RO Transtortion PUBLIC

Richter Original "Transtortion" Circuit for Electric Guitar

Richter Original "Transtortion" all-transistor distortion circuit for electric guitar, with 2-voice diode fuzz and 2-band tone. Controls Include: Input Level, Bass, Trebble, Drive, Fuzz 1 enable switch, Fuzz 1 symmetry switches, Fuzz 1 Depth, Fuzz 2 enable switch, Intensity, and master Volume. The first stage uses a BJT, followed by a BJT tone stage, followed by another BJT stage. Each stage can overdrive the next, to get distortion like that of a vintage distortion pedal. Then comes two shunt-type clipping-diode arrays for generating fuzz, where Fuzz 1 is from Schottky diodes and Fuzz 2 is from standard silicon diodes. The diode arrays are followed by a MOSFET stage, then a JFET output stage, both of which can also be overdriven, depending on control settings. Frequency Range 26 Hz to 21 kHz with all controls at 50%, or well beyond standard high and low audio limits with all controls at 100%. Suitable for 6/7/8-string guitar or 4/5/6-string bass. Maximum Gain = +25.5 dBV @ 630 Hz with all controls at 50%, or +74.3 dBV @ 2.5 kHz with all controls at 100%. This is a high-gain circuit when controls are set > 50%. Requires a +12VDC power-supply. A battery is shown but should be replaced by a regulated single-polarity DC supply providing +12VDC @ >= 50 mA, and which should include an illuminated ON/OFF switch. And though simulator verified, treat the circuit as experimental. Breadboard test before soldering.