On average I have a rather good build success rate – about 12 out of 13 builds work the first time. In this “Red Ranger Special” build, I combined a GuitarPCB “Red Special” with a GPC “Tone TwEQ” and combined the two circuits, leaving the tone section out of the Red Special – but left the Red Special volume pot in place as a 10-turn 100K trimmer for fine adjustment if needed. (The 100K trimpot is shown in the schematic, but sits between the Red Special and the Tone TwEQ after the 470nF (C5) cap.) The resultant schematic looks like this:

I also added 1N5817 protection diode add the +9v int to the Red Special board and used a 10K pot (instead of 5K) for the Sag control. After spending much time in planning out the build, I found I had to try a few different layout plans to get everything to fit into 125B enclosure. Using a bit of non-conductive foam, I settled on what you see in the images below . . . .

After completing the wiring, (as shown in the gutshot below), I fired it up and started test things out. Bypass worked fine, but engaged, the circuit was for intents and purposes dead. I could only hear a very faint signal coming thru with absolutely no change in anything when adjusting the controls.

Thinking I only needed to adjust the JFETs bias control, I flipped the pedal over to make an adjustment to the bias trimmer, when the DC power cord slipped out. The pedal suddenly came to life – but none of the controls worked. So, I put it back in bypass mode (still with no power) and the signal was true. Then, with the powers supply still unplugged, I hit the stomp switch and there was no change. I had signal but no control over anything and no “effect”.

Puzzled and disappointed, I was troubled by what I had done wrong. All that careful planning; examining the adjusted component omissions, the wiring between the two main PCBs, the 5-pots PCB, the stompswitch wiring PCB and DC supply. Everything looked perfect. Thinking I has possibly place the 100K trimmer in backwards, I turned it fully counter-clockwise to see if that was the issue. But alas – no change and the pedal continued to behave the same way.

I considered dissembling the whole thing, when I then thought to first check ALL the voltages and continuity of the DC supply paths. All the +9v lines were correct and supply voltages where needed. I even checked the Sag control and found it working properly. Next, I started checking the ground connections where everything was looking perfect – until I tested the two main PCB grounds to the ground on the DC jack. I had neglected to supply a ground wire to the either of the two main PCBs, but had indeed supplied a ground wire between the two boards.

I grabbed a small piece of black wire and connected the 3P2T wiring board to the Red Special board and fired it up again. BINGO! Wow! What a circuit! The gain is thru the roof and the sag control gives that “sputtery” sound of a dying battery; sounding more like a fuzz pedal.

I also learned that the Sage control is best left at the original 5K value as 10K does nothing after the center point. So, instead of changing out the pot, I just dropped a 10K resistor across lugs #1 & #3 of the pot, (basically converting it into a C5K pot), and called it good.

I highly recommend the Red Special and Tone TwEQ combo build. The added active tone controls add tremendous dimension to the pedal. Now, all that’s left is finish a couple other builds and get to decal day. Here are the pre-decal and Photoshop mockup of the finished artwork for the candy wrapper . . . . .

Thanks for looking. Happy building!