Messages

How many pedals do we have in the queue for the Instagram auctions?  I'm hoping to build another, but it will take some time (I need to breadboard it first).

Those Reverb event pedals sold fast!  The last one is gone now.  I wish Reverb would keep the listings on the page with a "SOLD" banner on them so folks could easily see what type of things we offered up.

Also, did everyone that already requested them receive them by now?

I still haven't received any.  Was I on your list?

Very nice demo, and lovely shine on the enclosure!

Nice build and nice song selection! 

You could try doubling the diodes so there is a parallel set of two series diodes each way. That'd get you up to Si Vf territory while retaining the Ge texture.

Yeah, that's what I did.  Look here for lots of great ideas:
https://www.premierguitar.com/amp/mxr-distortion-plus-mods-2651041927

Damn that is tight as fuck

Yeah, that is the most concise way to say it.   
+1

Doubling up the diodes to avoid volume loss is great.  Mine uses germanium and silicon combined in such a way.  You theoretically get a bit of the softer edge to the clipping with plenty of available volume.  Probably sounds somewhat similar to doubled up silicon, I'd guess though. Still, the increased volume flexibility is nice.

I'll take some better pics later, but I'm happy to report this pedal is complete.



It's got quite a range to its sound.  It gets crazy crunchy at full gain, but makes a surprisingly nice clean boost at low gain.  In between, you can rip an edgy solo (well, I can't --I spend too much time building these things and not enough time playing). 

Edit:  Here are my "pretty" pictures of the pedal.

I put new toner cartridges into my printer between my test print and my decal print, and my printer decided to hypersaturate the photo for the decal.  But that's rock and roll, so I kept it.  Besides, this was my last sheet of decal stock. 

I also didn't like how my polarity indicator printed, so I left that off.

Still, I'm pretty happy with it.



I'll cut the holes and clear coat it tomorrow.

I tend to save the junk boards and pull parts off them as I need them for something else.  Resistors and silicon diodes are about the only parts I won't consider salvaging.

I haven't used a DIP socket in years.  I buy these pin header strips and cut them to size. 

Cheap and easy.  No need to reuse them, but they'd probably be easier to desolder than a DIP socket anyway.

I also use a simple spring-loaded solder sucker when salvaging.

Much easier than copper braid, and less chance of damaging parts.

I'm pretty satisfied with this draft of the graphics:

I'm planning to round it all out with a pair of dough-colored Davies knobs.

I agree that the plain polished enclosure looks nice.  I will build another pedal with that aesthetic for sure.

Last night, an idea came to me for a graphic that celebrates Ukrainian culture, specifically Ukrainian food (hey, I love food, what can I say?)

To me, traditional foods represent comfort and stability, two things desperately needed in the world we find ourselves in.

The theme? вареники (varenyky).
I'm hoping the way to a bidder's heart is through their stomach, I suppose.

Hmm... I could try hydro dipping the enclosure with my spray paint.  I have never attempted such a thing before though.  I have plenty of acetone in case I mess it up.

Thanks!  And thanks to everyone else who shared kind words and thoughts as well.