Super Hard On

The Super Hard On is a classic and simple DIY project, widely considered one of the best guitar boosters available. This circuit drives your amp into a natural-sounding overload.

Steps

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Designators and components Step 2 of 5

COMPONENT LIST

PCB
PCB SUPER HARD ON PCB

Resistors
R1   1M        1M OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR (Optional)
R2   10M        10M OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR
R3   10M        10M OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR
R4   5.1k        5.1K OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR
R5   100k       100K OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR
R6   2.2k        2.2K OHM 1/4W 1% METAL FILM RESISTOR (Optional)

Capacitors
C1   100n          100NF 100V 5% POLYESTER FILM BOX TYPE CAPACITOR
C2   10u   10UF 50V ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR 5X11MM

Diodes
D1 1N4148   1N4148 SWITCHING SIGNAL DIODE
D2 1N4148   1N4148 SWITCHING SIGNAL DIODE
Led LED   LED 3MM GREEN (Optional)

Transistors
Q1 BS170 BS170 BS170RLRAG MOSFET N-CHANNEL

Potentiometers
GAIN 5k-C 5K OHM ANTI-LOG TAPER POTENTIOMETER

PCB

PCB SCHEMATIC

R1 is an optional resistor that helps reduce "pop" noise when you engage the effect, but it will also lower the input impedance.

The LED and R6 are optional. Do not install these components if you are mounting them on the enclosure or a separate PCB instead (e.g., 3PDT PCB or 1590B PCB).

TRANSISTORS

The 2N7000 is a common replacement for BS170, however the pinout is a 180 degrees turn. Mount the transistors on the PCB as follows.