LPB1 boost

Remember my LPB1 PCBs? I finally built one! As the PCB is quite small, I decided to make my first 1590A build. Here it is:

Simple one knob boost, with quite a lot of gain. I used a 2n5088, which provides already quite a lot of gain. It is a simple volume boost, quite transparent that can be used to make your amp saturate a bit more, or to simply increase the volume of your guitar if you use it in your amp loop.

This is my first 1590A, and everything went better than expected. I was afraid that I would not have enough space inside such a tiny box to make all the component AND the circuit fit, but it was OK.

Some advice to make it easier:

• Use PCB mount 3PDT. They are a bit smaller than "normal" 3PDT and let you a bit more space.
• Use semi-enclosed jack like Lumberg KLBM3 jacks. They are a bit smaller and easier to use than open jacks like the one I used.
• use 9mm pots.

Madbean pedals has issued a very nice guide to explain you all the tricks and tips about 1590A builds (pdf). I managed to make it, not the most impressive 1590A build ever, but nice though:

How does it sound?

Well, it is a simple clean boost. So you can either use it as a volume boost in front of your amp (if set clean), or in the FX loop, or to increase the gain of your amp if you have set it crunchy. You can also use it before a dirt pedal to increase the saturation of it.

I am planning on testing it in front of different builds. I already tried it in front of a Jan Ray build, making it basically a Tim, nice to have 2 gains settings in one pedal. I also want to try it in front of a Big Muff, like in the Musket Fuzz... I think it can fit in approximately any guitar pedal!

Circuit guide

I already did a circuit analysis of the LPB1 booster. However, I realized that sometimes, it is easier for beginners to understand the role of each component with an infographic, like the circuit guide of the Big Muff page.
Here is the one of the LPB1 booster :

Let me know if you like this kind of representations, I can try to update old circuit analysis with circuit guides like this one!