Building a Overdrive Pedal Kit

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Building a Overdrive Pedal Kit

Today I’m building a overdrive guitar pedal kit from a bare PCB, it came with no instructions, and I wanted to show how it can still be built.

This one uses two 4558 op-amps, like the classic Boss and Tube Screamer circuits, so it should sound really good when it's finished.

Let’s dive in.”


Resistors First 

Always start with resistors because they sit low on the PCB and make soldering clean and easy.

On this board, everything is clearly labelled.


Diodes and Small Caps

Next we add the two 1N4148 diodes for the clipping stage. Orientation matters, match the black band on the diode to the band on the PCB.

Then I added the larger black Diode, being sure to orientate the band correctly.

Small Caps

Next we add all the smaller capacitors, I like to lay them out and label them so that they are easily identified.


Then I solder them into position one by one.

To help keep them in place whilst soldering, try using Blu-tack over the components so they don't move.

Electrolytics

Now we can add the electrolytic capacitors. The PCB marks the positive leg, so make sure the long leg goes in the + hole. 

Op-Amps & Sockets

Next we solder the sockets for ICs. The PCB shows a notch for orientation, match that notch when you install the sockets to ensure that the pin align correctly. 

Pots: Gain, Tone, Volume

Next solder the pots into place. 

The places on the PCB are labelled: -

  • G1/G2 → Gain
  • T1/T2/T3 → Tone
  • V1/V2/V3 → Volume

These are standard three-lug pots, I cannot mount these directly to the PCB so I must wire them from the PCB to the Pots. From the Back of the pot (side without the control knob) the pins should be from the right hand side 1, 2 and 3.

The pins on the potentiometers should match that of the labelling on the PCB so I will wire that way.

Before I soldered the potentiometer wire side, I placed a shrink wrap sleeve over the wires. Then once in place I pushed this up and over the terminals so that they didn't interfere with each other.


LED

Next I had to soldered the wires for the LED to the PCB, this was labelled as LED+ and LED-. To solder the wires to the LED, this was more awkward, so I held the LED in place using Blu-tack to prevent it moving. Then soldered the wires to that, Red to the positive longer pin and Black to the negative shorter pin.


Jacks and 9v supply

On the PCB the input and output jacks are labelled as In-Tip and Out-Tip, these connect to one of the Tip legs of the Jacks. The Shoulder of the Jack connects to the ground.

Ensure that these connections are the right way around.

The 9v battery wires connect to Bat+ and Bat- accordingly.
Then I connected the power jack to the PCB, then to the input jack 3rd ground.
Switch

One of the easiest things about this PCB is that the 3PDT switch solders directly to the board using these 9 pads. No messy wiring.

Finally i put everything in the pedal case and tested it

And that’s the pedal finished!

A full dual-4558 overdrive pedal from a board with no instructions.

I documented the full build and posted the video on YouTube as shown below.

If you enjoyed this build, I’ve got more pedal and electronics projects on the way.

Apologies for the quality, I am still learning how to take videos correctly, and am looking into a new microphone.

Thanks for reading and watching, Matty

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