The
Modulator range evolved from the
Hayman "Modular" which was built by Shergold prior to launching their own brand guitars.
Designed by Bob Pearson, they are, as far as we know, unique amongst guitars in having electronics
modules that are removable and interchangable.
Modules can be shared across the range, with six strings, twelve strings, basses and double necks all
using the same modules.
To accomodate the more exotic
Stereo and
Quad
modules, the output jack sockets on all Modulators are of the stereo type, and are wired
specially to cope with this. All the other modules create a mono signal, which will
come out of the left channel if a stereo plug is used.
Images and circuit diagrams for six of the seven production modules are available below.
Note that these are not original Shergold schematics (if such things ever existed!)- they have been reverse
engineered from the modules, so there may be the odd mistake in there...
Click on the name of a module to jump to the full description and schematics...
Switch Heaven! This is an amazing piece of circuitry which has taken many hours and
a lot of scrap paper to work out!
It's only by working out the circuit diagrams, that I've been able to find out what each
switch does - all three switches are labelled simply "1,2,3"!
This module is especially useful in basses, and for getting some really interesting
clean amp rhythm sounds in the six string guitar.
- Three way pickup switch: Bridge, Bridge and Neck in parallel, Neck
- Three way Neck pickup coil switch: single coil, humbucker out-of-phase, humbucker in-phase
- Three way Bridge pickup coil switch: single coil, humbucker out-of-phase, humbucker in-phase
- Tone Control for each pickup
- Volume Control for each pickup
The module for grunge rockers! A simple single stage transistor amplifier
of the sort in any first year electronics course which distorts the signal
by two ways: clips (chops the tops and bottoms off) the signal,
and has crossover distortion (lags when changing from negative to positive
signal and vice-versa). The increase in overall output level will also drive the
input stage of the amplifier much harder causing it to clip and overdrive.
It is powered by a single PP3 (9 volt) battery squeezed into the module cavity with the
switching circuitry.
Trivia corner: this module has the switch and pot labels printed upside down!
The labels are readable looking down from the top - all the other modules read in the
same orientation as the scratchplate text.
- Three way pickup switch: Bridge, Bridge and Neck in parallel, Neck
- Two way boost switch: labeled "Normal" and "Boost"
- Boost Volume Control
- Tone Control
- Volume Control