madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:04:28 AM

Title: Surprising builds
Post by: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:04:28 AM
Ever build something and you're like,

"Holy crap, I can't believe this thing actually works!"

Happens to me all the time.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: dwstanford on December 22, 2011, 02:11:14 AM
Yeah, the dirtbag delay.  I'm generally a fuzz pedal guy, so i'm used to working with ten or twenty components.  The dirtbag has like a hundred.  I couldn't friggin' believe it worked at all when i finished it, much less the fact that it worked correctly.  I was suspecting i would have to do some troubleshooting and was prepared to do so. 
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: slimtriggers on December 22, 2011, 02:14:56 AM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:04:28 AM
Ever build something and you're like,

"Holy crap, I can't believe this thing actually works!"

Happens to me all the time.

Every time I etch something myself :)
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:18:39 AM
I just re-re-housed a double flush and switched from board mount to solder terminal pots. i also took off like 4 or 5 solder pads in the process because i'm using crappy radioshack desoldering braid. I seriously don't know how this thing is still alive..
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: stecykmi on December 22, 2011, 07:06:20 AM
definitely my JCM800 clone I built. It was my first amp build and I did it from scratch (ie no kit). It only needed two simple corrections after the first non-test fire-up. It basically worked the first time.

here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW2ffA6Pi3Q (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW2ffA6Pi3Q)
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: LaceSensor on December 22, 2011, 08:57:44 AM
Everything I make. Been doing this since January with no prior skills so literally each time it's such a buzz.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sam_c on December 22, 2011, 11:10:31 AM
Ive been learning to build guitars in my spare time for a couple of years now and managed to finish my first 'from scratch build' last year for a friend.

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7285894/the%20royston/SANY0260.JPG)

to plug it in for the first time and crank it felt good.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: cjkbug on December 22, 2011, 03:16:50 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:18:39 AM
I just re-re-housed a double flush and switched from board mount to solder terminal pots. i also took off like 4 or 5 solder pads in the process because i'm using crappy radioshack desoldering braid. I seriously don't know how this thing is still alive..
I love radio shack braid
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 05:51:28 PM
Quote from: cjkbug on December 22, 2011, 03:16:50 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:18:39 AM
I just re-re-housed a double flush and switched from board mount to solder terminal pots. i also took off like 4 or 5 solder pads in the process because i'm using crappy radioshack desoldering braid. I seriously don't know how this thing is still alive..
I love radio shack braid
i can't tell if this was sarcasm or not
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: gtr2 on December 22, 2011, 07:59:20 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 05:51:28 PM
Quote from: cjkbug on December 22, 2011, 03:16:50 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:18:39 AM
I just re-re-housed a double flush and switched from board mount to solder terminal pots. i also took off like 4 or 5 solder pads in the process because i'm using crappy radioshack desoldering braid. I seriously don't know how this thing is still alive..
I love radio shack braid
i can't tell if this was sarcasm or not

I use it too.  It is actually good stuff but you need to add a little flux to help wick up the solder.

Josh
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: CRBMoA on December 22, 2011, 08:02:32 PM
Rat Shack braid is GREAT! But, I use a solder sucker first to get most of the solder removed, and THEN use the braid.

Using the braid alone means too much time & heat on the board, causing lifted traces. I have never lifted a Madbean trace that I have not abused first.

Admittedly, I have beat the holy hell out of a few boards in my day.

That's how I learned!
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: insomniac2295 on December 23, 2011, 03:40:23 AM
I've found the 3S-Wick from SmallBear to be many times better than the RadioShack braid. Maybe that's just me...
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: cjkbug on December 23, 2011, 07:41:53 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 05:51:28 PM
Quote from: cjkbug on December 22, 2011, 03:16:50 PM
Quote from: insomniac2295 on December 22, 2011, 02:18:39 AM
I just re-re-housed a double flush and switched from board mount to solder terminal pots. i also took off like 4 or 5 solder pads in the process because i'm using crappy radioshack desoldering braid. I seriously don't know how this thing is still alive..
I love radio shack braid
i can't tell if this was sarcasm or not
no sarcasm...I swear bu the stuff. it"s never let me down
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: LaceSensor on December 23, 2011, 08:20:20 PM
I built the Current Lover today and it fired up first time, sounding cosmic.
Was kinda suprised with that was expecting to mess something up.
Gonna be posting a build report sometime when I can get it finished.
The enclosure is interesting...
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sgmezei on December 23, 2011, 09:20:39 PM
The sea urchin was wicked because it worked first time. I struggled with a PT80 delay kit from GGG forever and never got it working. I also have two Aquaboy and two Dirtbag deluxe boards that are not up and running yet. So the delay first try felt great.

The next would be my Dumble clone. Turned out phenomenal. Was my fourth amp build and it fired up first try and sounds amazing. Still cant believe I built it.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: LaceSensor on December 24, 2011, 08:22:55 AM
Wow that's next level stuff...amazing.
I'd need to do an electrical safety course to even consider it.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sgmezei on December 24, 2011, 08:33:07 AM
You know what, I thought the same thing. But you have to pretty pretty ridiculous to zap yourself really bad with an amp. When your working on it, make sure its unplugged. And if you have fired it up, you have to discharge the caps. There are multiple ways to do this and its quick and easy. I use a big 5watt resistor with alligator clips, connect it to the positive side of the big electrolytics and the other end to ground.

Its like pedals, addictive as hell and 10x as expensive hahaha.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sam_c on December 24, 2011, 09:53:16 AM
Quote from: sgmezei on December 24, 2011, 08:33:07 AM
Its like pedals, addictive as hell and 10x as expensive hahaha.

+1.  Great fun and very rewarding.

I'll be doing one of these kits sometime next year. 
http://www.ampmaker.com/store/PP-36-18-36W-plexi-amplifier.html

I built the SE 5a kit and it just falls a bit short of gigging volume.  Hopefully having a 36w plexi type amp with MV would do the trick

Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: TNblueshawk on December 25, 2011, 12:34:26 PM
Quote from: sgmezei on December 24, 2011, 08:33:07 AM
You know what, I thought the same thing. But you have to pretty pretty ridiculous to zap yourself really bad with an amp. When your working on it, make sure its unplugged. And if you have fired it up, you have to discharge the caps. There are multiple ways to do this and its quick and easy. I use a big 5watt resistor with alligator clips, connect it to the positive side of the big electrolytics and the other end to ground.

Its like pedals, addictive as hell and 10x as expensive hahaha.

Hey sg, was that a kit of some kind?

Looks fantastic man
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sgmezei on December 25, 2011, 02:57:59 PM
Hey TN,

Ceriatone makes amazing kits. The quality is top notch with the best components and awesome service. I was super skeptical since they are in Asia and I had never ordered anything from over there before so I checked around. If you haven't, check out ceriatone.com. It is unreal the amount of cool stuff they carry.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: TNblueshawk on December 25, 2011, 11:42:46 PM
Quote from: sgmezei on December 25, 2011, 02:57:59 PM
Hey TN,

Ceriatone makes amazing kits. The quality is top notch with the best components and awesome service. I was super skeptical since they are in Asia and I had never ordered anything from over there before so I checked around. If you haven't, check out ceriatone.com. It is unreal the amount of cool stuff they carry.

Cool, I will indeed check them out. I'm not ready for that yet but I'm ordering my first amp build, a Champ kit from BYOC but maybe a second build might be something like this.
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: bigmufffuzzwizz on January 01, 2012, 07:12:13 AM
Quote from: sgmezei on December 25, 2011, 02:57:59 PM
Hey TN,

Ceriatone makes amazing kits. The quality is top notch with the best components and awesome service. I was super skeptical since they are in Asia and I had never ordered anything from over there before so I checked around. If you haven't, check out ceriatone.com. It is unreal the amount of cool stuff they carry.

I've had my eye on them for awhile now! That build of your really looks top notch! Did you have the option of ordering an unpopulated board?
Title: Re: Surprising builds
Post by: sgmezei on January 04, 2012, 06:09:32 AM
When I ordered I got the basic kit with transformers. I thought that it just came with the parts but when it showed up the board was already populated  :( and thats the fun part. I wish I could have but the rest of the wiring and other stuff still took me about 40 hours minus the cabinet.

I think you can only get the kits with populated boards.