Black Sun of Doom

Based on: Amount of parts: Enclosure type:

Coda Effects Black Hole High, total 70 components 1590bb
Effect type: Technology: Get your board at:
High gain Preamp + Booster JFET + Op-amp gain recovery Black Sun of Doom
Build difficult: Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Advanced 9V Das Musikding (Europe)

Project overview:

JFET Sunn Model T in a box, featuring dual-channel, extended EQ section featuring Depth and Presence
control like Benzin VH4(link). This board also includes an LPB1 booster at the beginning of the signal
path for getting things even nastier.

Black Sun of Doom by PCB Guitar Mania 1

Board version 1.1v, 17th March 2023
Index
1. Project overview 5. Schematic
2. Index, Introduction & Controls 6. Components, Build Notes
3. Bills of Materials, BOM 7. Wiring Diagram, Drill Template
4. Shopping Lists 8. Licensing and Usage

Introduction
Sunn amps are some of the most regarded in the guitarist community due to their huge thick sound, deep
bass, and loudness. Every Stoner rocker dream!

However, these amplifiers can get pretty rare and expensive to purchase, often going for price tags above
$3000. Even the 2008 Fender reissue can be quite hard to find.

The Sunn tone demand increased incredibly fast through the years due to the hype generated online, with
many pedals claiming to nail its tone. Maybe the most popular being EQD Acapulco Gold, which delivers
quite good tones but not even close to the Sunn Model T.

Meanwhile, in France, Coda effects developed the Black Hole, following the Sunn Model T's original
schematic, replacing the tubes for JFETS and making some other adjustments to squeeze more gain out
of it we did with our Lemon Rockverb (link).

After being blown away by the Black Hole's tone, I started asking myself, ' How can we make this even
better?' So, I started experimenting with the EQ section, which most often the weakest point of the JFET
preamps in a box.

I wanted to try some of the EQs sections we have seen in other modern amps in a box, just like our Active
EQ or Hybrid eq, both from Freeman BEOD or the Revvolution series, respectively (links in every name).
Finally, choosing Benzin EQ as the winner. Keeping the traditional structure of an amp alike tone stack,
while adding a Depth control to make your bass growl and a presence knob to make sure you'll cut through
the mixes, as a cherry on the top, we have a recovery gain stage after the tone stack, making sure this
beast will tear your house down.

Controls

 BASS  DEEP  PRES

 BOOST  MIDS  TREBLE
 BRIGHT  NORMAL  VOL1

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Document version 1.1v, 17th March 2023
Bill of materials
Resistors C2 22nf VOL1 10K A
Part Value C3 470p
R1 68k C4 220p
R2 1m C6 22n Trimmers
R3 68k C7 22n Part Values
R4 1m C8 270p BIAS1 20k
R5 680r C9 330n BIAS2 20k
R6 470k C16 1n BIAS3 20k
R7 470k C19 2n2
R8 820r C22 330n
IC
R9 100k CB1 100n
Part Value
R10 56k CB2 100n
IC1 TL072CP
R11 56k
R12 56k
Electrolytic Capacitors
R19 1m Switches
Part Value
R20 10k Part Value
C5 22u
R21 4k7 Out Up SPDT ON/ON
C10 47u
R22 1k BOOSTER 3PDT
C12 47u
R23 56k
C13 220u
R24 100k
C17 10u Transistors
R25 100r
C18 10u Part Value
R26 56k
C20 2u2 Q1 J201
R27 47r
C21 1u Q2 J201
R30 1k
RB1 1m Q3 J201
RB2 470k Q4 J201
Potentiometers
RB3 47k Q5 2N5088
Part Value
RB4 10k BASS 1M A
RB5 390r BOOST 100K B Diodes
CRL 4k7 BRIGHT 1M A Part Value
CRL1 4k7 DEEP 25K C D0 1N5817
MIDS 25K B D1 LED 3mm
NORMAL 1M A D2 LED 3mm
Capacitors
PRES 25K C
Part Value
TREBLE 250K B
C1 22n

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Shopping list

Resistors 3 22n C1, C6, C7 Trimmers

Qty Value Parts 1 22nf C2 Qty Value Parts
1 100k R24 1 270p C8 3 20k BIAS1,
1 100r R25 1 2n2 C19 BIAS2,
2 10k R20, RB4 2 330n C9, C22 BIAS3
2 1k R22, R30 1 470p C3
1 47r R27 IC
3 4k7 R21, CRL, Electrolytic Capacitors Qty Value Parts
CRL1
Qty Value Parts 1 TL072CP IC1
5 56k R10, R11,
R12, R23, 1 22u C5
R26 2 47u C10, C12
2 68k R1, R3 1 220u C13 Switches
3 1m R2, R4, 2 10u C17, C18 Qty Value Parts
R19, RB1 1 1u C21 1 SPDT Out Up
1 680r R5 ON/ON
1 2u2 C20
1 47k RB3 1 3PDT BOOSTER
3 470k R6, R7,
RB2 Potentiometers
1 820r R8 Transistors
Qty Value Parts
1 100k R9 Qty Value Parts
1 100k B BOOST
1 390r RB5 1 10K A VOL1 1 2N5088 Q5
2 1M A BRIGHT, 4 J201 Q1, Q2,
NORMAL Q3, Q4
Capacitors 2 25K C DEEP,
Qty Value Parts PRES
1 100n CB2 1 1M A BASS Diodes
1 100n CB1 1 250K B TREBLE Qty Value Parts
1 1n C16 1 25K B MIDS 2 LED 3mm D1, D2
1 220p C4
1 1N5817 D0

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Schematic

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Components Recommendations
As many people like to experiment with some pedals with higher voltage, always ensure
your electrolytic capacitors' max tolerance is over 25v.

This board has been tested using Film box capacitors for most of the values over 1nf and ceramics discs
for those 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.

The BOM and Shopping list are exclusive 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 at our Pedal Building Guide.

For a successful and tidy build, it’s recommended the following order:

1. Resistors & diodes

2. Capacitors, starting with the smaller ones and the ceramic ones.
3. Electrolytic capacitors (always check the polarity)
4. Transistors
5. Wires
6. Potentiometers and switches
7. Off-board wiring

Remember, this project requires sourcing some good quality JFET from trusted sources for proper
functioning. We always recommend using SMD JFET as their reliability is far superior to the discontinued
through-hole counterpart. Also, bear in mind this project requires bias the transistors correctly with the
respective trim pots.

To do this correctly, plug the pedal into your 9v power supply/battery, grab your multimeter and plug the
black terminal into any ground of the circuit. Simultaneously, with the read touch, the Drain legs of your
transistors, if it's done correctly, should appear how much voltage is receiving that leg.

Now turn the trimpot with a screwdriver till you can read 4.5v- or half of your power supply; in case you are
using 18v- on the screen of your multimeter. Repeat this process with all transistors and their respective
trimpots till all of them are measuring 4.5v, then proceed to do fine-tuning by ear on what you hear are the
best settings of each transistor. Don't forget to share your favorite bias settings and pictures of your build
on our Facebook group!

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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 the control slug of your 3PDT.

This board has been designed to match our EZ 3PDT PCB; check it here to access our Pedal Wiring Guide.

PRES 1 GND TREBLE GND9V

1 MIDS 1 PW-OUT BASS 1

1 D0 C6
R30 C16 R27 C7
IC1

R21 R20 VOL R26 C8

R25 R19 C22
C1 8

R22
C21

C20

1
C3 C4 C9
Q3

Q4
C17

C5

BIAS3
1 1 1

BRIGHT 1 DEEP 1 NORMAL

C1 C2
C1 2

Q2 Q1
C1 3

BIAS2 Q5 BIAS1

CB2
R24
CB1
R23
C19

BOOST 1 VOL1 1

D2 D1

BOOSTER
A B C INPUTCTRLGND OUT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Always place the

3PDT like this!

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Document version 1.1v, 17th March 2023
Drill Template
This Project has been planned to fit into a 1590bb enclosure type.

Check the Attached “Drilling templates” to drill the box properly. The files are on Scale 1:1, ready to print
on an A4 page.

Licensing and Usage

We really appreciate your trust and support in buying this PCB, as well as your will to dive into the DIY
electronics world. For us, that's why you can make this project work properly and enjoy not only the building
process but also experiment and play with it on your rig.

We try to reply to every question we receive on our email or our social media. Still, we try to encourage all
our customers to join our PCB Guitar Mania – Builders Group on Facebook to post all your doubts, issues,
suggestions, or requests, share your builds, and have some feedback from other fellow builders and us!

We tested all our projects following this same guide on their standard configurations. Although, not all of
the variations and mods have necessarily been checked. These are suggestions based on the schematic
analysis and the experiences and opinions of others. Feel free to share with us your views and
recommendations regarding the mods your personal experimentation.

These boards may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless expressly noted. No attribution
is necessary, though accreditation or a link back is always much 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 to 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 silkscreen or other way of trying to hide our
logos and the source of the PCBs. Like it's written above, if you want to have your designs with your brand
and logo, we could undoubtedly reach an agreement.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in tune with the latest projects!

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