Projects - Things To Build!
The designs and circuits in this section are either originals or my takes on classic effects. Some are available as kits on the Stock List, and others are meant as starting points for advanced builders who want to pick their own construction method and fittings and "roll-their own."

For ready-to-solder PC boards for classic Tube Screamers, Fuzz Faces, Rangemasters, etc., please visit the web sites of the sources mentioned on my Home and Links pages. You can find the parts on my Stock List for all of your "favorites" and pretty much "roll your own" kit for a vintage effect.
 
The Small Wart 60 - Everybody needs a clean, stable, very rugged 9-volt power supply. The Small Wart is all of that, and it is optimized for experimenting: adjustable output from outside the case, "dying battery" simulation and built-in short-circuit protection. A full kit is available. Difficulty level is intermediate to advanced.
The Small Wart 200 - This Small Wart is based on the "made for Small Bear" flat-pack transformer. Plenty of clean power for a board full of pedals from a 110- OR 220-volt input. Features output voltage adjustable from outside the case, and built-in short-circuit protection. A full kit is available.  Difficulty level is intermediate to advanced.
   
  The Bear Face - A Fuzz Face-clone distortion with a growly attitude! Has the things you always wanted in the original: a tone stack for piercing leads, a built-in overdrive to make it LOUD, true-bypass switching and external power input. Can be built many different ways, and all the parts are available from the Stock List. Difficulty level is "advanced-beginner" to intermediate.
   
  The Tremulous Bear - My own very flexible tremolo, with an unusual LFO circuit and true-bypass switching. Does both the usual heart-throbs and an almost infinite variety of weird modulations. A full kit is available. Difficulty level is "advanced-beginner" to intermediate.
  The Wild Mouse - One of my earliest designs, now re-worked with an improved circuit, and better mechanical design owing to all of the OEM parts. If you sometimes play through your wah-wah with the pedal frozen in mid-travel, the WM does those funky mid-range and treble boosts, but with less fiddling and more flexibility. Very versatile, and inexpensive as well. Can be built many different ways, and all the parts are available from the Stock List. Difficulty level is "advanced-beginner" to intermediate.

The Tweak-O - Joe Davisson's boost with adjustable clipping is a great beginner project. This "build-by-number" version, with lots of how-to pictures, walks a complete beginner through constructing a gig-worthy pedal. A complete kit is available. Difficulty level is beginner.

The I-See Wah-Wah - I called it that because, in working it out, I finally understood some things that R. G. Keen explained in his "Technology of" article on Wah pedals. This is a Crybaby-type Wah, implemented with a dual op-amp. Can be built many different ways, and all the parts are available from the Stock List. Difficulty level is "advanced-beginner" to intermediate.
The Bear Boost Plus - The "Plus" in this germanium boost is adjustable soft clipping--you can make it subtle like a Rangemaster or slash-to-burn-down-the-cave! Interesting mechanical design using PC board-mounted 9mm pots and power jack. All of the parts are available from the Stock List. Difficulty level of this version is "advanced-beginner" to intermediate. A full kit for beginner level, including a ready-to-solder board and precision-drilled case, is available. See Kits and Designs in the Stock List.