JCM 800 Emulator
Based on: Amount of parts: Enclosure type:
JFET Conversion Low, total 22 components 125B
Effect type: Technology: Get your board at:
Overdrive/Pre-amp JFET J201 cascade JCM-800 Emulator SMD
Build difficult: Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Easy 4mA (9v) / 10mA (18v) Das Musikding (Europe)
Project overview:
The JCM 800 pre-amp emulates the tone of the classic Marshall's JCM 800, using the same circuit
schematic that you will find in the most famous British Amps from the 80's, using JFET transistors
instead of vacuum tubes.
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About The Pedal Creators
Everyone can build excellent boutique guitar pedals.
Everything we do is to make that experience more accessible and user-friendlier.
The Pedal Creators series are the best and easiest to build PCBs ever. Including
most resistors and capacitors already soldered on board as SMD components, leaving the key values for
you to experiment and craft your own tone.
Now you can build a pedal you are proud of in less than an hour without any previous experience.
What are you waiting for to become a Pedal Creator?
The Pedal creators - key features:
• Easy to build, no previous experience required. It's like Lego for musicians.
• Fast assembly finish a pedal in less than an hour. Play your favorite record and enjoy the ride
along.
• 100% mistake-proof. Even my grandma can build one while she cooks.
• Build your own boutique pedal. Experiment with different values and make the pedal you always
dreamed of.
• Easy to scale. Turn your passion into a money-making machine.
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Index
1. Project overview 6. Schematic
2. About The Pedal Creators 7. Components recommendations, Build
3. Index, Introduction & Controls Notes, Wiring Diagram
4. Bill of materials 8. Drilling Template, Licensing and Usage
5. Shopping list
Introduction
This circuit has been developed to recreate all the gain and tone from the famous Marshall’s JCM 800
Pre-amps, replacing the vacuum tubes for the JFET J201.
The origin of this design goes back to 2004, by an schematic published by Electric, following the same
conversion style as the ROG designs as the Azabache, Britania, Thunderbird,etc.
This version includes five trimmers to bias the JFET at taste. Also features pads to use standard through
hole J201 or the more available and reliable SMD version.
Controls
The JCM-800 Emulator features a six controls, Gain and Volume control, Master to control the output of
the Pre-amp stage and a 3 band Marshall tone stack.
• Bass – Tonefor the bass frequencies.
• Mids – Tone for the mids frequencies.
• Treble – Tone for the treble frequencies
• Master – Controls the output of the preamp.
• Level – Controls the output volume
• Gain – Controls the preamp gain
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Bill of materials
Capacitors
Part Value
C1 680n
C14 1uf
C15 100uf
Transistors
Part Value
Q1 J201
Q2 J201
Q3 J201
Q4 J201
Q5 J201
Q6 J201
Diode
Part Value
D1 1n4001
D2 3mm Led
Trimpots
Part Value
TRIM1 100k
TRIM2 100k
TRIM3 100k
TRIM4 100k
TRIM5 100k
Pots
Part Value
GAIN 1M A
HIGH 250K B
BASS 1M A
LEVEL 100K A
MASTER 1M A
MID 25K B
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Shopping list
Electrolytic Capacitors
Qty Value Parts
1 680n C1
1 1uf C14
1 100uf C15
Potentiometers
Qty Value Parts
3 1M A GAIN, BASS, MASTER
1 250K B HIGH
1 100K A LEVEL
1 25K B MID
Diodes
Qty Value Parts
1 1n4001 D1
1 3mm Red LED D2
Trimpots
Qty Value Parts
5 100k TRIM1, TRIM2, TRIM3,
TRIM4, TRIM5
Transistors
Qty Value Parts
5 J201* Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6
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Components Recommendations
For this project is a must to use JFET J201* from a trusted source such as Das Musikding, Small bear,
and many other pedal related suppliers. DO NOT trust non verified vendors, as are many counterfeits out
there, and they won’t work properly on your build.
This board features the possibility of use the SMD (Surface mounted device) J201, as well as the classic
format TO-92 (regular transistor) now discontinued; place either the SMD version or the standard one per
transistor position.
As many people like to experiment some pedals with higher voltage, always ensure the max tolerance of
your electrolytic capacitors** is over 25v.
This board has been tested using Film box capacitors for most of the values over 1nf, and ceramics discs
for the ones 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.
This board features five trim pots to bias the JFET J201.
The BOM and Shopping list are exclusively 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 on our Pedal Building Guide
For a successful and tidy build it’s recommended the following order:
1. SMD Transistors
2. Resistors & diodes
3. Capacitors, starting with the smaller ones and the ceramic ones.
4. Electrolytic capacitors (always check the polarity)
5. Transistors
6. Wires
7. Potentiometers and switches
8. Off board wiring
9. Transistor bias
To bias correctly the transistors you must plug your finished build into the power supply first. With your
tester on voltage mode (V20) plug the negative tip into the ground of the project, some alligators could
be really helpful. With the positive tip touch the Drain leg of your transistor and it should appear the
voltage on your tester screen. Tweak the trim pot till you read 4.5v if you are using a 9v power supply. Do
the fine adjustment by ear, in order to bias at your own personal taste.
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Recommended voltages:
• Q1: 3.9v
• Q2: 6.9v
• Q3: 4.0v
• Q4: No sensitive to Biasing by trimpots
• Q5: 5.6v
• Q6: 2.7v
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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 control slug of your 3PDT.
You can take a look on the following diagram to understand the general connections. For further
information check our Pedal Wiring guide.
Drill Template
This Project has been planned to fit into a 125B enclosure type (122x67x35mm approx.)
Check the Attached “Drilling templates” to drill the box properly. The files are on Scale 1:1, ready to print
in a A4 page.
Licensing and Usage
We really appreciate your trust and support buying this PCB, as well as your will to dive into the DIY
electronics world. That’s why for us is really important that you can make this project work properly and
to enjoy not only the building process, but also to experiment and play with it on your rig.
We try to reply to every question we receive on our email or in our social media, but we try to encourage
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all our customers to join our PCB Guitar Mania – Builders Grup on Facebook, in order to post all your
doubts, issues, suggestions or request, as well to share your builds and have some feedback from us
and other fellow builders!
All of our projects have been tested following this same guide on their standard configurations. Although,
not all of the variations and mods have necessarily been tested. These are suggestions based on the
schematic analysis, and on the experiences and opinions of others. Feel free to share with us your
opinions and suggestions regarding the mods our your own personal experimentation.
These boards may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless specifically noted. No
attribution is necessary, though accreditation or a link back is always greatly 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 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 silk screen, or other way of trying to hide
our logos and the source of the PCBs. Like its written above, if you want to have your own designs, with
your brand and logo we could certainly reach an agreement.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in tune with the latest projects!
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