Description
A PCB for the Hard Bargain distortion project. This PCB is designed to fit into a Hammond 1590BB enclosure in landscape format, and you can also get a set of four PCB mounting pots for a quick, easy, reliable construction.
The PCB is FR4 fibreglass for strength, with plated through-holes and green soldermask and white screen print on both sides. The PCB layout can accept film capacitors with either 5mm/0.2″ or 7.5mm/0.3″ lead spacing, so you’re not limited in your choice of capacitors.
David Clegg (verified owner) –
This is a very high gain and very versatile distortion. The mid control is really useful for shaping the tone. The tilt control works well but when turned fully anticlockwise the pedal becomes completely silent. It is possible to obtain anything from mild overdrive to metal mayhem with this circuit. It takes some time to get used to the controls as the tilt and scoop have such a profound effect on the gain struture. My only gripe is that it lacks a little in the bass frquencies, this is no doubt as a result of the very high gain available and the problems this would cause at lower frequencies. Well worth building as it really is very versatile. I used Germanium diodes for clipping.
Tom Wiltshire –
Hi David,
Thanks for the feedback and positive vibes.
It sounds a bit like you might have a problem with the Tilt circuit somewhere. “Full anticlockwise = no sound” definitely isn’t right! And your comment about “lacks bass” is indicative too – one early version I built had a problem in the tilt circuit, and it showed up as a real lack of punch at the bottom.
Get in touch and we’ll see if we can’t get you debugged.
Thanks,
Tom
David Clegg (verified owner) –
I have built a second Hard bargain exactly like he first one, see above, but run it at 12v. It has a more vintage range of distortion to my ears when run at 12v. Probably the only distortion pedal you will ever need, ( well maybe two), due to to its amazing versality. If you want hard distortion use 9v and it will sustain forever, if not use 12v and it will be much subtle distortion. The opamps are opa21234 but I doubt this contributes anything over the standard TL072.