Engineer´s Thumb - Compressor kit

Item number: 2084

Fantastic Compressor

Category: Modulation, Dynamic

Enclosure

starting from 28,00 €

Final price incl. VAT, plus shipping (mitttel)

Available.

Shipping time: 3-7 Working days



Description

The Engineer´s Thumb Compressor is designed by Merlin Blencowe (The Valve Wizard Website.

It features controls for Attack, Ratio, Threshold, Release and Level and works with a LM13700 IC, functional equal to the CA3080, which is also used in the Dynacomp.

This kit contains all parts you need to build a fully functional effect pedal.

Not included in the kit, but also very good to have:

  • Aluminium enclosure: select one above
  • DC power supply
  • 5 nice knobs for the pots, for 6,3mm shaft
  • Decal, transfer or transparent sheets for labeling

Here is the project page:
Engineers Thumb on The Valve Wizard


Instrument: Guitar
Effect-Type: Compressor

Build documents

Installation guide: Installation guide

Schematic and pcb: Schematic

Parts list (BOM): Parts list

Ratings (43)

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The most useful review

1 from 1 Customers found the following product review helpful
5 from 5 Fantastic Compressor

The best compressor Ive tried for electric guitar - smooth, silky compression that can be dialled up to high ratios with low noise. I installed a 300k lin pot for the release value resistor. At low settings it will distort in a very pleasureable way. I use this compressor for guitars, drum machines, basses etc and Im extremely happy about how it performs and sounds. Highly recommended!

., 28.11.2017
Total entries: 10
5 from 5 Perfect compressor

Extremely tweakable compressor, can go from a suble, transparent compression to a squeezed mess, à la dynacomp.
I was expecting a little raise in the noise floor level, but to my surprise, its completely silent even at extreme settings.
Easy to build too

., 20.07.2021
5 from 5 Good noiseless compressor

Good noiseless compressor

., 27.09.2021
5 from 5 Excellent!

Excellent compressor, very quiet and effective.
You will notice you are using a compressor only when you desengage the effect......now your dry sound is thin and lifeless.
The most misunderstood effect ever; not an effect but a sound reinforcement.
The PCB is well made, components fits nicely; the box is well drilled.
An easy and pleasant build.
Thanks KLAUS

., 03.02.2022
5 from 5 easy build and great sound

you dont have to be an engineer to build this compressor, but its a fun build and the end result is superb. A lot of tweaking options to get desired sound and as others have mentioned - no additional noise.
This stays on my board

., 31.03.2022
5 from 5 Easy and fun to build

I had a lot of fun building this. Its easy enough for a beginner, and it sounds great. I would highly recommand this build !

., 22.04.2022
5 from 5 Very versatile compressor

You can dial it from very subtle to squashy and everything in between. Very low noise even at extreme settings.

., 31.05.2022
5 from 5 Fanstastic product (english/français)

As said by many here, its an incredible, versatile and silent compressor.
Based on the Merlin Blencowe recommandation on its project page, I build a slightly modded version for guitar or bass .
I added a double switch to toggle between 1u and 2u capacitors for C3 and C4.
I must admit that the change is subtle but still relevant .

I placed the switch ( with the four capacitors soldered on) between ratio and level knobs. Then I had to move the DC power jack from the top to the side ( like the BEOD Overdrive) .

At the end of the day, I use it only for the bass .... but the compressor is allways on :-)
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Comme on peut le voir sur tous les messages, cest un compresseur topissime , versatile et silencieux.
Sur la base de la recommandation de Martin Blencowe sur son site, jai construit une version légèrement modifiée pour guitare ou basse.
Jai ajouté un switch double pour basculer entre des condensateurs de 1u ou 2u sur les C3 et C4.
Le changement est subtil, mais utile , surtout pour la basse.

Jai placé le switch (avec les 4 condos dessus) entre les boutons ratio et level . Du coup, jai du décaler le jack dalim DC normalement situé en haut vers le coté de la pédale (comme sur la BEOD overdrive) .

Au bout du compte, je ne lutilise que pour la basse .... mais il est toujours enclenché :-)

., 19.10.2022
5 from 5 Excellent + +

Whoever Valve Wizard is he knows his circuit design! This is one superb compressor. (And while here, Ill mention how helpful musicding were over a construction feature). A great effects unit to have in kit form. Top marks all round.

., 27.12.2022
5 from 5 Really worth a try on bass guitar

I play bass, and I played through a lot of compressors over the past ten years; the last one was the EBS Multicomp, and my first impression is that this one compares very well with the quality and musicality of the swedish pedal. However it has a different feel, and in my opinion suits much better to my playing style (mostly funk and jazzy tunes); not to mention that its a bit more versatile, being able to tweak attack and decay in the front panel, which is good. I might consider adding a second one to the pedalboard in order to achieve a stacked compressor configuration, or have different settings according to what Im playing.
The assembly process was straightforward, and the quality of the PCB its just superb, as well as the enclosure. And, finally, it doesnt cost too much, which is why DIY pedal kits are for!
Definitely recommended.

., 25.01.2023
5 from 5 Muy buen compresor

Antes que este, probé el Supreme Compressor de Effect Pedal Kits que resultó ser una castaña, porque metía una extraña distorsión. Revisé soldaduras y demás y no encontré nada mal. Acabé tirándolo a la basura. Este en cambio muy bien, nada que ver en calidad de la PCB, y sónicamente al menos suena bien, limpio y sin distorsiones. Muy satisfecho.

., 15.11.2023
Total entries: 10


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