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DIY WORKSHOP
2 3
4 1 The Centura kit contains a
higher component count than
most overdrive kits, so it’s
worth sorting everything
out before you begin
2 Running masking tape down
the side of the component
page of the instructions can
help you sort the resistors
3 The PCB is clearly labelled
but you’ll need a soldering
iron with a fine tip because
the joints have to be small
and neat
4 All the components have
now been mounted on the
PCB, along with a few
jumper wires
Excessive heat can damage a circuit board, The PCB is labelled 1N34A, and Finnegan GETTING LOADED
so it’s a more delicate job than soldering confirmed in a forum post that this is the Even without the instructions, it’s plainly
components onto eyelet and turret boards. diode he used in the Centaur. However, apparent where all the pots and connectors
Next, I mount the resistors, pushing the countless versions of the 1N34A have been go. Just remember that the dual-gang pot
wires through the PCB holes, pressing the made over the decades, and Finnegan asserts is for gain and make sure the jack sockets
component against the board and folding that they all sound different when used for are oriented properly. The diagrams show
the wires over slightly on its rear. This holds clipping. Having tested numerous diodes this clearly but you can verify the socket
the resistors in position as I solder the joints, for my own pedal builds, I concur. Has connections by plugging in a guitar cable
and once the joints have cooled, I snip off Ceriatone managed to source the exact same and using a meter’s continuity setting to
the excess wire. Doing four or five resistors type as Finnegan’s apparently unobtainable identify the tags that correspond with top,
at a time, I work my way through them all Russian diodes? We’ll soon find out. ring and sleeve.
and finish by soldering the seven link wires. The electrolytic capacitors go in next, Klons were built with pots designed to
I follow the same procedure with the followed by the brown capacitors. I fold the be soldered onto PCBs. Instead, Ceriatone
diodes. There are five in total – three used electrolytics over, as in the original pedals. supplies pots with rounded solder tags, and
in the power supply and two ‘germanium’ With the PCB fully loaded, it’s inspected to the volume and tone pots have to be spun
clipping diodes that augment clipping in the ensure there are no overlooked solder joints or 180 degrees so that the solder tags point
op amp to produce the Klon’s distinctive accidental solder bridges between traces that away from the PCB. The gain pots have
overdrive characteristic. Pedal geeks have shouldn’t be connected. Once I’m confident the same connections, which renders the
long argued about the diodes Finnegan used. it’s okay, it’s time to load up the enclosure. detachable section of the PCB unusable.
GUITAR MAGAZINE 127
