The Jeds Peds Red Llama kit is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit that builds a fuzz, in the fuzz family. Jeds Peds describes it plainly: "This is a huge fuzz pedal." The kit compares to the Red Llama itself, the Way Huge pedal whose circuit Aion FX traces to the "Tube Sound Fuzz" design from Craig Anderton's 1978 book Electronics Projects for Musicians, with the schematic "almost part-for-part identical" and only some part values tweaked12.
What the circuit is
The Red Llama has a documented history for a small pedal. Aion FX, an independent builder of pedal projects, places it against the "Tube Sound Fuzz" circuit published in Craig Anderton's 1978 book Electronics Projects for Musicians: "The Red Llama is almost part-for-part identical to the 'Tube Sound Fuzz' circuit from this book." Only some part values differ1. Builders on Guitar FX Layouts, the tagboard effects site, report it working as expected in practice: "Build this one last year and yes it sounds od/fuzz stuff! Verified!"3. That places it in the territory where overdrive and fuzz meet, which is worth knowing before you build one.
Kit versions and what each includes
Jeds Peds sells the same circuit in seven versions, so you can take on as much or as little of the build as you like2:
| Version | What you get |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB |
| PCB & Components | PCB, onboard components and any pots and toggle switches |
| PCB & Components and off board parts | The above plus the off board parts |
| Full Kit | As above with an undrilled enclosure |
| Full Kit & Drilling | Full kit with a drilled enclosure |
| JP-Pro Kit | Full kit with a pre painted, drilled and UV printed enclosure |
| Pre Built Kit | Assembled by Jeds Peds, priced at £27.00 GBP2 |
The Pre Built Kit has no returns accepted, but Jeds Peds gives a 12 month repair warranty, so if a fault develops the maker will repair it2.
Enclosure and controls
The kit is supplied with a JP1590B sized enclosure as standard. The PCB takes two pots and hangs from them inside the enclosure, which keeps the internal wiring short and the build straightforward. Jeds Peds notes that "As kits go, this one is low in its parts count," so it suits a first-time builder as well as someone knocking out a quick project2.
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Questions
What comes in the Jeds Peds Red Llama Full Kit?
The Full Kit includes the PCB, the onboard components, any pots and toggle switches the circuit needs, and an undrilled enclosure. If you want the enclosure holes already drilled, Jeds Peds sells a Full Kit & Drilling version, and a JP-Pro Kit with a pre painted, drilled and UV printed enclosure.
What is the difference between Full Kit and Full Kit & Drilling?
The Full Kit comes with an undrilled enclosure, so you mark and drill the holes yourself. The Full Kit & Drilling is the same kit but with the enclosure already drilled, ready for the pots, switches and jacks. A step above that is the JP-Pro Kit, which arrives pre painted, drilled and UV printed.
What enclosure size does the Red Llama kit use?
The kit is supplied with a JP1590B sized enclosure as standard. That is the smaller of the common 1590-style boxes, which suits this circuit because the PCB takes only two pots and hangs from them inside the enclosure.
How many pots does the Red Llama kit use?
Two. The PCB takes two pots and hangs from them inside the enclosure, which keeps the wiring simple and is part of why the kit has a low parts count.
Does the Jeds Peds Red Llama kit require soldering?
The kit versions do, since you assemble the PCB and wire the enclosure yourself. Jeds Peds also offers a Pre Built Kit that arrives assembled, with no returns accepted but a 12 month repair warranty from the maker should a fault develop.
Sources (3)
- Yacana CMOS Drive / Way Huge Red Llama, Aion FX, 2021-11-12
- Red Llama, Jeds Peds (jedspeds.co.uk)
- Guitar FX Layouts: Way Huge Red Llama, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2023-09-13