I am currently working on my 3rd Brassmaster build, and I already have a 4th one planned. It's a great circuit (opinions vary, of course). As a sort of WIP thread, I decided to collect them here.
#1
Here is the first Brassmaster I built. It was a kit build from GGG, using a board designed by R.G. Keen. I was quite happy with it, but I sold it a couple years ago to make room for new stuff, and I knew I could build another one better someday.
(https://i.imgur.com/njVdXWsl.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TillVGDl.jpg)
#2
This is the one I built as a gift to my brother after he bought himself a bass guitar. I squeezed it into a 1590B, and it was the one and only time I successfully etched an enclosure.
(https://i.imgur.com/QUCN6tgl.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/V2AsYewl.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6CL36sZl.jpeg)
#3
This is my current project. Another 1590B build, but this time with 4 knobs. Again, using R.G. Keen's board from GGG. I just need to make the box pretty and solder a few things, and it will be done. The fit is only slightly tighter than the previous one (mainly the 3PDT toggle needing to be placed just right).
(https://i.imgur.com/22wCoZgl.jpeg%5B/img)
#4
I was quite excited when Brian announced the BoomBoom. I have the board in my possession, and I plan to make something special with it.
(https://i.imgur.com/H4zb6y2m.jpeg)
Several years ago, I cobbled together a combo Brassmaster and OC-2, with the Brassmaster input being selectable from clean, one octave down, or two octaves down. Those same signals were also mixable with the output. I really liked it, but in a fit of depression, I disassembled it. I'm planning to rebuild it and improve upon my earlier version. Suboctaves into a Brassmaster make some gnarly sounds.
I don't have a pic of the finished old project from before I tore it apart, but I have this partly complete pic.
(https://i.imgur.com/bYpTYTfl.jpeg)
Hopefully, the rebuild will also fit into a 1590BB. I have no idea why I used a stereo input jack for a pedal that can't fit a battery, but I'm guilty of having done this more than once. ::)
Anyway, I plan to add updates for projects #3 and #4 here eventually.
Wow, your bro sure scored a sweet pedal, love the etch on that one!
I've never built a brassmaster, but I used to love its sim on my old PODxt. :)
*edit spelling
Those look killer! The combo sounds really interesting. You definitely should look into the VFE Woodchipper if you haven't already.
What do the switches do? One is an EQ.
Quote from: Netnnk on February 14, 2022, 10:42:25 PM
What do the switches do? One is an EQ.
One switch essentially affects mids cut/boost-ish, and the other is essentially a low/high boost to octave-up, but they both depend somewhat on the sensitivity (gain) pot.
Good job! Love that circuit, its complete madness.
Did you fill the etch with gold paint?
Thanks!
Yes, that etch is filled with gold paint. I really liked how it turned out. I tried to repeat it, but I can't do a toner transfer to save my life now, so Build #3 will be a decal. I'm finalizing the enclosure design for it now.
This is my mock up of the labeling for Build #3. The paint is from the same can of gold that filled the etch, but here I'm calling it metallic brown hammertone to make it sound like I intended for it to turn out this way. :P
It has grown on me.
(https://i.imgur.com/Tit90rN.jpeg)
The mock labels are just a black and white printout. The actual decals will probably be cream and some sort of slate gray, I think.
That looks great! I think the paint effect has a great texture. Do you think that it'll be prone to chipping?
The paint has primer underneath and a couple layers of clear coat on top, all thoroughly baked on. The outside temperature was quite low when I was painting, but the enclosure was warm, and I tried to be quick getting it back into my outdoor toaster oven between coats. Once the decals go on, there will be more clear coat. I won't guarantee the paint will hold up until more time passes, but so far so good.
That looks nice, is that the primer or some sort of hammer paint?
The paint is supposed to be a smooth, high gloss metallic gold. The hammertone texture is user error.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZMrFKYhl.jpeg)
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/33/ed/c7/33edc7b53998ffd254f6cdf4d970483f.jpg)
I printed a test sheet with many variations of the dark color for the labels, but in the end, black won. The light color is cream, but the camera seems to have auto-balanced it to mostly white.
The decals conformed quite well to the textured surface, which is why this enclosure doesn't photograph well. I guess I'm saying it looks better in person. ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/WkYBhks.jpeg)
I'll clear coat it this weekend and probably assemble it so I can get closer to Build #4 (but my Chaos Agent build will definitely get done sooner).
That looks great! Really digging the texture.
It really looks great. Was it too humid when you painted it? To be able to control something like that would be killer.
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I think it was just too cold. The air was pretty dry. Part of the reason I kept it is because I don't know if I could reproduce this. I would definitely try though.
Clear coat applied. Texture intact/enhanced. Static photos don't work well for this. ;)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qq77YFgr/20220227-140943.gif)
Gorgeous. That's turning out great!
That looks awesome!! Love it
Gah, moving pictures, what sorcery is this?
Looks excellent!
This coincidence blows my mind:
Apparently, I'm not the only EBK to build Brassmasters in 1590B enclosures.
(https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0102/users/ee1a2e5fc94f24f34a31342d699f6e24e3ef817c/i-img600x600-15816543583jhufa136404.jpg)
Again, this is NOT from me, but it I think it looks nice. Weird world we live in. I think the other EBK may be in Japan based on my Googling results.
More sorcery!
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Wait you have a clone!? Do we all have clones!! I hope my clone doesn't make better pedals than me. Wait are you the clone?
..
That's a pretty hilarious coincidence.
Build #3 is complete!
(https://i.imgur.com/htgrtJg.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/S8BUhQx.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cwrQPAPl.jpeg)
That came out great. The finish is excellent!
That looks gorgeous!
Beautiful! Great work all around!
Thanks, everyone!
I'm very pleased with how #3 turned out. It will probably be a while before I start #4, but I will update this thread when I do.
Quote from: EBK on March 04, 2022, 02:10:41 AM
Thanks, everyone!
I'm very pleased with how #3 turned out. It will probably be a while before I start #4, but I will update this thread when I do.
EBK,
Awesome looking builds.
I'm hoping to tackle my first brass master over the holidays with Brian's board. Ultimately I want to do a dual with a heavily modified BMP with series/parallel capabilities but figured, for once, I wouldn't over complicate things out of the gate, and still trying to find a solution that offers order switching as well as series/parallel switching that won't be a rats nest of mistakes and regrets.
Anyhow, curious if you have any suggestions on the builds and/or mods you particularly enjoy.
I love the sound of this pedal stock, but will alternate it between 5 string bass and baritone(mid forward, mostly)guitar so any advice there is welcome.
The best mod for the Brassmaster is the volume knob. I believe Brian's board has this already. Without it, the circuit is LOUD. I experimented in my second build with limiting the sweep of the Brass Level control, but having a volume knob is better. Other than that, my favorite trick with the Brassmaster is to throw an octave-down circuit in as the input. The result made me grin nonstop. I'll be revisiting that in the future.
I'm not sure how the series/parallel BMP combo idea would sound, but I like your thinking, and I can't wait to hear it.