Article

Tube Box

that authentic valve sound — using diodes

Want authentic tube overdrive without cranking your amp to ear-splitting levels? The Tube Box sits between your guitar and amplifier, delivering that warm, natural valve-style distortion — ranging from smooth blues to screaming metal — thanks to flexible controls and classic clipping behavior.

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Materials

010119-PCB.pdf

Gerber file

CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor Green and Gold members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.

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PCB

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Bill of Materials

Resistors:
R1 = 511kOhm
R2 = 680kOhm
R3 = 6kOhm 8
R4 = 15kOhm
R5 = 1kOhm 2
R6 = 1kOhm
R7,R8,R10 = 8kOhm 2
R9,R29,R34,R35 = 2kOhm 2
R11 = 1kOhm 8
R12 = 470kOhm
R13 = 3kOhm 3
R14 = 100Ohm
R15,R26,R31 = 33kOhm
R16 = 220kOhm
R17,R21,R23 = 47kOhm
R18 = 91kOhm
R19,R20 = 43kOhm
R22 = 100kOhm
R24 = 22kOhm
R25,R33 = 68kOhm
R27 = 470Ohm
R28 = 180kOhm
R30 = 10kOhm
R32 = 5kOhm 1
P1,P2 = 100kOhm potentiometer, logarithmic law
P3= 50kOhm potentiometer, stereo, logarithmic law
Capacitors:
C1,C17,C24,C25,C26 = 100nF
C2,C3,C13,C14 = 47nF
C4,C5,C29,C30 = 10µ F 16V radial
C6 = 33nF
C7,C11 = 470pF
C8 = 1µ F 16V radial
C9 = 1µ F 16V radial
C10 = 2µ F2 16V radial
C12 = 560pF
C15 = 3nF3
C16,C27,C28 = 4nF7
C18 = 100pF
C19 = 39nF
C20 = 22nF
C21 = 220pF
C22 = 22µ F 16V radial
C23,C29,C30 = 10µ F 16V radial
Semiconductors:
D1-D4 = 1N4148
D5,D6 = LED, red
IC1,IC2,IC3 = TL072-CP*
Miscellaneous:
K1,K2 = jack socket, 6.35mm, chassis mount
K3 = solder pin
S1 = rocker switch, 1 x c/o
S2 = rocker switch, 2 x c/o
S3 = pedal switch
Enclosure: Hammond type 1590B*
PCB, order code 010119-1