madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: Rich_S on October 21, 2012, 11:57:57 PM

Title: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: Rich_S on October 21, 2012, 11:57:57 PM
My new build:
(http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy134/Rich_S_GuitarGeek/Stomp%20Boxes/BMP1.jpg)

The prefinished textured black enclosure from Small Bear. The knobs came off an old Bell & Howell Model 34 oscilloscope (http://"http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bell_howel_oscilloscope_34.html"), made by Heathkit for inclusion in a "Learn Electronics at Home" course.  Originally, the little black knobs wre mounted concentrically, on top of the red knobs, but finding concentric pots with shafts long enough is nigh on impossible these days. So, I separated the knobs, and topped off the red one with a penny from 1969, the year Eletro Harmonix introduced the Big Muff Pi.  

The combination of the textured enclosure and the old-school knobs (all of which I had squirreled away in the junk bin) inspired the steam-punkish theme, and pushed me to fabricate nameplates out of hobby-shop .025" copper plate.  I really need to get to the local Ace hardware and get a black nylon washer to replace that white one.

I'm working on a 2-knob version as well, which will house a Fuzzrite clone.

No report yet on how it sounds: I'm in enclosure-fab mode now.  Once the second pedal is done, I'll switch over to board-populating and wiring.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: jkokura on October 22, 2012, 12:02:44 AM
Love.

Just a thought, you should try the 'penny vein' finish from PPP to go with that Penny on the knob... Then you could call it the pretty penny and play Stone Temple Pilots songs...

Wow. Random run on thought.

Jacob
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: Haberdasher on October 22, 2012, 12:40:06 AM
great idea with the stamped copper and the hole markers.  i really like that look.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: icecycle66 on October 22, 2012, 12:55:17 AM
I like the penny finish.

How do you guys affix the plates to the enclosures?
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: midwayfair on October 22, 2012, 01:46:11 AM
This is some amazing enclosure work ... just so well thought out and executed and really creative. Really thinking outside the box here.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: pickdropper on October 22, 2012, 02:23:43 AM
Quote from: midwayfair on October 22, 2012, 01:46:11 AM
This is some amazing enclosure work ... just so well thought out and executed and really creative. Really thinking outside the box here.

Yeah, this is cool and unique.  It's always nice to see different ideas.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: lincolnic on October 22, 2012, 05:07:11 AM
The ever-increasing hole size for your knob markers is a stroke of genius.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: raulduke on October 22, 2012, 08:44:57 AM
LOVE IT.

Really cool build dude.

I agree that it has a 'Steam Punk' look about it.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: pickdropper on October 22, 2012, 12:53:59 PM
Speaking of Heathkit, I recently found out that the founder of the company, Ed Heath, died in a plane that he made out of a kit.  Seemed a bit ironic to me.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: Rich_S on October 22, 2012, 01:41:10 PM
Quote from: icecycle66 on October 22, 2012, 12:55:17 AM
How do you guys affix the plates to the enclosures?

It's just held on with the pot nuts, but I spent a lot of time sanding the back of the plate flat after driiling, so it would sit flat on the enclosure. I thought about both epoxy and double-stick tape, but with all those holes, there's not much surface area that the adhesive wouldn't peek through.  We'll see how it holds up as-is...  


Quote from: lincolnic on October 22, 2012, 05:07:11 AM
The ever-increasing hole size for your knob markers is a stroke of genius.

I think the largest hole might have ended up a bit too big, but the steps were as small as I could do:  every 1/32" from 1/16" to 3/16".

I've sworn that I will never make a numbered legend plate for a pot, it's just too big a PITA.  Check out the "swooshes" I used on my amp:

(http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy134/Rich_S_GuitarGeek/DIY%2013%20Watter/13-Watter2.jpg)
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: eldanko on October 22, 2012, 02:38:14 PM
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator
Post by: Rich_S on October 28, 2012, 12:23:22 AM
I finished the fab work on my second fuzz box today, so the Trianglemuffinator has a sister, the Fuzzrite-inator.  Now I can clean all the metal shavings of the workbench and make with the wiring and soldering.  Tone reports to come.

(http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy134/Rich_S_GuitarGeek/Stomp%20Boxes/fuzzX2_1.jpg)

Yes, the pennies are all from the right years for each pedals' release:  1969 for the BMP and 1966 for the Fuzzrite. 
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: dbharris on October 28, 2012, 03:15:11 AM
Those are some might fine looking pedals!
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: morgcl on October 28, 2012, 05:13:00 AM
With enclosures like that you don't need gut shots. So pro. Inspired...
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: icecycle66 on October 28, 2012, 03:58:45 PM
Where'd you get those big red knobs?
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: Rich_S on October 28, 2012, 05:25:04 PM
Quote from: icecycle66 on October 28, 2012, 03:58:45 PM
Where'd you get those big red knobs?

This, from the first post:
QuoteThe knobs came off an old Bell & Howell Model 34 oscilloscope (http://"http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bell_howel_oscilloscope_34.html"), made by Heathkit for inclusion in a "Learn Electronics at Home" course.
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: nzCdog on October 29, 2012, 04:27:31 AM
Sister's kinda cute.  Just sayin ;D
Title: Re: Trianglemuffinator (now has a sister)
Post by: Rich_S on November 13, 2012, 03:19:28 AM
Well, I finally finished wiring up the Fuzzrite clone last night.  It's really the first true fuzz box I've owned in 40 years of playing.  Compared to my usual buffered overdrives and distortions, it's a lot more finnicky.  The controls a very interactive, with each other and with the pickups and guitar's colume pot.  I knew this fromreading about it, but this is the first time I've actually messed with a pedal like this.  IT definitely likes my Duncan Quarter Pound Tele  better on the tapped setting (~7K) than on the full coild (~13K).  Interesting that the tone thins out and gets brighter  if I roll the guitar volume down a bit, kinda gets into Communication Breakdown territory.  

Guitar volume and fuzz control full up, it's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, BAY-BEE.

Next up, the matching Mudbunny built to Triangle specs.  It's gonna be a fuzzy Thanksgiving here on the _S homestead.