Red Llama

by gaussmarkov

Red Llama Layout

The Red Llama is one of my favourites. MartyB introduced me to this great circuit. The schematic source was Steve Cerutti at diystompboxes.com.


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39 Responses to “Red Llama”

  1. Ryan said:

    Where is the output? Is it off of the square on volume 1? I thought it was off of 2 on Volume..

    Posted 18.08.2007 at 8:35 am

  2. gaussmarkov said:

    Yep, you are right. The output is off lug 2 of the volume pot.

    Posted 18.08.2007 at 11:03 am

  3. Maury said:

    If the volume pot lug 2 is for output, then you need to just hook lug 2 to the footswith’s output lug?

    Posted 29.09.2007 at 10:14 am

  4. gaussmarkov said:

    yep, that’s right! :)

    Posted 29.09.2007 at 10:18 am

  5. Eden Barrera said:

    I used this layout to perf it. Worked great!
    Love the pedal.

    Posted 30.09.2007 at 6:45 am

  6. gaussmarkov said:

    Super. I’m glad it worked out.
    I also perf the Red Llama and similar size circuits. I lay them out for perf: the components and traces are always on a 0.1″ grid.

    Posted 30.09.2007 at 7:23 am

  7. Chris said:

    Hi, I know this is probably a dumb question but as this is going to be my first build, I’m going to ask anyway. Is it safe to assume that the layout diagram is showing the solder side of the board?

    Posted 11.10.2007 at 6:05 pm

  8. gaussmarkov said:

    That’s a fine question.

    No, boards are always pictured looking down on the component side. So the solder side is reversed.

    Posted 12.10.2007 at 12:18 am

  9. chris said:

    Hey thanks! That is definitely good to know.

    Posted 12.10.2007 at 3:27 am

  10. Chris said:

    Hi, I hate to keep asking dumb questions but is this layout showing us the undersite or top side of the pots? Or does it really matter?

    Posted 17.10.2007 at 5:27 pm

  11. gaussmarkov said:

    That’s not dumb. Others have asked the same thing. That’s the bottom of the pot cases pictured. The shaft is on the other side.

    You can tell the answer by looking at the numbering of the lugs. Lug 1 is always the CCW lug.

    The whole layout is pictured as it goes into the enclosure, with the pot shaft underneath going through a hole in the top of the enclosure. The board goes in component side up, or facing the bottom of the enclosure when everything is put together.

    That’s not how all builds are done. But I am willing to bet most builds are done that way. For an example, look at Krister’s recent build of his Pearl OC-07 clone.

    Posted 17.10.2007 at 7:10 pm

  12. jdavyd said:

    hi,
    when you say to take the output from the 2nd lug of the volume pot, do you mean literally from the lug, or from the pad where it connects to the pcb?

    thanks!

    Posted 19.10.2007 at 12:08 pm

  13. gaussmarkov said:

    Hi!

    Either the lug or the pad is fine. But the lug is a better choice IMHO.

    Lots of builders put an extra pad on the PCB for making the connection to the board instead of the lug of the pot. I did not put that extra pad there, so you would have to add it if you want one.

    But PCB pads are much more fragile than pot lugs. And sometimes the wiper lug does not need to connect to the board at all. Then using PCB pads just adds to the amount of wire. So I prefer the lug.

    All the best!

    Posted 19.10.2007 at 1:21 pm

  14. Chris said:

    Hi all,
    I just finished this as my first build, and after accidentally reversing the board in and out, as well as the pots, and in addition to finding an incomplete connection on my board; I am proud to say that this pedal works and sounds great! It’s a bit bassy when you turn the gain and volume up past 12, but that through my computer using Amplitube. The real test is through my actual amp, which I’m going to try this week.
    I’m probably going to try the Green Ringer next.
    Thanks for everything GM! Your site rules!

    Posted 21.10.2007 at 4:57 pm

  15. rafael zuleta said:

    hi ,mister gauss markov ,me again, i see another schematic about this project and the original tube sound fuzz by mr craid anderton (same circuit but little few mods) and compare with your schematics ,and you have a little mistake ,i think?
    you put pins 7,9,11,and 14 to ground (cd 4049 ube),and those pins ,must be connectec to 9(+).
    let me know that i ok.

    Posted 30.10.2007 at 8:39 pm

  16. gaussmarkov said:

    AFAIK, either ground or +9V is fine. The main thing is that they are not left hanging. Thanks for checking, RZ!

    Posted 30.10.2007 at 9:36 pm

  17. Anastasio said:

    I made my perfboard layout based on your schematic. Thanks for sharing all the info and making the schematics available. Your site is great!
    I have been testing the circuit for a couple of weeks now. It has kicked out of my pedalboard two other overdrives. I’m a fun of the “less is more” idea when it comes to fx. The Llama, together with a delay and a reverb are the only pedals I use right now. It’s on its way to get velcroed…

    Posted 02.11.2007 at 3:41 am

  18. javier said:

    great pedal
    everyone should have one!!!!!!!!
    easy and LOUD
    javi

    Posted 30.12.2007 at 2:21 am

  19. gaussmarkov said:

    i agree!! :-)

    Posted 30.12.2007 at 8:19 am

  20. Coxter said:

    I assume they are linear pots?

    Posted 17.01.2008 at 9:34 am

  21. gaussmarkov said:

    I do not know what kind of pots the original used. Most people prefer an audio (log) pot for the level/volume control at the output of any stompbox. The gain pot would typically be linear.

    Posted 17.01.2008 at 10:33 am

  22. Fuzz Aldryn said:

    after building the bsiab II using your layout with succes (and many more same complex circuits) i realy start going mad about this one:( i can’t get it to work! i can’t figure out any failure on my work, except that i use a 56pf cap instead of the 51pf pictured in your layout. i get no distortion at all turning the gain pot. only turning the vol changes the over all (still not loud) output. i checked the traces and the wiring over and over again… no mistake, no succes:(
    but still this is a great site with great layouts!

    Posted 23.01.2008 at 11:34 am

  23. gaussmarkov said:

    fuzz,

    this build has been verified by many people. so there must be a mistake, or a misunderstanding.

    i’m sorry that you are having so much trouble with this one. obviously the other builds (like the bsiab2) that you have completed successfully are “harder.”

    sometimes this happens. some odd little thing catches us.

    it’s a great circuit when it is working. i hope you find the problem.

    and thanks for the encouragement!

    all the best, gm :-)

    Posted 23.01.2008 at 11:48 am

  24. Fuzz Aldryn said:

    that’s the point: people have verified it, so obviously it works. i have compared it with other layouts on the diystompboxes gallery (e.c. the layout by markm) only finding the difference that yours is the most compact and practicaly:)
    my thought was: “hey! you’ve heard so many good things about that pedal and it’s an easy built! so why not try out this easy little circuit after having built the ROG Thor, BSIAB II, Nurse Quacky etc.?”
    anyway…thanks for your fast reply! i won’t give up that fast… maybe the ic is “kaputt”.. hmmm:D

    all the best, too!

    Posted 23.01.2008 at 12:11 pm

  25. Fuzz Aldryn said:

    good news: it works! after changing a ground connection from pin 14 to 15 (L=F), which works too, by accident and back i got that little gadget working.
    so everything is fine!

    with regards
    fuzz

    Posted 23.01.2008 at 2:02 pm

  26. gaussmarkov said:

    sweet! 8)

    Posted 23.01.2008 at 2:16 pm

  27. jd said:

    where is the parts list for this?

    Posted 01.06.2008 at 7:16 pm

  28. jd said:

    oh, its on the bottom right of the page. Perfect place for it!

    Posted 01.06.2008 at 7:28 pm

  29. Éric said:

    Just one question…

    why there is a pad between volume pot and the rest of the circuit?!
    why not just the circuit going to que pot directly?!

    the gain is the same…

    i just dont understaind why there are those pads… if they arent used…

    im getting some troubles building this one…

    1st try - just hummm
    2nd try - works perfectly (but without bypass… just for a earlier test)
    3nd try - just loud hummm (this time with bypass inside a hammond box)

    i think the problem is in this pad issue that i’ve mencioned up there…

    but… thx very much for this… i was looking for it, and just found it over here…

    great website men…

    Cheers…

    Posted 21.07.2008 at 11:02 pm

  30. igor said:

    the book is on the table

    Posted 21.07.2008 at 11:13 pm

  31. gaussmarkov said:

    Éric,

    i am not sure which pad you are referring to. the pad in the lower right hand corner, marked GND, is to hook up to ground. the red lines represent wires going from the volume pot to the circuit.

    the volume pot has 3 connections. the output comes from the middle one, no. 2, and you should connect that to the output jack (not shown). the pot is connected to the circuit at no. 3 and there is one pad for that connection. the no. 1 lug on the volume pot is connected to ground.

    i hope this helps, gm/paul

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 3:29 am

  32. Éric said:

    thx for helping…

    so that’s ok if i dont make any conection on the no. 1 lug of the volume pot? because the hammond box should do the ground service right?!

    now i see why the red wires… i just got confused cause, in the layout for the PCB there are the pot’s pad….

    ill try it again today…

    thx again…

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 10:13 am

  33. gaussmarkov said:

    you must connect the ground wire for lug no. 1. the hammond box will ground the jack, but it will not ground any pot lugs. so either connect no. 1 to the board as shown or to the ground lug of a jack.

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 10:22 am

  34. Éric said:

    ok… thx again…

    im already working on it…

    as soon as i get it working… i post it here ok?

    thx man..

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 12:07 pm

  35. Éric said:

    I’ve build it up again… new pcb, new pots, new components…

    but i still get the loud hummm…

    is there any pictures showing one of yours red llama?

    thx again

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 5:41 pm

  36. Éric said:

    GM… i got the eagle zip, and i re-made the pcb layout, just adding a out pad…

    Can u check if it should work?

    http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/11/83/24/54/redlla10.jpg

    Thanks for helping man…

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 8:15 pm

  37. Éric said:

    Posted 22.07.2008 at 8:27 pm

  38. gaussmarkov said:

    hi Éric,

    if you used my eagle files and did not change any of the schematic connections then your own layout should work also. do a Design Rule Check (drc) on your layout with eagle just to be sure.

    it may object to the traces that run between the pads for the ICs. but you can probably get away with those if you are good at etching.

    i don’t think a new layout will fix your past problems though, unless it helps you to avoid a mistake that you have been making.

    good luck! :cool:

    Posted 23.07.2008 at 5:19 am

  39. Éric said:

    Man… i dont know how… but it works :P

    I gave up for like a week… and them when i tested it again, just worked…

    exact sciences are not exact…

    Thx for helping…

    Cheers

    Posted 05.08.2008 at 3:53 pm



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