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torvalds/1590a

Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2025-09-19

★ 566OpenSCADAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5QuietSetup · moderate

TLDR

A collection of DIY guitar pedal designs (fuzz, octaver, clean boost) you can build at home by soldering ready-made schematics and PCB layouts into a standard Hammond enclosure.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((1590a))
    What it is
      DIY guitar pedals
      Schematics and PCBs
      Hammond 1590A box
    Pedal designs
      Fuzz
      Octaver
      Clean boost
    Build friendly
      Hand solderable parts
      JLCPCB manufacturing
      Modular base board
    Audience
      Hobbyist electronics
      Guitarists
      Learners

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Order and hand-solder a DIY fuzz pedal to learn analog circuit building.

USE CASE 2

Build an octaver or clean boost pedal using the modular effect board design.

USE CASE 3

Learn how transistor and diode based guitar effect circuits work by building one yourself.

USE CASE 4

Swap different effect boards onto the shared base board without redesigning the whole pedal.

What is it built with?

OpenSCADKiCadAnalog electronics

How does it compare?

torvalds/1590apseudoku/kotinoshadley/gridfinity
Stars566751
LanguageOpenSCADOpenSCADOpenSCAD
Last pushed2025-09-19—2026-03-23
MaintenanceQuiet—Maintained
Setup difficultymoderatehardmoderate
Complexity2/53/52/5
Audiencegeneralgeneralgeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 1day+

Requires ordering PCBs and components, then hand-soldering surface-mount parts before you have a working pedal.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through ordering the PCB files from this repo at JLCPCB and sourcing the components from Tayda Electronics to build the fuzz pedal.
Prompt 2
Explain how the base board and effect board modular design works so I can build multiple pedals that share one enclosure.
Prompt 3
Help me understand the fuzz circuit schematic in this repo well enough to hand-solder it myself.
Prompt 4
I'm new to soldering surface-mount components. Guide me through assembling one of the 0805-size parts used in these pedal designs.
Prompt 5
Show me how to adapt the clean boost design in this repo to fit a different style of enclosure.

Frequently asked questions

What is 1590a?

A collection of DIY guitar pedal designs (fuzz, octaver, clean boost) you can build at home by soldering ready-made schematics and PCB layouts into a standard Hammond enclosure.

What language is 1590a written in?

Mainly OpenSCAD. The stack also includes OpenSCAD, KiCad, Analog electronics.

Is 1590a actively maintained?

Quiet — no commits in 6-12 months (last push 2025-09-19).

How hard is 1590a to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 1day+ to a first successful run.

Who is 1590a for?

Mainly general.

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