I started this project a while back when the amp I bought, a Fender Prosonic*, had a very 'Megadethy' distortion channel and I needed something more transparent. I took the advice of Zac Ray, who suggested the Tubescreamer TS808 aka the 'holy grail' of distortion pedals. In searching for this thing, I discovered the website General Guitar Gadgets, with thorough instructions on building your own clones. So with this how-to site along with several other electronics knowledge sites, I dug out my soldering iron. Why build it from scratch? They cost about $60 or so to make, which beats the $499 price for a vintage one by about $439. So I didn't really know what I was doing but that is no excuse to not solder things and electrify them.

Check out this piece of copper. Sooo Shiny. I etched it myself with some nasty chemicals from Radio Shack. I love Radio Shack. I like to rifle through their drawers while they try to sell me a cell phone.

Solder these little jimmy jams on according to the plan and wallah, distortion! I learned that distortion is the result of a complex feedback loop between diodes. See them up there right above the chip? The other pieces are all for looks.

This is what my pedal looks like when it is hungry and searching for food. They have very sensitive feelers.

This is the official squirrel skull logo being burned onto a silkscreen.

That's Lauren touching up the printed case. Hi Lauren!

Yes I made two of these, one was supposed to be for Zac Ray. . . but er, eh I am using them both now, with the white one on the synth. sorry zac.

Here is the pedal before I put it in the box and tested it. For some reason, it tested like it shouldn't work at all. See this forum thread for the debugging. The diy stompbox community is very helpful, and they have cool names like Transmogrifox and Mojotron.

I equipped the pedal with this night vision led, in case it plays any shows in the dark.

Dread inspiring.

And there you have it.

The End for now.

*Prosonic Combo - http://www.fender.com.au/amplification/guitaramps/pro_prosonic.shtml
USA

What do you get when you cross a classic Fender amplifier with a flame-thrower? The Prosonic.

Two channels: Normal can take you from vintage clean to swampy grunge with the spin of your guitar's volume knob. Nail the drive channel's dual cascading gain controls and wait for the cops to arrive!

Prosonic Specs: All-tube circuitry, 4, 8 or 16 ohm selector, 60 watts rms, 3-way rectifier switch (ClassA/cathode bias/tube rectifier, Class AB/grid bias/tube rectifier, Class AB/grid bias/SS rectifier).

Prosonic Features: Dual selectable channels, normal channel volume, independent cascading gain controls in drive channel for ultra intense distortion textures, EFX loop, external speaker out, 2-button footswitch, birch/maple ply cabinet. Also, the Prosonic Combo has two custom-designed 10" Celestion speakers and all-tube spring reverb.