madbeanpedals::forum

Yeah, I know...I can hear the collective moan as eyes roll in the back of their heads, Chris is posting another build reports of a stupid pedal that no one cares about with another stupid marvel character and a long boring write up. Happy New Year everyone 😂.

This is my second blueshift build. I took what I learned from the last one I did nearly 3 years ago and tried to do it it better. I put more time and effort into getting this one cleaner and with better attention to detail. If you are going to build this then take your time, check every part before soldering and please follow the build doc. I would not want to have to troubleshoot this. I didn't do my standard all white wiring because there are way to many wires for that here. I tried to keep everything as clean with regards to the wiring as possible. By color coding everything the way I did, I made it easier for future Chris should he need to replace the footswitch or make repairs in the future.

It's not the cheapest build. It's probably gonna be around 100 bucks to build. Still cheaper than a used unit. It's also a fully stereo analog chorus, which is really rare in diy. The stereo spread in this is something special. What makes this different from other analog chorus pedals? The build doc breaks it down great. "The DC-2 is different from other choruses in that there are actually two clock+BBD pairs, each powered by either the inverted or non-inverted output of a single LFO. These BBDs then modulate the dry signal so that signal "A" reaches its maximum delay time when signal "B" reaches its minimum and vice versa as they criss-cross back and forth. The average remains constant between the two signals and only the space between the two signals is modulated. The DC-2's effect is often referred to as motionless because it doesn't have the signature "warble" or unsteadiness of a traditional chorus with a single BBD."

Unlike the original that had just 4 radio buttons, using 3 switches, we now have 7 possible presets instead of 4. How's it sound? AMAZING! It's the often described as the chorus for people who don't like chorus. It's hard to describe it without being cliche. You really have to be in front of it to appreciate how great it sounds, especially in stereo. If you like stereo chorus then you should definitely build this. With only 7 sounds possible, none of the sounds are bad, just less or more of a great thing. Calibration is easy with a scope or just by setting setting the voltage of the test points for each BBD to 3.4v.

You may notice I don't have the mounting screw on the front. I went a different route to free up the enclosure face for my graphics. Instead of the screw thru the face, I used a jb weld stick to attach the hex standoff to the enclosure. I didn't get a picture because after it cured I didn't take it apart and decided to start wiring everything. I really wanted a light violet color box but tayda has been out of that color for a long time and I went with violet. For the graphics I went with America Chavez, the dimension hopping hero who punches star shaped portals. If you're still here then I hope you enjoyed the write up and pictures. It's a great project for many reasons and a really inspiring effect.
(https://i.imgur.com/Rr6GdGO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iYfBtsw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/o3RLjzF.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c0lMkz1.jpeg)

That's just incredibly clean

Quote from: Thewintersoldier on January 02, 2023, 07:16:16 PM
This is my second blueshift build. I took what I learned from the last one I did nearly 3 years ago and tried to do it it better.

My god, man!  The Blueshift is a rite-of-passage build!  You are only supposed to build ONE in a lifetime!   :P

Nice work though.  ;D

Nicely done! I just checked out the build doc and, yeah, this one's in the queue, but maybe next year when I'm better at this ;D

And yes, that's immaculately clean. Did you ultrasonic the boards? Even still, it's like factory solder bath levels of clean and even. Hot damn.

Good Lord my man! Very nice work!

Jeeeesus!!! I need to build mine.


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Not only is it an amazing build but those switch nuts man  8)

Quote from: harryklippton on January 02, 2023, 07:25:44 PM
That's just incredibly clean

Thanks Will, it's not amp level though😕

Quote from: EBK on January 02, 2023, 08:10:58 PM

Quote from: Thewintersoldier on January 02, 2023, 07:16:16 PM
This is my second blueshift build. I took what I learned from the last one I did nearly 3 years ago and tried to do it it better.

My god, man!  The Blueshift is a rite-of-passage build!  You are only supposed to build ONE in a lifetime!   :P

Nice work though.  ;D

I was never happy with the way the first one turned out. Sometimes you gotta just do it right I guess.

Quote from: jessenator on January 02, 2023, 08:58:19 PM
Nicely done! I just checked out the build doc and, yeah, this one's in the queue, but maybe next year when I'm better at this ;D

And yes, that's immaculately clean. Did you ultrasonic the boards? Even still, it's like factory solder bath levels of clean and even. Hot damn.

Thanks for noticing the boards. I don't get a lot of flux everywhere, so cleaning doesn't take much effort.

Quote from: jjjimi84 on January 02, 2023, 09:02:31 PM
Good Lord my man! Very nice work!

Thanks Dan, one day you will finish yours! I know you have an enclosure 😂.

Quote from: jimilee on January 02, 2023, 09:05:47 PM
Jeeeesus!!! I need to build mine.


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Thanks Jimi

Quote from: zombie_rock123 on January 02, 2023, 10:29:31 PM
Not only is it an amazing build but those switch nuts man  8)

You know I had to line them all up to match lol

Wow that is truly stunning. I followed you first build almost word for word whe. I built mine. This one makes me feel like I want to do it again, but like you even better.
Thanks for keeping me pushing myself to learn and work harder and better and strive for the best.

I always enjoy reading and seeing your builds Chris, I just can't figure out how you keep outdoing yourself!

I built one for a buddy of mine and was really impressed so built one for me.  I've never tried it in stereo so really need to bust it out and hook it up that way.

Damn, that is clean. Your wiring looks my Blueshift look amateurish by comparison, and your graphics are top-notch as always. Fantastic work!

Quote from: Phil Hodson on January 03, 2023, 03:16:51 AM
Wow that is truly stunning. I followed you first build almost word for word whe. I built mine. This one makes me feel like I want to do it again, but like you even better.
Thanks for keeping me pushing myself to learn and work harder and better and strive for the best.

Thanks for that Phil, I needed that. I think a lot of people don't have the right perspective in many hobbies (including this one) and I look at it like you. I appreciate people trying to be the best version of themselves and and makes me want to do better. I'm in competion with myself and that's it. Keep pushing yourself, real gains are made in small steps and not leaps. like @paradox916 says, it's a game of inches.

Quote from: gordo on January 03, 2023, 03:39:06 AM
I always enjoy reading and seeing your builds Chris, I just can't figure out how you keep outdoing yourself!

I built one for a buddy of mine and was really impressed so built one for me.  I've never tried it in stereo so really need to bust it out and hook it up that way.

Thanks Gordy, but I take all the pictures from the pedals "good" side lol. I was telling @harryklippton that no build is hard, it's just how much does a person try not to make it bad. you can quote me on that haha

Quote from: Invertiguy on January 03, 2023, 10:48:21 AM
Damn, that is clean. Your wiring looks my Blueshift look amateurish by comparison, and your graphics are top-notch as always. Fantastic work!

Thanks, this graphic is actually a turning point for me as I learned some new Illustrator tricks and techniques and pieced numerous pieces together to make the main image. kind of a game changer for me, but I still love simplistic designs the best.

Hot damn man!  You crush it with all of your builds but, you outdid yourself with this one! 

Thanks dude, but there is still more cool shit to share

Always enjoy seeing a WS build report in the morning, great start to the day! 

Really strong work, Chris. It's immaculate.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/3oz8xBTw5a1fN5Ey5i/giphy.gif)
Sooo clean  


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Quote from: Bio77 on January 03, 2023, 04:49:39 PM
Always enjoy seeing a WS build report in the morning, great start to the day! 

Really strong work, Chris. It's immaculate.

Quote from: Paradox916 on January 05, 2023, 02:53:45 AM
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/3oz8xBTw5a1fN5Ey5i/giphy.gif)
Sooo clean  


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Thanks guys, I always enjoy seeing what you guys put out!

Let me back everyone else up here, this is amazing! Two quick questions: 1) Which bypass scheme did you end up going with? and 2) Does is work alright with dirt in front of it? Those have been on my mind in considering whether to take this on. The VB-2 has been on the brain as well.

Quote from: Bret608 on January 05, 2023, 01:43:16 PM
Let me back everyone else up here, this is amazing! Two quick questions: 1) Which bypass scheme did you end up going with? and 2) Does is work alright with dirt in front of it? Those have been on my mind in considering whether to take this on. The VB-2 has been on the brain as well.

Thanks, I went with the minimalist bypass. I didn't want my signal to go thru the emphasis and deemphasis filters at all times, minimal was as close to TB as possible. I think it sounds great with dirt in front of it. While not a huge Candlebox fan when they came out, I can get that cool left behind sound, and I dig that tone. I'm talking distortion though, rat and marshally type drive. Fuzz...ymmv lol

I hear you on that! VFE Distortion 3 through chorus is what I was picturing. Love mine through my Pork Barrel; can't wait to hear it through the CS-9. This might get added to the list.  ;)

I bought pcb in 2017, and the boards are empty. Very clean construction, I admire it.

The Blueshift is a rite of passage build no doubt.

Built it and you can move to SMD😀