Elk Device
Based on: Number of parts: Enclosure type:
ELK: Super Fuzz Sustainar and Average, total 54 components 125b
EQD Hizumitas Technology: Get your board at:
Effect type: NPN silicon transistors Elk Device
Muff type fuzz Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Build difficult: 9V Das Musikding (Europe)
Intermediate
Project overview:
The Elk Device is the perfect choice for guitarists who want to explore the legendary Big Muff sound. This
board gives you two amazing builds to choose from, the EQD Hizumitas and the ELK: Super Fuzz
Sustainer, each with its unique character and sound.
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 1
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 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 Elk device is the perfect way to keep your options open. With this handy board, you can choose
between two different pedals to dip you into the Big Muff fuzz sounding.
Let's see which is the perfect option for your style:
On the one hand, is the famous vintage unit, the ELK: Super Fuzz Sustainar, a faithful reproduction of the
original 1972 Big Muff, full of all that iconic fuzz and sustain. If you're looking to recreate the classic tones
of Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, look no further than the Elk Device.
This pedal is one of the earliest Japanese known copies of the original Electro Harmonix triangle muff.
Initially, it used PNP transistors, which are entirely unnecessary now, given the availability of suitable NPN
transistors. The tone section is also slightly different from a regular Big Muff and retains more high-end
across the range, a change that brings a welcome improvement. This is a monster of a pedal, and no Big
Muff aficionado should miss it!
On the other hand, we have the EQD Hizumitas, designed by Wata, the guitarist/keyboardist of the
legendary Japanese experimental music band Boris.
Working alongside the EQD team, she made a faithful but unique and modern sonic recreation of the
previously mentioned Elk Sustainar. Offering loads of heavy distortion and smooth sustain with an
underlying grit, excellent response to different pickup types and playing dynamics, unique Tone, and
Sustain controls that significantly impact the distortion's character while also delivering a massive output
Volume.
So, which one will you choose? The vintage pedal or its newest reinvention? Whether you pick the Super
Fuzz Sustainar or the Hizumitas, you'll love the way this board makes your music sound!
Controls
Potentiometers Sustain
Tone
Level
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 2
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
ELK: Super Fuzz Sustainar - Bill of materials
Resistors Capacitors Transistors
Part Value Part Value Part Value
R1 1m C1 100n Q1 2N5089
R2 33k C2 560pf Q2 2N5089
R3 82k C3 100n Q3 2N5089
R4 390k C4 100n Q4 2N5089
R5 18K C5 100n
R6 100R C6 470p
Switches
R7 1K C7 100n
Part Value
R8 10K C8 100n
- 3PDT Stomp foot
R9 100K C9 470p
R10 470K C10 33n
R11 12K C11 47n Diodes
R12 390R C12 100n Part Value
R13 10K C13 100n D1 1n914
R14 100K D2 1n914
R15 470K D3 1n914
Electrolytic Capacitors
R16 12K D4 1n914
Part Value
R17 390R D5 1N5817
C14 100u
R18 10K D6 3mm red LED
R19 56K
R20 470K Potentiometers
Jacks
R21 100K Part Value
Part Value
R22 10K LEVEL A100K
- DC JACK
R23 2K7 SUSTAIN A100K
- AUDIO JACK
R24 4K7 TONE B250K
- AUDIO JACK
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 3
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
ELK: Super Fuzz Sustainer - Shopping list
Resistors Potentiometers
Qty Value Parts Qty Value Parts
3 100K R9, R14, R21 2 A100K LEVEL, SUSTAIN
1 100R R6 1 B250K TONE
4 10K R8, R13, R18, R22
2 12K R11, R16
Transistors
1 18K R5
Qty Value Parts
1 1K R7
4 2N5089 Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4
1 1m R1
1 2K7 R23
1 33k R2 Switches
2 390R R12, R17 Qty Value Parts
1 390K R4 1 3PDT Stomp -
3 470K R10, R15, R20 foot
1 4K7 R24
1 56K R19 Diodes
1 82k R3 Qty Value Parts
1 1N5817 D5
Capacitors 4 1n914 D1, D2, D3, D4
Qty Value Parts 1 3mm red D6
LED
8 100n C1, C3, C4, C5, C7,
C8, C12, C13
1 33n C10 Jacks
2 470p C6, C9 Qty Value Parts
1 47n C11 1 DC JACK -
1 560pf C2 2 AUDIO JACK -
Electrolytic Capacitors
Qty Value Parts
1 100u C14
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 4
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
EQD Hizumitas - Bill of materials
Resistors Capacitors Transistors
Part Value Part Value Part Value
R1 1m C1 100n Q1 2N3904
R2 33k C2 560p Q2 2N3904
R3 82k C3 100n Q3 2N3904
R4 390k C4 100n Q4 2N3904
R5 18K C5 47n
R6 100R C6 560p
Switches
R7 820R C7 100n
Part Value
R8 8K2 C8 47n
- 3PDT Stomp foot
R9 82k C9 560n
R10 390K C10 33n
R11 12K C11 10n Diodes
R12 150R C12 100n Part Value
R13 8K2 C13 100n D1 1N4148
R14 82K D2 1N4148
R15 390K D3 1N4148
Electrolytic Capacitors
R16 18K D4 1N4148
Part Value
R17 100R D5 1N5817
C14 100u
R18 39K D6 3mm red LED
R19 39K
R20 390K Potentiometers
Jacks
R21 47K Part Value
Part Value
R22 12K LEVEL B50K
- DC JACK
R23 1K SUSTAIN B50K
- AUDIO JACK
R24 4K7 TONE B50K
- AUDIO JACK
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 5
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
EQD Hizumitas - Shopping list
Resistors Electrolytic Capacitors
Qty Value Parts Qty Value Parts
2 100R R6, R17 1 100u C14
1 12K R11
2 18K R5, R16
Potentiometers
1 1K R23
Qty Value Parts
1 1m R1
3 B50K LEVEL, SUSTAIN, TONE
1 33k R2
4 390K R4, R10, R15, R20
1 4K7 R24 Transistors
3 82k R3, R9, R14 Qty Value Parts
1 820R R7 4 2N3904 Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4
2 8K2 R8, R13
1 150R R12
Switches
2 39K R18, R19
Qty Value Parts
1 47K R21
1 3PDT Stomp foot -
1 12K R22
Diodes
Capacitors
Qty Value Parts
Qty Value Parts
1 1N5817 D5
6 100n C1, C3, C4, C7, C12,
C13 4 1N4148 D1, D2, D3, D4
1 33n C10 1 3mm red LED D6
2 47n C5, C8
1 560n C9
Jacks
3 560pf C2, C6
Qty Value Parts
1 10n C11
1 DC JACK -
2 AUDIO JACK -
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 6
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
Schematic
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 7
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 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 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
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.
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 8
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
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!
Elk Device by PCB Guitar Mania 9
Board version 1.0v, 15th February 2023
