Atom Boost

Based on: Number of parts: Enclosure type:

TC Electronic Spark Mini Boost Average, 33 components 1590bb
Effect type: Technology: Get your board at:
Booster NPN and PNP transistors Atom Boost
Build difficult: Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Easy 9V Das Musikding (Europe)

Project overview:
Kick your playing into high gear with this Impressive 20 dB of completely clean boost that makes your
core tone shine through. A straightforward project, easy to build, easy to play with!

Atom Boost by PCB Guitar Mania 1

Board version 1v, 10th July 2023
Index
1. Project overview 5. Schematic
2. Index, Introduction & Controls 6. Components, Build Notes, Wiring Diagram
3. Bills of Materials, BOM 7. Drill Template, Licensing and Usage
4. Shopping Lists

Introduction
The Atomic boost is based on the TC Electronics Spark ™ and a perfect one knob beginner project to check
if you are into DIY. Perfectly suited to add some extra gain to your Leads or to get Crunch/driven sounds
out of your semi-dirty amp. Especially when your amp tempts to be a little too dark the nuance of brightness
it adds can be very handy without making the signal harsh.

Controls
Potentiometers

• Gain

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Board version 1v, 10th July 2023
Bill of materials

Resistors Potentiometers
Part Value Part Value
R1 1m2 GAIN B500K
R2 1k
R3 100k
Transistors
R4 1k
Part Value
R5 22k
Q1** bc549c
R6 22k
Q2** bc549c
R7 1k
Q3** bc549c
R8 100k
Q4** bc549c
R9 100k
Q5* 2n3906
R10 1k
R11 10k
R12 1k Diodes
R13 100k Part Value
R14 100r D1 1n5817
R15* 47r D2 3mm LED
R16 4k7

Switches
Capacitors Part Value
Part Value - 3PDT Stomp foot
C1 100n
C2 1n
Jacks
C3 4n7
Part Value
C5 100p
- DC Jack
C6 100p
- Audio Jack
C8 100n
- Audio Jack

Electrolytic Capacitors
Part Value
C4 1u
C7 10u
C9 220u

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Shopping list

Resistors Diodes
Qty Value Parts Qty Value Parts
4 100k R3, R8, R9, R13 1 1n5817 D1
1 100r R14 1 3mm LED D2
1 10k R11
5 1k R2, R4, R7, R10,
R12 Switches
1 1m2 R1 Qty Value Parts
2 22k R5, R6 1 3PDT Stomp foot -
1 47r R15*
1 4K7 R16
Jacks
Qty Value Parts
Capacitors 1 DC Jack -
Qty Value Parts 2 Audio Jack -
2 100n C1, C8
2 100p C5, C6
1 1n C2
1 4n7 C3

Electrolytic Capacitors
Qty Value Parts
1 10u C7
1 1u C4
1 220u C9

Potentiometers
Qty Value Parts
1 500k b GAIN

Transistors
Qty Value Parts
1 2n3906* Q5
4 bc549c** Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

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Board version 1v, 10th July 2023
Schematic

Atom Boost by PCB Guitar Mania 5

Board version 1v, 10th July 2023
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

There are plenty of equivalents and similar-sounding transistors so I would recommend using dip sockets
and start diving into creating your very own tone.

For instance, you can use Q1-4 - BC547 (type a-b-c the higher the letter, the more gains they are) and for
Q5 a - BC557C (flip it 180 degrees to the silkscreen!)

2n3906* PNP transistor. Although the original unit presents a BC558c transistor we have experienced
better results with the listed 2n3906. You can still experiment with BC558c just by flipping the transistor
180 degrees. A higher gain direct replacement could be 2N5087.

BC549c** NPN transistor. You can try 2N3904, 2N5088, 2N5089 replacement, just take in mind you
need to flip the transistor 180 degrees to the silkscreen. The order listed is from lower to higher gain.

R15* The previous version of this document has a typo an indicates 47k instead of 47r which is the correct
value.

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Board version 1v, 10th July 2023
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.

Drill Template
This Project has been planned to fit into a 125b 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!

Atom Boost by PCB Guitar Mania 7

Board version 1v, 10th July 2023