The BaconBits Booster is a simple op-amp based booster powered off a split rail supply. It can be used as a stand-alone boost to drive the front end of a tube amp or another effect such as an overdrive. The BaconBits utilizes an input buffer which feeds into a negative feedback gain stage. The result is a clean, high headroom boost that adds a lot of “shine” to the guitar at lower boost settings and dynamic, sparkling overdrive at high boost settings.
There's very little point in building a 1:1 clone, as you can score the original unit for peanuts as used. Possibly even cheaper than what the parts alone would cost you to build one. But instead of going through a painful bypass operation on a Boss box and having your way with the circuit, you can build your own and mod it to the perfection for yourself. There are a number of mod ideas on the web for this circuit.
The original units use Mitsubishi M5223AL SIP chip and 2SC2240 transistors. Since M5223 is still just a pretty standard dual opamp, any of our usual choices (JRC4558, TL072, NE55532, etc.) will work fine. Or in some cases, even sound way better than the original. The second transistor (the one on the top on the layout) is your first gain stage, so i do recommend socketing that one and the opamp to try out what suits you the best. The size of the board is slightly bigger than what i usually go for, but since it's 17 rows in height, this'll fit nicely in 1590B if you mount the board sideways. I built one already to see if the layout works and made a few value changes on it. 2N5088 + JRC4558 gives a mean, nearly sadistic texture for the distortion, upping certain cap values will add a ot of bass content and 5mm yellow LEDs for clippers make this one sick fuzz..
Slightly modernized layout for a forgotten classic. Transistor pinout is per the transistors you most likely have already. Original has C369s, which are rare and have a different pinout. There's added series polarity protection and for the clipping diodes, you may use what you like the best. Schematic i have doesn't specify which are used on the original, but i suspect those may be 1N34A or similar Germanium diodes. You should get a bit more output level with modern ones like 1N4148 etc.
Here's another version of the board with Beaker's modifications as discussed below. The switch and the poor "Fuzz Adjustment" controls have been replaced with tone pot that's way more usable and the volume control on this one should allow higher output levels.
This needs a 12VDC supply, so if you're using an unregulated one like the one mentioned in the circuit information then you may want to include a 12V regulator to stabilise it.
Wanted to do a quickie, so this seemed like a suitable circuit and we didn't have it on the library yet. Not a lot of info around.. One could play around with the value of that 10µ cap to see how 22µ or even a 100µ affects the tone. Maybe even make it switchable. Either way, this should fit nicely in 1590A.
A friend of mine knew this circuit and recalled asking around for a demo clip. Back in 2008. Now, today, we finally have a demo. Huge thanks to HarmRazorback! Very nice playing man!