Cranky Charles

A British JCM800 style preamp with a 3-Band Baxandall Active EQ allowing you complete control over the tone. Turning the Drive full-up yields an aggressive distortion tone like you would expect from the real thing. Turn the Drive control down, and dial in some classic rock and blues. Use your guitar volume to get the most out of this versatile Monster of Rock!

Board Dimensions (W x H) 2.25” x 1.95” or 57.15mm x 49.53mm Bill of materials:

Part Value Part Value Part Value

R1 1M R17 22k C14 22n

R2 1k R18 1k8 C15 100u

R3 1M C16 100u

R4 *10k C1 22n R5 10k C2 220n D1 LED-5MM

R6 1M C3 1n D2 LED-5MM

R7 470R C4 100p D3 Status LED

R8 6k8 C5 100n D4 1n4001

R9 2k2 C6 100p IC1 *LM833

R10 6k8 C7 2u2 IC2 TL072

R11 68k C8 2u2 R12 2k2 C9 47n VOL A100k

R13 15k C10 10n DRIVE B100k

R14 10k C11 2n2 BASS B25k

R15 6k8 C12 10n MID B25k

R16 22k C13 2u2 TREBLE B100k

Build Notes: ● *IC1 - LM833: Feel free to use TLO72 here as well. ● *R4 - We chose 10k here for those that like to turn everything to 10. Based on build

variance, component choice and gear a lower value can cause squeal. The original value is 1k. Socket R4 if you want to try any value from 1k to 10k. 1k will produce more distortion.

Please see our “Guides Page” at GuitarPCB Forum for more guides, charts, tutorials and other pertinent information about building guitar pedals. Tone Controls: This is a Baxandall Tonestack, the same as used in our Tone TwEQ circuit. The three bands of the tone section are set up so it will be best for you to start with all three tone controls at the mid-point and adjust from there. You are sure to find a tonal setting that is just what you want!

STATUS LED D3 is a common anode bi-color LED. The diagram at right shows the pin-out, schematic symbol and pad connection for a common anode LED. The pin-out for the bi-color LED is typically (but not always) as follows: The lead 1 pad on the circuit board is shaded white. When connected correctly, the LED will light red when power is applied and the circuit is in bypass mode. The LED will light green when in effects mode. If you wish to use a standard LED, connect the anode to the middle pad and the cathode to the right pad to show the circuit in effects mode. If you use a 3PDT wiring board that includes an LED, you can omit this LED and R18. *R18 is the LED’s Current Limiting Resistor (CLR).

If you are using one of GuitarPCB’s handy 3PDT wiring boards, pads S4, S5, S6 and D3 would be ignored and R18 would not be installed. See wiring guide below for reference.

Add-On Build Guides for all GuitarPCB Builds ● Soldering Tutorial on Youtube

Need a kit? USA – Check out PedalPartsAndKits for all your needs. Europe – Das Musikding carries both boards and kits as a service to our Europeans friends. If they do not have a KIT listed send them a note asking if they can help you out. Das Musikding do not participate in any GuitarPCB sales however their shipping time is greatly improved and Customs delays are not an issue. We are two separate companies. They must also pay additional costs and fees in order to offer our boards and kits direct from Europe.

This document, PCB, Artwork and Schematic Artwork © GuitarPCB.com. Schematic and PCB design by Bruce R. and Wilkie1. Build Document by Bruce R. Wilkie1 and Barry. All copyrights, trademarks, and artworks remain the property of their owners. Distribution of this document is prohibited without written consent from GuitarPCB.com. GuitarPCB.com claims no rights or affiliation to those names or owners.