The Scrabbler

The Scrabbler is the circuit from the old Ampeg Scramber stompbox. (any trademarks used here do not belong to General Guitar Gadgets).  (Once) rare and always exciting, this beast can mangle your sound, provide a unique blended distortion or anything in between. It has a “Balance” control feature that lets you blend in the dry guitar sound for lots of tonal variation.  Some notable players include Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane, John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jim McCarty of Cactus.

We have project instructions for the original and more importantly we have a revised circuit that add a volume control and some added boost.  The revisions do not alter the original sound at all, jut makes it a little louder with control on the loudness.

Updated Circuit With Volume Control 

Original Circuit


Other Reference Files


Buy an Ampeg  Scrambler Complete Kit. Includes all the parts and materials you need to build one, all for about the price you would pay for a PCB and parts.


Would you like a Ready to Solder Circuit Board for this project? Note: If you buy the kit, the Ready-to-Solder Printed Circuit Board (RTS PCB) is included in the kit.  You do not need to purchase this Ready to Solder Circuit Printed Board if you buy the kit.