Rectifier Box
Based on: Number of parts: Enclosure type:
Mesa Boogie’s Throttle Box High, total 82 components 1590bb
Effect type: Technology: Get your board at:
High Gain Distortion JFET Op Amp Rectifier Box
Build difficult: Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Advanced 9V Das Musikding (Europe)
Project overview:
The Rectifier Box is my first attempt to capture the essence of the Mesa Boogie’s Throttle box, one of the
best High gain distortions I ever heard, with a really interesting Mid-cut section.
Rectifier Box by PCB Guitar Mania 1
Document version 2.0v, 18th October 2021
Index
1. Project overview 5. Schematic
2. Index, Introduction & Controls 6. Components, Build Notes, Wiring Diagram
3. Bills of Materials, BOM 7. Drill Template, Licensing and Usage
4. Shopping Lists
Introduction
Put the Rectifier Box distortion pedal before your amplifier and get ready for pure aggressiveness and
power!
Select the high gain settings and get all the power you need or dial it to lower gain and find a surprising
organic-sounding perfect for blues and classic rock.
The Mid-cut control scoops out midrange to give you the signature Boogie V amp sound to serve up all
ROCK genres with the perfect mix of cut and aggression.
Controls
• Gain
• Mid-Cut
• Tone
• Vol
• 3pdt Switch on board
• 2 DPDT, Input selector and Mid-cut EQ.
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Bill of materials
Capacitors R11 2m34 Part Value
Part Value R12 100k IC1 JRC4558
C1 680n tantalum*** R13 4k7 IC2 TL074
C2 82n R14 3k32 IC3 TL074
C3 82n R15 1k
C4 47p R16 56k2
Switches
C5 220n tantalum*** R17 100r
Part Value
C6 1u tantalum*** R18 10k
SW1 DPDT On-On
C7 1u R19 jumper
SW2 3PDT On-On
C8 220n tantalum*** R20 11k
SW3 DPDT On-On
C9 220n tantalum*** R21 11k
C13 2u2 tantalum*** R22 1k5
C14 2u2 tantalum*** R23 100r Potentiometers
C15 470n tantalum*** R24 11k Part Value
C16 47n R25 11k Gain 1M A
C17 47n R26 11k Mid-Cut 10K A
C18 100n R27 11k Tone 20K B
R28 1k Vol 10K B
R29 47k
Electrolytic Capacitors
R30 47k
Part Value Diodes
R31 20k
C10 47u Part Value
R32 47k
C11 47u D1 1n4007
R33 4k7
C12 10u D2 zener 9v1*
R34 470r
D3 1N4448
R35 470r
D4 1N4448
Resistors R36 470r
D5 1N4448
Part Value R37 100k
D6 1N4448
R1 1M R38 470r
D7 1N4448
R2 470k R39 15k
D8 1N4448
R3 390k
D9 1N4448
R4 47k
Inductors D10 1N4448
R5 4k7
Part Value D11 1N4448
R6 1k5
L1 Inductor D12 1N4448
R7 1k5 220uH** D13 3mm LED
R8 330r
D14 3mm LED
R9 220r
ICs D15 3mm LED
R10 1k5
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Shopping list
Resistors
Quantity Value Parts
1 680n C1
2 82n C2, C3
1 47p C4
3 220n C5, C8, C9
2 1u C6, C7
2 2u2 C13, C14
1 470n C15
2 47n C16, C17
1 100n C18
Electrolytic Capacitors
Quantity Value Parts
2 47u C10, C11
1 10u C12
Resistors
Quantity Value Parts
1 1M R1
1 470k R2
1 390k R3
4 47k R4, R29, R30, R32
3 4k7 R5, R13, R33
2 1k5 R6, R7
1 330r R8
1 220r R9
1 1k5 R10
1 2m34 R11
2 100k R12, R37
1 3k32 R14
2 1k R15, R28
1 56k2 R16
2 100r R17, R23
1 10k R18
1 jumper R19
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6 11k R20, R21, R24, R25,
R26, R27
1 1k5 R22
4 470r R34, R35, R36, R38
1 15k R39
1 20k R31
Inductors
Quantity Value Parts
1 Inductor 220uH** L1
IC
Quantity Value Parts
1 JRC4558 IC1
2 TL074 IC2, IC3
Switches
Quantity Value Parts
2 DPDT On-On SW3, SW1
1 3PDT On-On SW2
Potentiometers
Quantity Value Parts
1 1M A Gain
1 10K A Mid-Cut
1 20K B Tone
1 10K B Vol
Diodes
Quantity Value Parts
1 1n4007 D1
1 zener D2
9v1*
10 1N4448 D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8,
D9, D10, D11, D12
3 3mm LED D13, D14, D15
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Schematic
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Components Recommendations
As many people like to experiment with some pedals with higher voltage, always ensure
your electrolytic capacitors' max tolerance is over 25v.
This board has been tested using Film box capacitors for most of the values over 1nf and ceramics discs
for those under 1nf. However, high-quality components such as Wima's Capacitors and Panasonic's
electrolytics can deliver a better performance.
All the resistors used for testing this project are 1/4W Metal Film.
The BOM and Shopping list are exclusive regarding this project. It doesn't include all the hardware like the
3PDT bypass switch, audio/dc jacks, enclosure, etc.
Build Notes
If this is one of your first projects, I recommend you to take a look at our Pedal Building Guide.
For a successful and tidy build, it’s recommended the following order:
1. Resistors & diodes
2. Capacitors, starting with the smaller ones and the ceramic ones.
3. Electrolytic capacitors (always check the polarity)
4. Transistors
5. Wires
6. Potentiometers and switches
7. Off-board wiring
Zener 9v1*
D2 is power supply protection diode, which I believe is a 9v1, but I never tried it. I left it unpopulated on
my build.
Inductor 220uH**
The Inductor is 220uH micro henry, not mH. Please notice that it is NOT like those small ones that look like
resistors that you could find on Tayda.
Also, take in mind that most of the inductors of this value have four legs, two are actually the ones of the
Inductor, and the other ones are just to bring extra support in the build. Find which one is which before
soldering it.
I bought mine in Mouser Electronics.
Tantalum Capacitors***
This project uses mainly tantalum capacitors as in the original schematic.
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Wiring Diagram
All our projects include a free 3PDT Board to make the wiring easier and tidier. Also, all of our PCBs feature
the status LED on board.
The pad named “Ctrl” or “LED” is the one that controls the status of the led; wire it to the “LED” pad on the
3PDT board or in the control slug of your 3PDT.
This board has been designed to match our EZ 3PDT PCB; check it here to access our Pedal Wiring Guide.
Drill Template
On this drilling template, I made some changes to make it fit properly in a 1590BB enclosure. It fits super
tight, and I replaced the onboard pots for regular ones. For the DC jack, I recommend using the smaller
ones.
Check the Attached “Drilling templates” to drill the box properly. The files are on Scale 1:1, ready to print
on an A4 page.
Licensing and Usage
We really appreciate your trust and support in buying this PCB, as well as your will to dive into the DIY
electronics world. For us, that's why you can make this project work properly and enjoy not only the building
process but also experiment and play with it on your rig.
We try to reply to every question we receive on our email or our social media. Still, we try to encourage all
our customers to join our PCB Guitar Mania – Builders Group on Facebook to post all your doubts, issues,
suggestions, or requests, share your builds, and have some feedback from other fellow builders and us!
We tested all our projects following this same guide on their standard configurations. Although, not all of
the variations and mods have necessarily been checked. These are suggestions based on the schematic
analysis and the experiences and opinions of others. Feel free to share with us your views and
recommendations regarding the mods your personal experimentation.
These boards may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless expressly noted. No attribution
is necessary, though accreditation or a link back is always much appreciated.
If you are a builder planning to make your own run of pedals, we also offer the service of custom-made
boards with your brand and logo, design according to your specifications.
The only usage restrictions are that, first, you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior
arrangement with us, and second, you cannot scratch off the silkscreen or other way of trying to hide our
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Document version 2.0v, 18th October 2021
logos and the source of the PCBs. Like it's written above, if you want to have your designs with your brand
and logo, we could undoubtedly reach an agreement.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in tune with the latest projects!
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Document version 2.0v, 18th October 2021
