DIY “Tube“ Distortion - High Voltage Neon Drive Pedal
Gas discharge tubes such as neon lamps conduct non-linearly, and have some other really cool conduction properties - like negative resistance and hysteresis loops, for instance. This project uses a neon lamp as the main distortion element in a drive/fuzz pedal, for some pretty unique tones and behavior.
This is also a higher-voltage version of my “blank slate“ distortion/fuzz/overdrive pedal and the high voltage opens new possibilities such as stacking sounds on top of each other by putting components in series.
Schematic:
Parts’ list:
Music in this video:
Staycation - Corbyn Kites
Sunrise Drive - South London HiFi
Heated Seat - Silent Partner
#psychotenuse #diypedals