Corrected Maestro Bass Brassmaster BB-1

After a great deal of detective work by some effects makers and comparisons with original units, it
has been determined that the manufacturer’s schematic for the Maestro Bass Brassmaster model
BB-1 is incorrect in one small way: the pinout for the darlington device (2N5308) is shown backwards.
This is shown in the corrected schematic below.

The Bass Brassmaster PCB sold by General Guitar Gadgets properly reflects the schematic except in
three ways. These are:
1. The positioning of the Darlington is show according to the original, incorrect schematic diagram. This
can be corrected by turning the transistor 180 degrees in the mounting holes.
2. The nomenclature for R22 and R27 was reversed on the schematic noting the part numbers for the
PCB. If these are reversed, it is then correct compared to the schematic, and has been proven to
work properly.
3. The switching on the filter was simplified to simply put one resistor in parallel with the other. For
instance, instead of switching from 47K to 6.8K, the two were simply paralleled. This makes the
switching much simpler, requiring only a 3PST instead of a 3PDT switch. It does change the filter
frequency slightly, making the high position about 14% higher in frequency. In practice, this changes
the sound of the effect very little.

However... I have updated the PCB layout.

Updates, layouts copyright R.G. Keen 2009. All rights reserved. No permission for local copies or presentation
from web sites other than http://www.geofex.com.
 U T S R Q P O N M L K

A B C D E F G H I J

+9 +9 +9 +9
R14 R18
R13 2.2K 220K
R12 C9 Q6
12K 1uF
4

1.5M
C10
0.1uF
C8 D1 D4 C12
5

Q4 Q5 1uF R21
C5 2.2K
D2 D3 R19
0.1uF 220K R22 R23
R15 C11 22K 3.3K
C7 10nF C13 C14
150R 47nF R17
2.2K 4.7nF 4.7nF
T1
82K R25 6.8K R27 6.8K
R20 1 13
+8 15 14
2 12 +9
R4 R24 R26 R31
R3 12K C3 47K 47K 47K
150K R28 C15
C1 0.1uF R30
0.1uF 150K 47nF 1.5M
In Q1
C2 VR3 +8 +8
1uF VR1 10K
10K Q6
R7
R1 R2 R5 R6 10K R29
2.2M 150K 390R R9 470K 1K
VR2
10K R10 C6
Q2 Q3
+9 R32 1uF
820R C4 Out
+8 1uF
R8
9Vdc

D5 C16 C17 470R R11 R16

1N4002 25uF 10uF 4.7K 2M2

Updates, layouts copyright R.G. Keen 2009. All rights reserved. No permission for local copies or presentation
from web sites other than http://www.geofex.com.
 SW3: Brass ½
Lo Hi
SW2:
Harmonic

S R T S T

VR1 VR2 VR3

V
Battery Clip W On left edge of board
Black
X
Red
Y
Updates, layouts copyright R.G. Keen 2009. All rights reserved. No permission for local copies or presentation
from web sites other than http://www.geofex.com.