Yellow Peril (EMEXAR, 3PDT Buffer BoarStage 3, Roto Tone, and Easy Order Switch)

[Chuck]

This has been a long time coming with a lot of starts and stops.  Ordered two EMEXAR 2 boards back when they were new and yellow.  Original thought was to build something similar to a certain gray named overdrive with multiple clipping options.  Realized I could add the different clipping options initially using the DPDT boards then even better using the Roto Tone so I shifted the plan to building one as the overdrive and the other as a MicroAmp but I prefer the Stage 3 over the MicroAmp – it’s a good boost but the tone is different from the Stage 3.  As usual I got distracted and this moved toward the back of the bench.  Eventually I started thinking about the extra board and the new Stage 3 and the Easy Order Switch and the Roto Tone and suddenly thought that the Distortion + might be more interesting than the overdrive – it is and it is not gray.  The overdrive version may resurface sometime in the future.

The clipping options are a pair of 1N34As, a pair of 2N7000s, a pair of 1N34As with a 5mm red LED, and a pair of 5mm red LEDs all socketed so I can experiment.  The Stage 3 has the bass switch and a J201 for some extra anger when turned up.  In front of the EMEXAR it really drives the distortion but when put in after the distortion it provides some extra tonal clarity that is nice.

Here’s the box:

And the guts:

I’m going to claim the asymmetrical pot/switch layout is on purpose.  My only disappointment with this pedal is that I couldn’t figure out how to add a 2 Knob Job – maybe move the two toggles to the sides of the box and …???

Thanks to Wilkie and Barry for assistance with the Easy Order Switch.

Thanks for looking,
Chuck

[Barry]

That is sweet! That is a long time to be in labor.

I see a spot for a 2 Knob Job along the side wall.

[Author]

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