Showing posts with label Pre Amp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pre Amp. Show all posts

Friday, 2 January 2026

Mesa Boogie Mk. 1 Preamp

 A verified layout by Sebastian, thanks mate!

In his own words...

 

I forgot about this layout I did ages ago, built up (it works), and never got around to boxing up: a Mesa Boogie Mk.1 preamp. I'm personally partial to pre-gain tone stacks (e.g. '60s Fenders, Orange Graphic MkII), so I was disappointed with the Runoffgroove Uno having its gain control before the tone stack instead of after. So I knocked together the schematic below, which is basically a straight JFET emulation of the actual Mk.1 preamp if you plugged into Input 1 (i.e. the input with the extra gain stage). This gives the user both pre- and post-tone stack gain controls. I added a Marshall-style "treble peaker" bright cap between the input and 2nd gain stages, just for some extra clang, which can be engaged or disengaged with the "TP" switch. After the master volume control, there's a mu-amp output stage to mimic the push-pull amplification of the Boogie's phase inverter.

I used BF245A JFETs just because that's what I have the most of, but I tested it with PN4393s and J201s, and it worked just as well. The gain boost can be either a toggle or stomp switch; as the original boost was operated by footswitch, I opted for that in my build.

This thing's pretty fun. Like actual Boogies, it takes a bit to dial in a great tone—it's absolutely packed with bad tones, LOL—but it can do everything from crystaline Fender cleans to Weezer "blue album" growl to thrash grind. I hope other folks enjoy it!

 

 

 

Sunday, 4 August 2024

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

PedalPCB Decadence Preamp

 PedalPCBs take on the preamp section of Peavey Decade amp.

Schematic is avaiable HERE.




Monday, 29 July 2024

Madbean BirdDog

 An old forgotten madbean project based on the pre amp section of solid state Squier 51 amplifier. I really find these SS amp designs interesting and they usually ditorts in an interesting way. The op amp types aren't specified in the schematic but I bet TL072 will work fine. You can also try op amps with bad specs like LM1458 or LM358, things might sound more fuzzy and dirty with these.


 



Sunday, 7 April 2024

Madbean Dinky Drive

Schematic can be downloaded HERE.

Based on the pre amp section of a Bad Cat Mini II which is supposed to bring some "Voxy" tones.