I always find it interesting the progression of interests this hobby takes. For the first year plus of diving into building I haven't really been interested in the typical classic opamp overdrives or muff variants, your tube screamers, Klons, standard muff etc. Now I want to build ALL OF THE MUFFS and put a Klon and TS in the same box! Haha I have yet to build either so I figure I might as well hit both of those rights of passage at once! Anyway, for a while it was JFET ODs, then delay, then modulation, more delay, etc. I wonder what will distract me before I build all of the Klons, TS, Muffs... Well there is this bad ass tube pedal kit sitting on my workbench... Ooooh shiny object... drool. And then... "You mean my guitar can really sound like a Nintendo...!!!" In the mail.
... random thought of the day... I'm just curious what other odd progressions of interest other builders have had.
I regularly look at the possibility of learning programming (PICs, FV-1 etc) and tell myself: With this I could do ... anything! Muahhahahaha.
Then I take a look at some random beginner programming tutorial and go gently back to my breadboard ... until the next time ...
I was spending too much money buying and flipping commercial pedals looking for exotic and interesting sounds when I found a tiny startup pedal company called effector 13. I bought one of their glitchy insane fuzz boxes and fell in love with it. Looking inside I saw a very basic homemade rig with about 8 parts. I thought "i can do THIS!" and used the new interwebs to find out how. I ended up building and designing for effector 13 and (eventually devi ever fx) for a couple of years before I got into anything other than simple fuzz. I then went through a phase of building everything out there. Vero, kits, pcb and parts. I built (and subsequently sold) stuff I'm not interested in at all, like OD, distortion, and compression. I spent too long on complicated dirt and simple modulation/filters. These days I'm all about the simple fuzz (back to e13 roots) and the complicated modulation/filters. Because that's what I use. and that's what I keep, so that's what I build.
Quote from: Torgoslayer on February 03, 2015, 04:10:47 PM
I was spending too much money buying and flipping commercial pedals looking for exotic and interesting sounds when I found a tiny startup pedal company called effector 13. I bought one of their glitchy insane fuzz boxes and fell in love with it. Looking inside I saw a very basic homemade rig with about 8 parts. I thought "i can do THIS!" and used the new interwebs to find out how. I ended up building and designing for effector 13 and (eventually devi ever fx) for a couple of years before I got into anything other than simple fuzz. I then went through a phase of building everything out there. Vero, kits, pcb and parts. I built (and subsequently sold) stuff I'm not interested in at all, like OD, distortion, and compression. I spent too long on complicated dirt and simple modulation/filters. These days I'm all about the simple fuzz (back to e13 roots) and the complicated modulation/filters. Because that's what I use. and that's what I keep, so that's what I build.
Very cool, its interesting to hear people's backstories and where inspiration comes from. I got into into it by buying used boss pedals on ebay and I think I saw mod kits on there and realized I might be able to make cheap pedals sound Good. I did some research and started with a few Monte Allums mod kits then found GGG. I kind of got out of the hobby for years as I got married/life happened etc and then about a year or so ago interest peaked again, I figured out how to source my own parts and bang... off to the races! I'd like to get into the circuit design aspect of it a little more but I haven't done a lot of breadboarding though I'm capable of it, just distracted by pcbs and vero layouts so I guess I'm still in the "I want to build them all" stage. I'm getting to be ok with adding mods to pcbs and vero which can be quite fun on its own but it is easy to add "too much" to a circuit. Why not have all the options right? I try to always make sure my building is moving me in new and inspiring directions in at least one aspect. Right now I'm honing my box finishing skills, designing labels, and trying to make my pedals look as professional as possible.
Its always interesting building some big complicated circuit that takes quite a bit of time and then building some simple little treble boost or fuzz and getting as much if not more enjoyment out of it. Right now I'm tweaking a lpb1 to put in the same box with a big muff. So far I've added a dirt control and a 3 way switch to have treble boost, mid range, and bass boost essentially making it a Screaming Tree/bird, lpb1, and hogs foot all in one and I'm getting an insane amount of enjoyment out of it. Its crazy all the tones you can get out of a muff by sticking that boost in front of it!
Have you tried the Demo Tape Fuzz (424) yet? It is my favorite boost for fuzz stacking. It has a very flexible 2 band tone section and tons of clean AND dirty boost. It works equally well stacked before and after and can be used to shape the hell out of any one dimentional fuzz. And its dead quiet, which is always a bonus for me.
Yeah I built it on vero and put it in a cookie tin with 5 other effects. I'll have to play with it some more
Here's my short cut to insanity:
1) I hate compressors
2) did some DIY building for a while
3) build a compressor going through the effort of tweaking, making a vero, pedal design etc.
4) still hate compressors
5) oh, there's a new circuit, seems to be a compressor, interesting
Quote from: deafbutpicky on February 03, 2015, 06:38:53 PM
Here's my short cut to insanity:
1) I hate compressors
2) did some DIY building for a while
3) build a compressor going through the effort of tweaking, making a vero, pedal design etc.
4) still hate compressors
5) oh, there's a new circuit, seems to be a compressor, interesting
I hate compressors too. I've built 2 and saw no purpose. Should be called line noise increasers. But I won't get roped in again.
Quote from: Torgoslayer on February 03, 2015, 06:42:41 PM
Quote from: deafbutpicky on February 03, 2015, 06:38:53 PM
Here's my short cut to insanity:
1) I hate compressors
2) did some DIY building for a while
3) build a compressor going through the effort of tweaking, making a vero, pedal design etc.
4) still hate compressors
5) oh, there's a new circuit, seems to be a compressor, interesting
I hate compressors too. I've built 2 and saw no purpose. Should be called line noise increasers. But I won't get roped in again.
Haha nice! I'm in the process of building a compressor to box in front of an ROG Azbache. It was a request from my uncle though. I've only built a few compressors and usually I fire it up and think... huh... is it working? I can't tell. Well I guess if I turn the knob this far this way I can maybe kinda sorta hear a bit of compression? Well seems good, box it up!
Quote from: Torgoslayer on February 03, 2015, 06:42:41 PM
I hate compressors too. I've built 2 and saw no purpose. Should be called line noise increasers. But I won't get roped in again.
Like minded people!!! Yay!!! 8)
I'm not sure what started it for me, my first BYOC kit, or my first Monte Allums mod. I guessing the latter as I once bought a SD-1 on the Dutch version of Craigslist and it came with a MA mod, still in the bag. The SD-808 mod. I was so insecure I let a buddy of mine do the soldering. That seemed doable so when I first encountered BYOC I jumped onto that. I was in a Radiohead tribute band at the time so I had to have some of Jonny's gear, and BYOC had a kit for the DOD 440. I tried a few other things, the EA trem, the first version of the Large Beaver, boy, what a let down that was. That was legendary Big Muff? To the reject bin! And now I've built dozens of Muffs. Go figure!
I just love to build things. I used to be into scale models. Aircraft, ships, but mostly armor. I built so many 1/35 tanks during the Iraq invasion I'm amazed I didn't starve from lack of food. I guess I just transfered my love of building stuff to pedals. I love to plan ahead to what I'm going to build. I can visualize my perfect pedal board and what I would love to have on it, even though that forever keeps changing. I see something shiny, I make a BOM for it on my to do spreadsheet, that never seems to get smaller, only bigger. No matter how much I build.
I can't say there's a progression in what I build, i'ts always whatever is in vogue with me. Its often brand related, so Catalinbreads for a period, Wamplers for a while, then BJFE/MP, EHX. Dirtwise I have grown to appreciate fuzz. At first I didn't like fuzz pedals, preferring distortion and OD boxes, and probably still do for the majority of my sound. But I have come to appreciate fuzz for its wild side. And the Big Muff. My big quest to built every version of this circuit known in existence.
Quote from: Muadzin on February 03, 2015, 07:40:06 PM
I can't say there's a progression in what I build, i'ts always whatever is in vogue with me. Its often brand related, so Catalinbreads for a period, Wamplers for a while, then BJFE/MP, EHX. Dirtwise I have grown to appreciate fuzz. At first I didn't like fuzz pedals, preferring distortion and OD boxes, and probably still do for the majority of my sound. But I have come to appreciate fuzz for its wild side. And the Big Muff. My big quest to built every version of this circuit known in existence.
Yeah maybe progression wasn't the right term to use in the first place. Maybe "Odd places for interests to wander" Or at least unexpected places. For one I have no idea how I've ended up wanting to build pedals that make a guitar sound nothing remotely like a guitar like that Arcadiator pedal.
Next progression is amps ;D
Quote from: TNblueshawk on February 03, 2015, 09:03:28 PM
Next progression is amps ;D
Oh yeah definitely ;) I just need to get to the point financially where I can pony up larger sums that amp building requires... Or just start collecting little by little
awhhh, shut up now. I just convinced myself to keep it below 18V ;)
What's the fun in building amps without the danger? :P
Ha, I took up pedal building because amp building is so expensive! I've done a few amps, and they're super fun and sound great. But there's almost no resale at all (that I've found) for unknown homebrew or kit amps. I can afford a Tayda order once a month, but man, just buying transformers alone for a Bassman build is daunting. If I were independently wealthy I would have probably never moved to pedal building, but as it is, I have to decide if I want to do 3 or 4 fuzz boxes a month or one tweed deluxe kit every year and a half. I gotta keep my hands busy, so for now, tiny boxes it is!
Step 1 build pedals
Step 2 ???
Step 3 profit
Step 4 Build Amps!!!
I got into pedal building nearly two years ago after a long stint building guitars (which I still do occasionally). I originally had a lot of electronics components I inherited from my father and I wanted to try building something. So I built a Univox fuzz on vero. And it worked! The first time!! Of course that was it - I was hooked. I then discovered there were a bazillion veroboard projects - overdrives, distortions, fuzzes, tremolos, delays. But I didn't have all the components I needed. So I ordered from Mammoth. Then Smallbear and eBay. My parts piles grew bigger as did my list of projects. I got good at debugging and started tackling larger projects and PCBs. So here I am today with about 20 or so projects under my belt, and I have no plans to stop - maybe slow down a little. What fascinates me about this hobby is that each effect is an unknown - will it sound good, bad, meh??? That curiosity for exploring new sounds and understanding how those sounds are produced (by studying the circuits) has kept me going and is what I find enriching about building effects. I suppose some day I'll have to start selling or giving away some of them, but for now a box full of pedals and circuit boards takes up less space than most other hobbies (like building kit cars or submarines... :D).
I only wanted a LaVache!
I love it! I think it sums up the obsession pretty well. From this:
Quote from: alanp on February 04, 2015, 04:02:51 AM
I only wanted a LaVache!
To this:
in just a few short years.
Quote from: drolo on February 03, 2015, 04:07:47 PM
I regularly look at the possibility of learning programming (PICs, FV-1 etc) and tell myself: With this I could do ... anything! Muahhahahaha.
Then I take a look at some random beginner programming tutorial and go gently back to my breadboard ... until the next time ...
The programming for these small embedded processors is, for the most part, a small subset of what you would cover in a general programming tutorial. Starting with an Arduino tutorial or maybe looking at some of the mbed stuff might be a quicker and more directly applicable way to get your feet wet and on the path to the kinds of things you envision.
Quote from: TNblueshawk on February 03, 2015, 09:03:28 PM
Next progression is amps ;D
For me its guitars. Also, amps are
soooo 20th century.
Quote from: RobA on February 04, 2015, 05:46:00 AM
Quote from: drolo on February 03, 2015, 04:07:47 PM
I regularly look at the possibility of learning programming (PICs, FV-1 etc) and tell myself: With this I could do ... anything! Muahhahahaha.
Then I take a look at some random beginner programming tutorial and go gently back to my breadboard ... until the next time ...
The programming for these small embedded processors is, for the most part, a small subset of what you would cover in a general programming tutorial. Starting with an Arduino tutorial or maybe looking at some of the mbed stuff might be a quicker and more directly applicable way to get your feet wet and on the path to the kinds of things you envision.
Funny you should mention that -- I included one of those teeny weeny boards with my last OSH order.
Mind you, I'm still trying to think of something to do with it.
Quote from: Luke51411 on February 04, 2015, 01:33:08 AM
Step 1 build pedals
Step 2 ???
Step 3 profit
Step 4 Build Amps!!!
Pretty much.
I bought a few GGG and BYOC kits to learn how to do this stuff, with the goal of working my way up to amps. Then I hit the ??? phase when I started etching PCBs and discovering all kinds of cool pedal circuits I'd never dreamed of getting the chance to own or play. Then I built a klone. Well, three of them. I sold two, and the klone market pulled me in with people asking me to build them more and more. Now all my life belong to KLON. For great profit (more like min wage). I've only built two amps so far, and only one worked- the BYOC Champlifier. But it sounds great with a Klon.
I guess I progressed in the opposite direction. I started modding my guitars and then I bought the indyguitarist valve Jr mod book and I was hooked from there. Then after doing amp repair and mods for a few years I stumbled upon madbeans site.
Before then I never really thought about building effects nor did i realize that there was such an amazing community related to the hobby. Now after seeing Juan's raspberry pi based arcade I really want to build something similar. But like most other things that will have to wait until the funds are there.
Richard
I'm still pretty noob, about 18 months building.
I started with an electric cigar box guitar then a talk box then then some BYOC builds.
Then I decided to try vero builds 'cos I figured they're cheap so it won't cost much if I fuck up and there's heaps of cool stuff that you can't buy boards for. It was painful but due to my OCD but they eventually worked and I learnt a lot from doing and planning them.
Now I've found that building from pre fab pcb's is the perfect in-between of BYOC and vero because it's cheap but good quality.
My current thing is trying to get into cool paint jobs and try some graphics because of my background in cartooning and Illustration. I hope to get into modding fuzz circuits then see where I go from there.
Quote from: Dallius Mcnoob on February 05, 2015, 09:49:00 AM
I'm still pretty noob, about 18 months building.
I started with an electric cigar box guitar then a talk box then then some BYOC builds.
Then I decided to try vero builds 'cos I figured they're cheap so it won't cost much if I fuck up and there's heaps of cool stuff that you can't buy boards for. It was painful but due to my OCD but they eventually worked and I learnt a lot from doing and planning them.
Now I've found that building from pre fab pcb's is the perfect in-between of BYOC and vero because it's cheap but good quality.
My current thing is trying to get into cool paint jobs and try some graphics because of my background in cartooning and Illustration. I hope to get into modding fuzz circuits then see where I go from there.
I've built a couple CBGs too! I started working on my third a year or two ago, I was taking the step up to adding frets. I got the fret board and most of the guitar done but stopped for some reason before putting it all together. Now I'm itching to build an instrument or at least pick up a cheapish guitar and upgrade it.