Mod TEA PHILTER User manual

1Copyright © 2012 by modkitsdiy.com
Use these instructions to learn:
How to build an effects pedal for fixed wah tone.
Every guitar/wah combination has a certain sweet spot that’s perfect for lead and chord work. The Tea
Philter lets you dial in everything from your favorite vocal midrange tone to thick lows and even that
“chicks for free” sound.
THE TEA PHILTER (K-970)
Warning: This circuit was designed for use with a 9 VDC power supply only.
TO
AMP
IN
FROM
GUITAR
OUT
Unplug when not in use
to save battery life.
9 VDC
FROM
CENTER (-)
ADAPTER
THE TEA PHILTER
Modkitsdiy.com
SWEEP
Counterclockwise: Toe Position (Thin)
Clockwise: Heel Position (Fat)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOOL LIST …………………………………………………………………………...2
PARTS LIST DRAWINGS………………………………………………………….3, 4
SOLDERING TIPS …………………………………………………………………...5
STEP BY STEP ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS …………………………………...6
Section 1 – Mount ¼” Jacks and Terminal Strip Components ……………...6
Section 2 – Wiring the Jack, Footswitch and Power Supply ………………….7
Section 3 – Finishing Up ………..…………………………………………….8
ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS (4 Drawings) …………………………………..9, 10
These are the last 2 pages. They should be separated and used as a reference to help
assemble the kit correctly.
2
Visit www.modkitsdiy.com if you have any problems when first turning on your pedal for
troubleshooting help. Remember to use caution when applying power to the pedal to avoid electric
shock.
TOOL LIST
Wire Strippers
Needle Nose Pliers
Cutting Pliers
Desoldering Pump
Solder (60/40 rosin core)
Soldering Station
Phillips Head Screwdrivers
Slotted tip screwdrivers (3 mm tip)
Channellock Pliers (or similar type)
Ruler
Hobby Vise (or other means to secure box while working)

Knob (Scalloped Edge)
P-K801BU (1)
Battery Clip
S-H155 (1)
¼” Mono Jack (Output Jack)
W-SC-11-T (1)
¼” Stereo Jack (Input Jack)
W-SC-12B (1)
Thin Stranded Wire (22 AWG) - Red
K-PUL1569 (3 FT)
PARTS LIST 1
RING LUG
GROUND LUG
TIP LUG
GROUND LUG
TIP LUG
50kΩ Potentiometer with Audio Taper
R-VA50KA (1)
1
2
3
DPDT Foot Switch
P-H498 (1)
Terminal Strip with 8 Terminals
P-0802H (1)
P-QMPSA13 (1)
NPN Darlington (MPSA13)
MPS
A13
E B C
Enclosure
P-H1590BBCE-GY (1)
Terminal Strips with 5 Terminals
P-0501H01 (1)
1st Lug Common
COM
1 2 3 4 5
S-HS440-38 2 #4 screw
S-HLW4 2 #4 lock washer
S-HHN440 2 #4 hex nut
3

PARTS LIST 2
4
DC Power Jack
S-H750 (1)
22µF 50V
C-ET22-50 (1)
22µF Polarized Capacitor 50V
brown
black
green
gold
1M
R-A1M (5)
1MΩ Resistor ½ W
brown
black
orange
gold
10K
R-A10K (2)
10kΩ Resistor ½ W
0.1µF Capacitor 100V
C-PEID1-100 (2)
104J
0.0047µF Capacitor 100V
C-PEID0047-100 (1)
472J
680pFCapacitor 50V
C-D680-50 (1)
681K

SOLDERING TIPS
1. Bend the component lead
and wrap it around the
connection point.
2. Wrap the component lead
so that it can hold itself to the
connection point.
3. Heat up both component
lead and connection point with
the soldering iron.
4. Apply solder to both
component lead and
connection point.
2. Apply fresh solder to mix in
with old solder joint
1. Heat up old solder joint
with the soldering iron.
3. Use a de-soldering tool to
remove the old solder joint
while it is heated.
De-Soldering Tip
5
It is important to make a good solder joint at each connection point. A cold solder joint is a connection that
may look connected but is actually disconnected or intermittently connected. (A cold solder joint can keep
your project from working.)
Follow these tips to make a good solder joint. Take your time with each connection and make sure that all
components are connected and will remain connected if your project is bumped or shaken.
Bend the component lead or wire ending and wrap it around the connection point.
Make sure it is not too close to a neighboring component which could cause an
unintended connection.
2. Wrap the component lead so that it can hold itself to the connection point.
Touch the soldering iron to both the component lead and the connection point allowing both to
warm up just before applying the solder to them.
Be sure to adequately cover both component lead and connection point with melted solder.
Remove the soldering iron from your work and allow the solder joint to cool. (The
solder joint should be shiny and smooth after solidifying.)
Cut off any excess wire or component leads with cutting pliers.
Clean the soldering iron's tip by wiping it across the wet sponge again after making the
solder joint.

SECTION 1 – Mount ¼” Jacks and Terminal Strip Components
Please refer to DRAWING 1 and DRAWING 2.
Orient box with single centered 5/16" hole on top and ½” hole nearest you.
Mount input jack in 3/8" hole on left side of box with hardware provided.
Washer goes under nut on outside of box. Make sure center solder lug
of input jack is facing up. Correct positioning of jack will make soldering
connections much easier. When positioned correctly, tighten nut.
Mount output jack in 3/8" hole on right side of box with hardware
provided. Washer goes under nut on outside of box. Make sure two
solder lugs are in most upright position before tightening nut.
Mount the terminal strips to the two 9/64" holes as shown in drawing 2. We will refer
to terminal numbers as illustrated here when connecting components.
GROUND LUG
TIP LUG
Output Jack
RING LUG
GROUND LUG
TIP LUG
Input Jack
Terminals #5 and #6 will have a lot of connections so we will use both the
upper and lower portions of the terminals.
6
Connect the following components and wires to their respective terminals as
instructed. (Make sure none of the component leads are so close together that it
could lead to an unintended short). Be careful not to overheat the transistor when
soldering.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
10
11
12
13
Mount the 50K pot in the 5/16" hole with its solder lugs oriented as shown in
the drawing. You can break off the small guide tab on the pot by bending it
back with pliers so that the pot is pressed flush against the enclosure surface. 1
2
3
Mount the DPDT footswitch to the
½” hole with its solder lugs oriented
as shown in the drawing. (The
plastic washer goes on top of the
enclosure underneath the nut).
Mount power adapter jack in 15/32” hole on bottom left side of box. Orient solder lugs on power
adapter jack so larger center-pin lug is facing the bottom side of box. Tighten adapter jack.
CENTER-PIN LUG
POSITIVE-SWITCH LUG
POSITIVE LUG
Power
Adapter Jack
Unless noted otherwise, “mount” or “connect” means to wrap the component lead or wire-end
around its connection point, trim excess and solder. There may be more components connected at
that terminal, so be sure to leave space and look ahead at the final assembly drawings to get an
idea of what else will be connected at a particular terminal or lug.
lower holes
6 854

7
4) Mount the .0047µF capacitor to the lower hole of terminal 5 and lug 1 & 2 of the 50K pot. Use
the extra lead wire to feed through lug 1 of the pot and bend around to lug 2 of the pot. Do not
solder the pot connections, yet.
3) Mount another 1M resistor to terminals #2 & #5.
5) Mount the 680pF cap to lug 2 of the pot and terminal #6. Solder the pot lugs 1 and 2 now.
6) Mount one of the 10K resistors to terminals #7 and #8.
7) Mount the 22µF cap to terminals #7 and #9 with the negative (-)
lead on terminal #9.
22µF 50V
negative lead
8) Mount the MPSA13 transistor to terminals 5, 6 & 7. Mount each of its leads to their respective
terminals:
Terminal #5:
Terminal #6:
Terminal #7:
MPS
A13
E B C
Collecter (C)
Bass (B)
Emitter (E)
9) Mount ONE OF THE .1µF caps to terminal #4 and lug 1 of the DPDT footswitch.
10) Mount the remaining .1µF cap to terminals #12 and #13.
11) Mount the remaining 10K resistor to terminals #11 and #12.
Terminals #4 & 6:
1) Mount two 1M resistors to the lower set of holes of the terminals listed below, but do not solder.
Terminals #6 & 8:
2) Mount a 2 ¼” piece of wire to the lower holes of
terminals #2 and #6. Solder the lower hole
connections at terminals 2, 4, 6 and 8 now.
1M resistor
1M resistor
Terminals #2 & 6: jumper wire
2 8
1M 1M
6
4
1M
12) Mount one 1M resistor to terminal #1 and footswitch lug 1.
Please refer to DRAWING 3.
13) Mount the remaining 1M resistor to terminal #9 and footswitch lug 4.
Stripping and tinning wire: For the rest of these instructions you will be told to strip and tin
various lengths of wire. Unless noted otherwise, cut the wire to the length stated in the instructions,
then strip ¼” of insulation off each end. Twist each end of the stranded wire and apply a small
amount of solder to each end (tin the wire ends). This prevents the stranded wire from fraying and
makes soldering much easier.
SECTION 2 – Wiring the Jack, Footswitch and Power Supply

8
Please refer to DRAWING 4.
1) Connect a 2 3/4” piece of wire to terminals #5 and #12.
2) Connect a 1 ½” piece of wire to footswitch lugs 3 and 6.
(Bend this wire down so it rests flat against the back of the footswitch. This will keep the battery
insulated from the footswitch terminals and prevent a possible short across the battery casing).
3) Connect a 2 ½” piece of wire to pot lug 3 and the output jack ground lug.
4) Connect a 3" piece of wire to the output jack tip lug and footswitch lug 5.
5) Connect a 2 ½” piece of wire to footswitch lug 4 and terminal #13.
6) Connect a 2 ½” piece of wire to the power jack center-pin lug and terminal #1.
7) Connect a 3 ½” piece of wire to terminal #11 and the power jack positive lug.
8) Connect a 3” piece of wire to input jack tip lug to footswitch lug 2.
9) Connect the battery clip black wire to the input jack ring lug.
10) Connect the battery clip red wire to the power jack positive-switch lug.
SECTION 3 – Finishing Up
Install a 9 volt battery if necessary and close the cover using the screws provided. Fasten the knob
to the potentiometer shaft. Plug your guitar into the input jack. This turns the unit on when using a
battery. Connect another cable from the pedal’s output jack to your amplifier input.
Unplug from the input jack of the pedal to turn it off and save power.
It’s always a good idea to thoroughly double-check your connections before applying power. Make
sure there are no connection points left un-soldered.

1
2
3
DRAWING 1
DRAWING 2
5/16"
1/2"
9/64" 9/64"
3/8" 3/8"
15/32"
TOP
INSIDE VIEW OF THE ENCLOSURE
LEFT SIDE
RIGHT SIDE
BOTTOM
INPUT JACK OUTPUT JACK
18
13
472J
1M 1M
1M
1
2
3
4
5
6
5
681K
10K
22µF 50V
MPS
A13
104J
104J
10K
9

1
2
3
DRAWING 3
INPUT JACK OUTPUT JACK
18
13
472J
1M 1M
1M
1
2
3
4
5
6
5
681K
10K
22µF 50V
MPS
A13
104J
104J
10K
1M
1M
1
2
3
DRAWING 4
INPUT JACK OUTPUT JACK
18
13
472J
1M 1M
1M
1
2
3
5
6
681K
10K
22µF 50V
MPS
A13
104J
104J
10K
1M
1M
RED
BLACK
10