Project overview

Inspired by Catalinbread Karma Suture. This circuit delivers an abundance of fuzz with lots of harmonic content bringing out each note definition. Two pedals in one board! Build either Germanium or Silicon version.

Introduction

Much more than a dirt box! This pedal delivers from calm to extreme and has a wide range of different sounds to offer. Once you compare it with other fuzz/overdrive pedals, you will notice how those extra harmonics that the Karma Sutra brings make all the difference in richness and sound clarity. Get ready for a plethora of harmonic distortion responses from heavily saturated fuzz tones, big and open overdrive, to a sparkling boost. And just as important, no matter how you have the pedal set, the tone and response always flourish, sensitive to your settings and desires.

What makes the Karma Sutra more interesting is that it is both an overdrive and fuzz at the same time. The Diodes, Input, and Density controls help you manage the exact sound you want to get of this pedal.

The Input works as gain modifying the input level (fuzz) and Output controls volume, but the Diodes control is undoubtedly one the most exciting features out there:

As you turn it up, you introduce more diode clipping into the circuit, compressing the sound making it sound smoother at lower volumes. The Density control makes this pedal work in almost any rig; you can use it to control your amplifier’s response to get the perfect match.

Another marvelous thing about this build is that you can choose between two versions of this pedal with one board: the more vintage germanium approach or the modern silicon type. If you want a smoother and warmer sound that tends towards an amp overdrive-like, with more touch sensitivity, and that reacts well to your guitar’s volume and tone knobs, you should choose the germanium version. If you prefer a pedal that tends to have more top-end treble, is good at cutting through mixes, and has more gain capabilities, pick the silicon approach.

Regardless of the version you choose, once you build it, you will realize all the potential this pedal gives to enhance your pedalboard in a wide variety of ways, fulfilling the craziest and most exotics of sound fantasies.

Controls

• Density
• Diodes
• Input
• Output

For further analysis on this circuit take a look at this thread on Free Stomp Boxes Forum.

For any technical questions regarding this build don’t forget to check out our Facebook Group and our forum at Free Stomp Boxes.

Karma Sutra – Building Docs

Karma Sutra – Drilling template