Just finished this for a gentleman on TGP. It's a TB MkI with a voltage inverter circuit in a 1590a. He wanted it a more traditional build with simple graphics similar to the original. I couldn't fit Tone Bender in a single like like the original, so I staggered the Tone and Bender. I used a Pewter Vein enclosure for the first time, which has a cool textured look, but has basically zero contrast when laser etched (the text is basically invisible). So I had to back fill with black acrylic paint and then clean it up with alcohol.
(http://i.imgur.com/kR4F1Uf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/aQt7MxE.jpg)
I actually did two boards, one with adjustable bias and one with fixed bias. I built both to verify. Soooo, since I had an extra populated board, I threw it in a Bowie-esque silver sparkle enclosure I had kicking around. I went with period-incorrect graphics similar to the Tonebender MkII, because that's what I wanted to do. ;-)
(http://i.imgur.com/BekoJ6A.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/AS63ChE.jpg)
Impeccable. Great layout and definitely prefer the clean lines on 'yours.'
I've been thinking it'd be fun to do a layout like that with SMD IC and power supply parts on the backside so just the MOJOs are visible.
Classic pickdropper, so. Lean and neat. First one looks like a tombstone.
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Quote from: jubal81 on August 22, 2017, 08:05:04 PM
Impeccable. Great layout and definitely prefer the clean lines on 'yours.'
I've been thinking it'd be fun to do a layout like that with SMD IC and power supply parts on the backside so just the MOJOs are visible.
Or you could confuse people and put the Mojo on the underside and the SMD parts on top. ;-)
Quote from: jimilee on August 22, 2017, 08:26:26 PM
Classic pickdropper, so. Lean and neat. First one looks like a tombstone.
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You know, it does sort of look like a tombstone. I hadn't thought of that.
Holy crap that's clean. What a layout! Well done.
Wow! This is actually the first time I remember seeing a MkI on a fabbed PCB at all, much less in a 1590a. I'm sure the bias trimmers help as this circuit is very picky about transistors. If you have a big enough stash of germaniums with a range of gains and leakeages, it's not as hard to build as people say. Anyway, I like the look of both these builds quite a lot.
Cool builds! I like the pewter wrinkle finish. Kind of a throwback look but with a modern 1590a sans serif spin.
Have to laugh at this thread because I just yesterday finished an npn smd tonebender layout. I also did one variant with smd and npn germs. No mojo and submojo.
But also smiling because of the lone smd resistor on the switch pcb.
Wow they look amazing simply wow.
Awesome work. So clean. Wish I could build in those tiny enclosures and maintain my sanity
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
Kan I Haz PCB two? <('o'<)
-Mike-
Quote from: flanagan0718 on August 24, 2017, 01:22:37 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
Kan I Haz PCB two? <('o'<)
-Mike-
LOL.... actually I was referring to a full build. How much for a completed build?
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
I quoted $180, but ended up cutting it down to $170 as an apology for how long to finish it.
Quote from: flanagan0718 on August 24, 2017, 01:22:37 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
Kan I Haz PCB two? <('o'<)
-Mike-
I am actually going to post my semi-annual list of PCBs that I have for sale. These will be included in that.
Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 02:30:05 PM
Quote from: flanagan0718 on August 24, 2017, 01:22:37 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
Kan I Haz PCB two? <('o'<)
-Mike-
I am actually going to post my semi-annual list of PCBs that I have for sale. These will be included in that.
Yay!!! I just got paid too!
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Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 02:28:29 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
I quoted $180, but ended up cutting it down to $170 as an apology for how long to finish it.
Dang.... I need to start building fuzz makers! 8)
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 03:39:29 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 02:28:29 PM
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 12:56:04 PM
Out of curiosity... what does one of those go for?
I quoted $180, but ended up cutting it down to $170 as an apology for how long to finish it.
Dang.... I need to start building fuzz makers! 8)
Well, it's fairly comparable to what most boutique builders charge, and quite a bit less than some do. Most folks view that as basically the going rate and sometimes, even a bit better. Generally, most folks understand that a custom build is not going to cost $100.
I'm actually considering giving up the custom builds entirely as they are very inefficient from a time perspective, which is something that is always in short supply for me. I build slow and methodically and always spend more time than I plan on them.
Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 05:07:48 PM
Well, it's fairly comparable to what most boutique builders charge, and quite a bit less than some do. Most folks view that as basically the going rate and sometimes, even a bit better. Generally, most folks understand that a custom build is not going to cost $100.
I'm actually considering giving up the custom builds entirely as they are very inefficient from a time perspective, which is something that is always in short supply for me. I build slow and methodically and always spend more time than I plan on them.
Don't get me wrong. I think the work is spectacular. I was thinking that is a pretty good haul for a fuzz. I have lost count of how many fuzz pedals I have built and it still amazes me how much they fetch and how little a more complex pedal (i.e. a delay or reverb) fetches when compared.
No wonder EVERYONE is starting their "businesses" with lines of fuzz, distortion, and OD pedals ;D
Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 05:07:48 PM
I'm actually considering giving up the custom builds entirely as they are very inefficient from a time perspective, which is something that is always in short supply for me. I build slow and methodically and always spend more time than I plan on them.
I hear you. I am slow and inefficient and will only let myself or loved ones benefit from my slow and inefficient activities:)
Those builds are fantastic, by the way.
Marty
I agree with what Greg said...among the few pedals I have sold, fuzz (especially germanium) has always fetched more money than other things.
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 24, 2017, 06:50:17 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on August 24, 2017, 05:07:48 PM
Well, it's fairly comparable to what most boutique builders charge, and quite a bit less than some do. Most folks view that as basically the going rate and sometimes, even a bit better. Generally, most folks understand that a custom build is not going to cost $100.
I'm actually considering giving up the custom builds entirely as they are very inefficient from a time perspective, which is something that is always in short supply for me. I build slow and methodically and always spend more time than I plan on them.
Don't get me wrong. I think the work is spectacular. I was thinking that is a pretty good haul for a fuzz. I have lost count of how many fuzz pedals I have built and it still amazes me how much they fetch and how little a more complex pedal (i.e. a delay or reverb) fetches when compared.
No wonder EVERYONE is starting their "businesses" with lines of fuzz, distortion, and OD pedals ;D
In some ways I prefer building higher parts count builds with modern, consistent components. They are just a lot less tweaky and I generally spend less time fiddling with them. My response may have read as defensive, but I don't actually feel that way at all. I actually feel the pricing compares well with what's out there when factoring overall quality in. Obviously, I can't compete with the cheap Chinese mini pedals in price and don't try to. There are so many options on the market these days, that folks can choose whatever solution works best for them; it's all good.
The reason a lot of boutique companies start with with dirt pedals is because those are the biggest sellers. Sure, fuzz pedals can be simpler, but I'm not sure that's the primary motivator. I think Fuzz as a category has gotten so large because players have more of a tendency to collect different types. I built one for somebody a couple months back that has over 150 fuzz pedals. That's mind blowing.