Gory Digit

OK, we have to admit this is a difficult one.

First off, this is touted as a 'totally original design that sounds like no other'. In reality it's nothing of the kind, unless crashing two existing circuits into each other counts as original. Hey, this is pedals...

Secondly, it surely could have been done better.

The distortion element is great. Sustain for days, and lots of clarity on chords. After all, that's what Craig Anderton's Tube Sound and the Red Llama do. Get the idea? Whatever, it sounds good.

The tone section, not so great. Sure, it's just a tweaked Cry Baby circuit, but somehow it just doesn't really function as well as it should. It's not a bad trace - it's just how it is. It doesn't have the full sweep of a CB, possibly due to using a transformer instead of a wah inductor, and it cuts out in the middle of the turn. Go figure.

If you can live with that, and surely it's an easier pill to swallow not having spent $300, there are good sounds coming out of this. With famous fans such as Billy Corgan and Adrian Belew it must be doing something right.

We'll supply a few extra parts in case you want to play around with the Cry Baby section as it's pretty moddable.

Supplied with an extra PCB to mount the transformer at a lower level than the main PCB, so you can use a standard 1590B with ease.

If you want the PCB without parts there's a link for that at the bottom of the page.

Partial kit: PCB, all board-mounted components, pots.

Full kit: As above, plus footswitch and appropriate daughterboard/components for your selected bypass type (see Downloads section for details of those), jack sockets, DC socket, battery snap, hook-up wire, LED.

Enclosure (pre-drilled) is available as an option with full kits, and will not take a battery. Knobs are not included.

Builds are only available with full kits including enclosure and vertical-mount pots. Please choose appropriate knobs.

Inspired by: Bloody Finger

Difficulty: Medium

PCB size: 50 x 50mm / 24 x 24mm

Knobs required: 2

Enclosure: 1590B

Direct-Connect compatible (4-way)

Download INSTRUCTION PDF