madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: televisiondown on February 24, 2014, 05:31:37 AM

Title: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: televisiondown on February 24, 2014, 05:31:37 AM
Here are a couple of my builds from this week. First up is the GuitarPCB Stage 3 Boost. My first 1590A!! My last 1590A!! Yikes. I don't know how you guys do it. This seemed like a relatively simple build, but getting it all crammed in there seems ridiculous. I'm not really hearing a difference between the 2 switch positions. I'll have to play around with my Gibsons to see if humbuckers make a difference. I do like how it sounds, though. A little sparkly with a huge, very clean boost. It definitely goes to 11. I don't have any desire to build another 1590A, but I have to admit that I am intrigued by this tiny pedal thing.

Next is the EM Drive from a Tagboard FX layout. I had 5 minutes, so I practiced some vero skills. Worked right away on the test rig. I played around with a bunch of transistors and found the 2n5088 sounded crappy, the 2n3904 was a little better and the 2n2222 sounded the best to my ears. No mojo here, but it has a really warm, amp-like overdrive. And plenty of volume! I thought a rubber stamp of an atom would look really cool on the enclosure, but I was feeling impatient. Got to use that little asterisk stamp, though!
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: pickdropper on February 24, 2014, 06:04:53 AM
That's very clean for a first 1590a.  Both are great looking builds.
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: flanagan0718 on February 24, 2014, 06:43:42 AM
Nice job, and congrats on the accomplishment! 1590A builds are difficult no matter how you look at it. ;)
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: gjcamann on February 24, 2014, 06:50:45 AM
Very nice! What stamps and paint are you using?
It finally looks like a labeling scheme i might have the patience for.
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: LaceSensor on February 24, 2014, 06:54:02 AM
cool builds. The 1590a is great for a first go. I was the same though; once was enough... for now ;)

The EM drive, LOL, I always get amused when I see how little there is to that shitty circuit.
Great if it sounds good for you but I cant beleive how much they charge for them, considering
I think the only reason they use mojo parts in production models is to cover up how little there is going on.

Kudos

Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: televisiondown on February 24, 2014, 07:18:32 AM
Thanks, everyone! I'm still amazed I fit the toggle in there.

LaceSensor - I completely agree. It seems criminal to charge so much. It does have a sweet spot with my telecaster and strat. I'm still new at pedal building, so I'm sure I'll find something much better that does the light OD really well. For such a low part count, I couldn't help it.

Quote from: gjcamann on February 24, 2014, 06:50:45 AM
Very nice! What stamps and paint are you using?
It finally looks like a labeling scheme i might have the patience for.

The stamps are from Michael's. I use Stazon ink. I've found it at Michael's, but it's cheaper on Amazon. More colors, too. Type "Stazon" in the search field...there are other builders who do a better job with stamps than me.
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: Jurassic on February 25, 2014, 12:38:31 AM
That EM-Drive looks really nice! Love the green color and the stamped letters..
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: rich36 on February 25, 2014, 04:44:57 AM
Nicely done.  Glad to hear that the Em Drive layout works out OK.  I'm about to put that together for my first vero build

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: billstein on February 25, 2014, 08:26:53 AM
Nice builds and I think you did a great job with those stamps. Getting those things to line up is definitely a skill I don't seem to have yet.
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: selfdestroyer on February 25, 2014, 04:18:15 PM
Great job Kris. I love the color choices and your stamps look great. I would love to find some larger letter and number stamps like you have. The Joann's Fabrics here only had smaller letter stamps.

Cody
Title: Re: My first 1590a and an EM Drive!
Post by: televisiondown on February 25, 2014, 07:22:31 PM
Thanks for the kind words! The enclosure was supposed to be for a woolly mammoth and the knobs were another misfit set. It all went together real smooth after I picked up the white Stazon ink and that alphabet stamp set  I try to hold the stamps together when I stamp words out. It works as long as there aren't any repeat letters.

Cody - I'll check what brand the alphabet set is when I get home. Maybe Amazon has it.