
SMF/MKT/Wima
R13
15k
1% metalfilm
C14
33n
SMF/MKT/Wima
R14
1k
1% metalfilm
C15
6n8
SMF/MKT/Wima
R15
1M
1% metalfilm
C16
3n3
SMF/MKT/Wima
R16
1M
1% metalfilm
C17
1u
SMF/MKT/Wima
R17
1M
1% metalfilm
C18
10u
Electrolytic 10V+
R18
47k
1% metalfilm
C19
51p
MLCC/Silver Mica
R19
100k
1% metalfilm
C20
1u
SMF/MKT/Wima
R20
2k2
1% metalfilm
C21
220u
Electrolytic 10V+
R21**
27k
1% metalfilm
C22
100u
Electrolytic 10V+
R22
33k
1% metalfilm
D1
1N5817
R23
68k
1% metalfilm
IC1
JRC4580D
R24
6k8
1% metalfilm
P1*
A500k
Gain
R25
10k
1% metalfilm
P2*
B100k
Tone
R26
10k
1% metalfilm
P3*
A50k
Mid
R27
47k
1% metalfilm
P4*
A100k
Volume
R28
1M
1% metalfilm
Q1
J201
R29
33k
1% metalfilm
Q2
J201
R30
100k
1% metalfilm
Q3
J201
R31
10R
1% metalfilm
Q4
J201
R32
10k
1% metalfilm
Q5
J201
R33
10k
1% metalfilm
SW1
DP3T
Boost (On-Off-On)
VR1
50k
Bias Q5
SW2*
SPDT
Bright (On-On)
* PCB mountable components. SW1 is a regular DP3T, with normal solder lugs.
** Leave out R21 when using VR1 to bias Q5, or leave out VR1 when using R21 and not bias Q5

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
5
Build sequence
Read the modifications section before you start building!
Soldering this board can be very complicated for some people since the solder pads are very close
together. Use a magnifying glass to make the job easier.
The trick to soldering a PCB is to work from small to big components. My building sequence
suggestions in this section are based on the parts I used myself. Sometimes some components are
smaller (or bigger) so always use your own common sense and change the order accordingly. Usually
capacitors can differ a lot in size depending on their rating and value.
Note: Do not blow on your solder in an attempt to cool it down. That can result in a bad join that
might corrode! Also take extra care not to short components.
Start by soldering the resistors and diode.
If you want to experiment with other transistors then you could socket them instead of soldering
them to the board. You’ll need a some 20 SIL sockets, break off the sockets and solder them to the
board. Now is the time to solder these sockets on the PCB as well as the socket for the IC. Place the
transistors and IC once you are finished with all soldering and off board wiring!
Now continue by soldering the MLCC, small SMF/MKT/Wima capacitors.
VR1 is added to enable you to bias Q5. The original pedal does not have that option, but only a fixed
resistor R21 (27k). If you want to be able to bias Q5, set the resistance between pin 1 and 2 of VR1 to
27k before soldering it on the PCB and leave out R21. You can later experiment later by changing the
setting of VR1. If you do not want to bias Q5 then leave out VR1 and insert R21.
Now finish by soldering the transistors (if not socketed), the bigger MKT/WIMA, Silver Mica and the
electrolytic capacitors.
I suggest you now drill the holes in your enclosure so you can use it during the off board wiring. This
PCB is very sensitive to noise! Keep the wires as short as possible and/or use shielding on the input
and output.
Besides the components mentioned in the components table, you will need:
•1 mono and 1 stereo input jack.
•2,1mm DC jack (isolated).
•22 gage stranded hook-up wire.
•1 x LED as status indicator , in your favorite color (or 2 if you want to use a footswitch for the
boost)
•1 x LED holders or 2 if you want to use a footswitch for the boost.
•1 x Footswitch 3PDT (9 pins) or 2 if you want to use a footswitch for the boost.
•Hammond 1590BB case (or similar) in your favorite color. The PCB fits the enclosure in an
upright position. You can of course experiment with other enclosures, but measure twice
before you start drilling!

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
6
Drilltemplate
Pots need 7mm holes, switches need 6mm holes.
29,7mm
27mm
Mids Tone
Volume Gain
Bright
Boost
59,4mm
8mm
13,95mm 13,95mm
9mm

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
7
Off board wiring
Potentiometers and switches
In the pictures below you see the correct pin numbering of the pots (Alpha 16mm style).
The rectangle pad marks pin 1. Before soldering the potentiometers and switches, mount them in
the predrilled enclosure and then slide the PCB over them and solder them to the board. Make sure
you know which switch you are going to use for SW1 before soldering (see modifications section).
You can break off the pin I marked with the yellow circle with a small pair of pliers.
R led is 4k7. This schema uses starwiring and requires good contact between the output jack and the
enclosure. If that is not possible, connect a cable between the output sleeve and the input sleeve.
Keep cables as short as possible to prevent interference!
Note: SW1is a DP3T with standard solder
lugs:
SW2 is a PCB mounted version SPDT:
3 2 1
Ring
Sleeve
Tip
Cathode (short leg)
Input
Anode (long leg)
Tip
Sleeve
Output
On/Bypass R led

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
8
Modifications
Boost (foot)switch
On the original pedal SW1only has 2 boost positions (on and off). On this PCB SW1is by default a
3PDT (On-Off-On) switch soldered on the PCB and so giving you 3 options: High boost, no boost and a
custom boost. As you can see left and middle position are as in the original (on and off). The right
position enables you to create a custom boost level determined by R11 and R24. By default these are
6k8 resistors, creating a 2/3 level boost. You can change these values in the range between 6k8 and
15k. 15k will create ½ level boost.
If you only want 2 boost options as in the original, then leave out R11, R24 and use a standard DPDT
(On-On) for SW1.
SW1can also be foot switchable. For this leave out R11 and R24 and use a standard 3PDT footswitch.
To make it a bit easier, there are 3 special pads attached to SW1on the PCB:
Remember that all 3 middle lugs on the switch must be soldered together by that single wire! As
there is only one LED+ pad, you can solder the Anode of the LED directly to the + side of the DC jack
as depicted above.
Boost
Cathode (short leg)
Anode (long leg)
R led
Ring
Sleeve
Tip

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
9
Troubleshooting
All PCB’s have been 100% factory e-tested and out of every batch I receive I build an effect to double
check, so there should not be a connection problem on the PCB itself.
The board is not working (at all), what now?
•Check if your 9V is plugged in correctly (and/or soldered correctly on the board). Pay special
attention to the polarity.
•Check that you oriented the capacitors, IC’s ,transistors and diodes the right way. SMF, MKT
and ceramic capacitors as well as resistors do not need to be oriented. A likely sign of
incorrect capacitors and/or orientation is when an effect is sputtering, rumbling or
“motorboating”.
•Check if you used the correct values of the components. For resistors you can look here:
http://www.diyaudioandvideo.com/Electronics/Color/
•Double and triple check your soldering! A loose or cold solder can be really bad for your
board.
•Replace the IC and/or transistors, one might be defective. Before doing that first unplug the
9V and wait for 5 seconds.
•Check that you have good/high grade components. A lot of Chinese sourced parts are fakes
(especially high end opamps, audio capacitors, vintage diodes and transistors) so be careful
that you source your parts from reliable suppliers.

Supreme Leader v1.0
Manufacturers and product names are mentioned solely for circuit identification, and where applicable their trademarks are the
property of their respective owners who are in no way associated or affiliated with the author. No cooperation or endorsement
is implied.
10
Schematic