I will spare you the details, I'm not going to impress anyone around here.
I do think I was successful in making the most expensive to manufacture Klone ever.
I also think if it has problems I'm up the creek, I left myself no wiggle room with the wiring whatsoever.
Graphics are a little busy too, but better than my normal labelmaker graphics.
Enough dogging on myself, it sounds great.
I obviously don't have a Centaur to compare it too, but I've listened a lot on YT and this is grittier, in a good way, for the last 1/2 to 1/3 of the pot.
You're too hard on yourself. From where I sit it's a very impressive build inside and out. Very clean and that finish is superb. Very nicely done!
Thank you Gordo, I pride myself that the inside looks as good as the outside.
And I agree, I'm pretty hard on myself, but I stand by the fact that is is the most expensive to make!
That's what happens when you overkill even when it's won't make a difference.
-M
Quote from: Ekimneets on October 10, 2018, 11:37:59 AM
I'm not going to impress anyone around here.
You've failed to not impress me. :P
I like the style of those graphics. It's got a sort of patent medicine or almanac feel. Nice neat wiring too. I like it, inside and out (you could use just a tad of flux cleanup, if you'll endulge me in a bit of nitpicking).
It's a beautiful build. Very well executed.
What makes it the most expensive build, though? Wima film caps and Nichicon electrolytics?
thanks guys.
pIckdropper, it's Xicon 1% MFR, Most of the Box caps are 5%, Nichicon electrolytic, Mill-Max Gold plated IC sockets(pins too), TI and microchip IC's (I don't do China, no offense to anyone), MLCC's are C0G class I, Tantalum and diodes except for the clipping diodes, the others are from Mouser (not Tayda), Switchcraft guitar jacks, Kobicon DC jacks, Alpha Pots and then there are the clipping diodes.
i had some misconceptions early on in my R&D and luckily some members of this forum set me straight. I ended up socketing many dozens of diodes. I sourced them from most US manufacturers and also got vintage stuff from Russia and Bulgaria and current stuff from Thailand. I listened a lot and took a lot of notes. I finally found one that sounded right to me.
For a sane person that would have been it. Not me. I wanted to match the original spec of 0.35v. I decided to keep all of the diodes to +/- 0.03v. I buy them 100-200 at a time and hand test each and everyone of them. Less than 10% make the cut.
Thats why its so darned expensive to make.
-M
Hey EBK,
What's the best way to do that?
-Mike
Quote from: Ekimneets on October 10, 2018, 01:37:04 PM
thanks guys.
pIckdropper, it's Xicon 1% MFR, Most of the Box caps are 5%, Nichicon electrolytic, Mill-Max Gold plated IC sockets(pins too), TI and microchip IC's (I don't do China, no offense to anyone), MLCC's are C0G class I, Tantalum and diodes except for the clipping diodes, the others are from Mouser (not Tayda), Switchcraft guitar jacks, Kobicon DC jacks, Alpha Pots and then there are the clipping diodes.
i had some misconceptions early on in my R&D and luckily some members of this forum set me straight. I ended up socketing many dozens of diodes. I sourced them from most US manufacturers and also got vintage stuff from Russia and Bulgaria and current stuff from Thailand. I listened a lot and took a lot of notes. I finally found one that sounded right to me.
For a sane person that would have been it. Not me. I wanted to match the original spec of 0.35v. I decided to keep all of the diodes to +/- 0.03v. I buy them 100-200 at a time and hand test each and everyone of them. Less than 10% make the cut.
Thats why its so darned expensive to make.
-M
Well, you and I function similarly. I generally source components from the tier 1 distributors (mainly mouser, digikey, arrow, Newark, etc) and try to avoid Tayda for just about everything. In fact, I use just about everything you listed on a regular basis. It's just a better way to build, IMHO. That said, it's still mostly China made parts, just vetted ones.
That said, it really doesn't add THAT much cost to get good caps, resistors and ICs, unless one buys them one at a time. I find things like caps and resistors aren't much different in quantities of 100 or so. The main savings comes from buying cheap hardware, it it's worth it to buy decent stuff, IMHO.
Yes I've definitely learned about economies of scale and I try and buy 10 or 100 or 200 at a time. My problem is just that I have run out of money before I've had my first sale.
I love making a Pedals but my business acumen and planning definitely leave something to be desired.
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Quote from: Ekimneets on October 10, 2018, 04:11:17 PM
Yes I've definitely learned about economies of scale and I try and buy 10 or 100 or 200 at a time. My problem is just that I have run out of money before I've had my first sale.
I love making a Pedals but my business acumen and planning definitely leave something to be desired.
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Try not to get discouraged. It's a tough industry. The market is basically saturated at this point and it's tough to get recognized. Hopefully your efforts will be rewarded in time.
I've also had a steep learning curve and have such a long way to go.
In my previous career I had vast knowledge, wide and deep and instant recall.
Now I am working from a very narrow focus and almost want to just back off and sort of a geek out in the forums and just absorb stuff
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Thanks encouragement helps a lot
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Quote from: Ekimneets on October 10, 2018, 03:59:57 PM
Hey EBK,
What's the best way to do that?
-Mike
Flux cleanup? I use cotton swabs and alcohol. Of course, you'll shed some cotton onto the board, but that is easy enough to pick off.
Thanks that was something that actually was bothering me I just was blissfully unaware of exactly what it was and how to fix it. Thanks for the education
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Quote from: EBK on October 10, 2018, 04:27:26 PM
Quote from: Ekimneets on October 10, 2018, 03:59:57 PM
Hey EBK,
What's the best way to do that?
-Mike
Flux cleanup? I use cotton swabs and alcohol. Of course, you'll shed some cotton onto the board, but that is easy enough to pick off.
Flux remover works best of all, but needs proper ventilation. If using isopropanol, make sure it's high purity (at least 90%+).
Thx for The heads up about the ventilation I have a scrubber at my station I wonder if that's gonna be enough.
I'm pretty familiar with volatiles both organic and in organic from my prior career on back to organic chemistry. Are used to love watching ether roll down the lab tables.
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Very nice build.
How did you apply the enclosure graphics?
I have absolutely no qualms about saying that I farmed that out. I do graphics like I play guitar-not well!
-Mike
That's cool. Do you you happen to know what process was used?
I'm impressed with the number of colors printed on a darker background color.
It's UV printing.
I have no hesitation in recommending PedalPartsPlus to you. The whole crew was professional and accommodating. I made a number of changes throughout the process and they put up with that too.
-Mike
That's really nice. I start out making the guys look neat, then I just want it to be over.
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Very nice build all around, super tidy looks and graphics!
Thx Cooder.
Typo'd from my iphone
Hey guys thanks for the heads up about the flux cleanup. It cleans up nicely and light use of a stiff bristle brush gets the cotton residue just fine.
I do think I'm going to try to flux remover.
-M
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Very nice pedal, Ekimneets! 8)
I'm building it, too. I'll leave it how the stock schematic says, but I'd like to know how add some pots. I know how I can a bass pot, but what about a mid pot?
Classy. Really glad I saw this build report, that's a slick build congrats!
Nice job! I really like the look of that graphic. Good luck with these!
Hey Jack, nice to hear from you again. Unfortunately, I am not the right person to help you with mods. I didn't know what a resistor was six months ago. Maybe someone else can chime in. Good luck with your build.
NzCdog, thanks I put a lot of effort into it and learned a lot. I still can't decide if I like using stranded wire and twisting some together or if I like the solid core, which is a little bit easier for me to manipulate. I've got a pretty bad tremor that keeps things interesting. The graphics are a little busy as well, but won't be on the next one.
Leevibe, thanks I wish I could say they they were all mine, but I had help with them.
-m