My original solution is detailed in this older blog post. I basically created the bare-bones of a pedal utilizing all the parts that would give me a robust platform. This DIY version proved to be very useful, and I made several that I am still using.
Yes, I’m an engineer who knows all about feature creep(!), and considered adding a myriad of additional switches, pots, LEDs, MCU and display to measure power yadda yadda… but restrained myself and kept it to the essential minimum!

So why the update!? I started building and selling these dev boards, and the demand was gratifying, but took a long time to hand assemble, so I decided to refresh the design and productize what I could to minimize build time and make them more cost-effective.

Enter the Stomp Box Developer!

The main attraction is still the highest quality breadboard, now bigger – a massive BusBoard Prototype Systems (BPS) 2930 point board with 6 power rail pairs. It’s easy to use, high quality, reliable and if damaged, the design allows the breadboard, or a board-part, to be replaced.

I improved the plug-in power PCB to add power rail options – every positive rail can be either 9V or 4.5V or isolated to use for your own biased or negative rails… And there are secure test points (loops) to reliably connect probes to grounds, power rails and signal in and out. DC input voltage can be up to 18V – the split rail will track at a simple half of the input voltage.

The main 1590B enclosure now holds a PCB so there’s no hand-wiring at all in the build – with a nine way ribbon cable connecting the two PCBs.

Inside the enclosure is a typical true-bypass switching circuit using a quality Alpha 3PDT switch, with a filtered cap circuit for the LED indicator (won’t pop!) plus a PFET circuit to provide reverse polarity protection, with minimal voltage drop.
KISS and clean were the overriding goals, and I’m pleased with the result.

I’m working on a video and blog about how I use the Stomp Box Developer to perform audio tests, and A/B tests of my circuits against prototypes and production units – my own and others – just like a professional mixer references commercial tracks when mixing!

The boards are available to buy in the store, as are these 3PDT true bypass switch kits I created using the same switch and cable, to assemble prototypes faster, with minimal hand wiring.

The Concept: Reviving the Dead
Guitarists have long known the charm of plugging in a pedal with a dying battery. The fluctuating and lower voltage can lead to a sagging, spluttering, and compressed sound that’s hard to replicate with a fully charged battery or power supply. It’s like your pedal is fighting to keep going, adding an element of unpredictability and texture to your tone. The Undead captures this phenomenon perfectly, providing a reliable way to achieve those tones without constantly hunting for half-dead batteries.

How It Works
The Undead circuit simulates the declining voltage of a dying 9V battery, but with control. The output can be set from around 8V down to about 5.4V (the voltage that a 9V battery literally dies at!) – or use the bypass switch to pass through the clean 9V from your power supply. The lower voltage allows you to explore a range of tones from slightly underpowered warmth to all-out fuzz chaos – plus you can still switch in full 9V power – so it’s two power supplies (or tones) in one!
It’s like having a volume knob for your power supply—turn down the voltage, and watch your pedal come to life in new and unexpected ways. It maintains a consistent lower voltage, unlike real batteries that can be unpredictable, ensuring your fuzz always performs at its gritty best.

The Benefits: More Than Just a Dying Battery
Consistent Sag: Unlike real batteries, which can suddenly die out or behave inconsistently, the Undead offers a stable output at lower voltages, so your tone stays reliably ‘dead’ in the sweet spot.

Versatility in Tone: Experiment with different voltage levels to discover unique sounds. From smooth, mellow fuzz to raspy, glitchy tones that sound like your pedal is on its last breath, the Undead lets you dial in exactly the right amount of ‘sag.’

Long-Lasting Performance: No more swapping out batteries mid-performance or dealing with the frustration of a pedal that suddenly dies. With the Undead, your pedal’s ‘dying battery’ sound is always on tap.

Preserve Your Gear: Using real dying batteries can sometimes harm your pedals or lead to inconsistent performance. The Undead provides a safer, more reliable alternative that doesn’t compromise your gear.

The Undead features a bomb-proof, clean, quiet electronic design, that protects against input reverse polarity, output short circuit and thermal overloads. If you do overload it, it will come back to life! Don’t feed it after midnight…

Why You Need The Undead
Whether you’re looking to add new textures to your fuzz tones, experiment with lo-fi sounds, or just want to capture that elusive ‘dying battery’ feel without the hassle, the Undead is your ticket to sonic experimentation. It’s perfect for studio settings where consistency is key, or on stage when you want to wow the audience with tones that stand out from the usual fuzz fare.

Give your fuzz pedal a taste of the afterlife. Let it become the Undead, and discover the wild, untamed potential of your sound. Are you ready to go beyond the grave? Plug in, turn down the voltage, and unleash a whole new realm of fuzzy, distorted bliss.

Available no in our online store.

The second member of our Art Series of pedals, a boutique-like Klon clone, offering very complimentary tones to our first pedal – the Hi Scream.
Re-inventing lost or rare vintage tech – with a modern twist – is one of our product development aims.

Klone Ranger is more like a posse with its three clipping diode options, labeled S, D and A.

The S setting features a symmetrical pair of Germanium 1N34A diodes.
The D setting switches in two symmetrical silicon diode pairs – two diodes in each direction, giving a huge clipping overhead.
Finally, the A setting tweaks the silicon diode circuit into an asymmetrical clipper with two diodes in one direction, and one in the other.
It’s like having three overdrive pedals in one.

Wanted – Great Tone!
All settings offer wonderful warm tonal ranges from boost thru cutting, biting drive. Each clipping circuit offering its own unique character.

Klone Ranger features the original buffered bypass, with a pop-free, clean, modern design, and incorporates rare vintage 1N34A Germanium diodes.
Every pedal is hand assembled and thoroughly tested in the USA.

You can find more details on the Klone Ranger product page, and in our online store. Pedals will ship at the end of July, and more quickly thereafter.

Customizations
Klone Ranger utilizes an innovative clipping circuit with six germanium / silicon diodes, and as such is hugely customizable. We are open to modification requests!

Reviewers wanted!
If you would like to review one of our products on social media, we would be delighted. Please get in touch for more details.

Developed as a fast and reliable way to add an ON-ON stomp switch to a guitar or synth module build for true bypass and LED switching – or whatever else can make use of the 3PDT functionality!

A huge value for rapid prototyping, the 9-way (0.1″ pitch) 2″ long flexible cable brings out each of the three switches in grouped ways. The wiring is uncommitted, but I chose to make pin 4 (on the middle switch) a ground connection, which connects to a solid, uninterrupted ground plane on the upper side of the board. This is done for two reasons – it’s typical to use the middle switch for LED switching, so pin 4 can be utilized for the ground return for the LED. Clearly, also having a ground plane above all audio signals helps prevent electrical interference / return paths also.

Here’s the schematic –

This ground plane also has two 1mm holes for additional ground connections or test points.

The switch posts and cable ways are clearly labeled on the screen silk. The cable itself has a color coded strip indicating a pin 1.

Made with only quality parts, the kit comprises an Alpha 3PDT switch, a 2-layer PCB, and a 2″ 9-way 0.1″ pitch flexible ribbon cable. (The 2″ dimension is just less than the length of the plastic carrier – as shown in the pics.)

The flexible cable enables a short connection to your own PCB or Veroboard, which can sit at a different level than the footswitch PCB. It is very flexible – but note it is not intended for moving applications!

I’m thrilled to announce our first pedal is finally available for sale, and we called it Hi Scream.
Inspired by the legendary TS-9 Tubescreamer overdrive – originals of which are now selling for crazy prices, if you can find one at all!
Re-inventing lost or rare vintage tech – with a modern twist – is one of our product development aims.

Hi Scream has an amazing range of tone. With three clipping diode options, and a huge range of gain, it’s like having three overdrive pedals in one – and boutique ones at that!

At low levels, with the single pair of symmetrical diode clippers (S setting), it creates sublime warm tones. Add more gain, and push the output level, and the pedal and your amp can create sizzling sound – great for solos and plucking.

The second diode clipping option (D setting) switches in two symmetrical diode pairs. You will hear a leap in clean tone being passed, which again plays well with the output level control – and can either drive an external amp harder, and / or push the extended gain into clipping, and really stand out in a crowded band sound.

Finally, switching to the third diode clipping option (A setting) turns the circuit into an asymmetrical clipper with two diodes in one direction, and one in the other. This again creates a new range of tones (maybe with slightly lower gain settings, can we suggest!?) that again plays very well with the output level.

High gain settings can create insane crunch and dirt, especially if you play chords!

Setting up an overdrive is all about interplay between drive and level – and what amp you are driving – Hi Scream gives you lots of options to play and find tone you like.

Originally designed for guitars, the clipping circuit adds wonderful harmonic richness to any sound source. Definitely worth trying in a recording / production setup – try it on snares, claps, and ‘found sounds’ to create new / altered sounds from loops and samples.

Hi Scream features true bypass, with a pop-free, clean, modern design, but incorporates some of the same components found in the hard-to-find, expensive 1970s original. Power can be stand-alone with a 9V battery, or via the DC jack.
Every pedal is hand assembled and thoroughly tested in the USA.

You can find more details on the Hi Scream product page, and in our online store. Pedals will ship at the end of July, and more quickly thereafter.

Customizations
Hi Scream utilizes an innovative clipping circuit with six silicon diodes, and as such is hugely customizable. We have a limited run version in development with our own diode concoction, but we are open to modification requests and ideas. Definitely a topic for upcoming blogs and videos!

Reviewers wanted!
If you would like to review one of our products on social media, we would be delighted. Please get in touch for more details.