Topics

Hi all,
I've been building for quite a long time.  Have done a lot of pedals, mostly overdrive/distortion/fuzz and compression,  but some delay and modulation as well.  I only find time for ~1 or 2 builds per year now.  What are some "must build" projects if you only could build a couple more in the near future?

Thanks!

Hi all,
Has anybody had any good success with a DIY speaker simulator?  Ideally looking for something like a Palmer PDI03 that isn't too complicated to build.  Any recommended projects?
Thanks!

First build in a long time!
Lectric-fx Double Take. Sounds great.  Straightforward build, nice PCB.  I liked the recommended mods for a couple of the values, gives it a more rounded sound to my ears.  Haven't had any time to play with the DIP switches yet.

Hey everybody,
stupid question and something I know very little about.  But how close are we to DIY a bluetooth controlled pedal with something like this?  http://www.taydaelectronics.com/pcb/hc-06-bluetooth-transceiver-module.html
Or even without bluetooth, aren't there digitally controlled potentiometers that we can make something cool with?

hey all,
hopefully this will help somebody.  i have been recording a full rock band setting since i was in middle school.  i'm by no means an expert but i used to be really into it, had read multiple full books on mixing and mastering, etc. and have spent a ton of time and money on recording equipment.  i don't do too much these days.  but i came across this article the other day: http://ledgernote.com/columns/mixing-mastering/mixing-with-reverb/
i had never put a post-reverb EQ on a reverb insert/bus like that before (the article has recommended frequencies for high end and low end).  i have since used it on a few recordings and it's amazing, it improved some muddiness with reverb that i had struggled with before.  now the mixes play nice and have much more clarity.  hopefully somebody will find it as useful as i did

Hey everybody,
I've been looking at cheap low watt amps, seems that there are a million these days.  I've seen a lot of love for the Egnater Tweaker here.  What do you recommend?  I'm intrigued by the VHT Special 6.  I don't have time to build one right now.
Thanks!

the pedal world is ripe with super cheap clones and other goodies.  you could definitely do a full rig with just these kinds of pedals.  what would your ideal cheapo rig look like?  here's one that would give pretty nice tone for <$500:

Wah:   Used Cry Baby or Morley Bad Horsie (so cheap, why bother with something else)
Compressor: Monoprice Compressor 
Overdrive:   Caline Crazy Cacti
Distortion:   Behringer GDI 21
Fuzz:   Joyo Voodoo Octave
Chorus: Danelectro CC-1 Cool Cat Chorus
Flanger: Joyo JF-07
Delay: Behringer Vintage VD400
Tremolo: Joyo JF-09
Phaser: Behringer Vintage Phaser
Reverb: Donner Surge Rotater
EQ: Danelectro Fish n Chips
Boost: Caline Highway Man

I'm sure this has been covered in some capacity, but anyway...
List your favorite things, can be anything!

Guitar: 80's Ibanez RG550's
Amp: Marshall DSL401 (don't judge)
Pickup: Dimarzio (PAF Pro)
Strap: Ernie Ball
Strap locks: Schaller
Cable: Mogami
Distortion: BSIAB/Wampler Pinnacle

where I was like: "Damn, my tone is good today!" 
i was playing my old Ibanez RG550-->Fulldrive clone at pretty low gain-->Compulator clone-->Sea Urchin-->Rub a Dub Deluxe-->DSL401

anybody ever feel that way?  i think i'm having more and more of these moments as my building addiction progresses

EDIT: Had a bit of a clipping problem initially, but seems that I just had the volume trimmer too high.  Cool project!  Will try to post a demo later.

Here's a boring demo, clean signal initially then dialing through the settings a bit.  Ibanez JS1000 --> Rub a Dub Deluxe --> Marshall DSL401 --> Studio Projects B1
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/278432/rub%20a%20dub%20deluxe.mp3

Attention delay gurus, I'm looking for suggestions!
I'm a delay amateur at best.  I'm currently using a Sea Urchin, which I like a lot.  I also have a BOSS DD-3 that I never use.  I'm looking for a more complex build, mainly looking at the Madbean offerings and the 1776 Multiplex.  I would ideally like to keep it at a reasonably priced build (not $80 IC's...).  Would a non-PT2399 be a better complement to the Sea Urchin?  Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Hey everybody,
I know there have been a couple of threads about this before, but I'm still on the fence.  My BSIAB II with contour knob and smoking bullet mod is my favorite high gain pedal.  Is the Pinnacle different enough to justify building it?  And I've seen some suggestions that it can be problematic to bias the Pinnacle without trimmers, any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

We all have our secrets to achieving our best tones.  My favorite tones come from a Dimarzio PAF Pro neck pickup into a Timmy or Menatone Blue Collar +- post-overdrive Demeter Compulator into my Marshall DSL401. 
BUT, the one thing that is crucial to my recorded tone is my Studio Projects B1 condenser mic (I have the older version before the switches were added).  I absolutely love the thing.  I drape it from the top of the amp or cabinet, right on the grill, turned a little away from the cone and it always gives me a great clean or distorted sound.

What's your secret?

I've been thinking about building an attenuator for my amp (40 watt Marshall).  I don't see too much discussion here about them.  Anybody have much experience and recommended builds?  I don't see a huge advantage to the Airbrake circuit over a basic resistive circuit.  I don't need anything fancy, I would even be fine with just a fixed attenuation that I can switch on/off.  Any thoughts?

Thanks for any help!

I couldn't find much info on this.  It seems that the older versions of the Pork Barrel included info on how to add an effect level knob (similar to the TonePad layout).  Has anybody tried it and think it's worth it?  Or does the depth knob give enough control to go from light to heavy chorus?  I'm about to start my build, would like a fairly versatile pedal but one less knob is always nice.

Thanks!

I'm sure this exists in some form, but I thought it would be nice for us to post some basic things that would have been helpful when we were making our first few pedals.  Here are a few things that have made life easier for me:

- Use thinner solder to make things neater
- Purchase a fabricated PCB for the first few pedals.  There are several people at this forum that will etch a PCB for you if Madbean doesn't offer a project you are interested in
- Consider multiple conductor wire for pots (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062656), or better yet use PCB-mount pots
- Use smaller pot sizes! I started out using 24 mm pots and they are just too large for most purposes.  I personally like 16 mm, but some prefer 9 mm pots
- Futurlec value packs are a great way to build your resistor and capacitor stash:  http://futurlec.com/ValuePacks.shtml
- Try building your own instrument cables (consider these plugs  http://www.speakerrepair.com/page/product/PandJ-allplugs/32-232x20.html   and   http://www.redco.com  for bulk cable)
- If you hate drilling enclosures as much as I do, consider a tool like this  http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_16698_16698


Links:

Pre-made PCBs:
madbeanpedals.com
guitarpcb.com

Vero layouts:
http://www.sabrotone.com
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com

Knowledge:
freestompboxes.org
diystompboxes.com
madbeanpedals.com
http://www.geofex.com
muzique.com

Part suppliers:
http://www.taydaelectronics.com
http://www.futurlec.com
http://www.mammothelectronics.com
http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/StoreFront
http://www.digikey.com
http://www.mouser.com
http://www.pedalpartsplus.com


Feel free to add your own tips!

Sorry for the annoying question, but I'm going nuts here.
I built a Sea Urchin and it was working perfectly, then I boxed it and now I get a completely clean signal with no delay when the effect is switched on.  My multimeter is crapping out on me, but it seems to show that the pot connections are still intact.  I'm also getting 9V at the +9v.  Any ideas of what could be wrong?  I'm a bit more confused knowing that the circuit just worked and there is intact signal.  Thanks!

I'm sure this already exists, or some variation of it, but anyway...
Post your favorite builds by type!

Here are a few of mine:
High gain distortion - BSIAB II w/ smoking bullet mod and contour pot (the sustain just kills my Dr. Boogie, Dirty Little Secret, Box of Rock, and DAM Sonic Titan builds)
Medium gain rhythm distortion - Red Snapper
Medium gain lead distortion - Zendrive
Low gain distortion - Timmy
Booster - Keeley Katana (IMHO, slightly more transparent than the SHO)
Fuzz - tie between DAM Meathead and Colorsound 1 Knob (use em both more than the Fuzz Factory.  Love the smoothness of the Colorsound)
Compressor - Ross 4 Knob Compressor with mods to add more high end (less "squish" than the Orange Squeezer)
Modulation - Mad Professor Snow White Autowah
Tone-shaping - Fatpants (smooths out a lot of my distorted tones)

I have an addiction.  Anybody else?  Here's my list so far:

JFET Splitter
BSIAB II
Lovepedal COT50
Crowther Hotcake
MI Audio Crunch Box
Dr. Quack
Zvex Fuzz Factory
Fulltone OCD
Hao Rust Driver
Ehx LPB1
Fulltone Fatboost
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
Marshall Shredmaster
Way Huge Red Llama
Zvex Woolly Mammoth
Zvex SHO
Simple Tremolo
Sparkle Boost
Dan Armstrong Green Ringer
Zvex Seek Wah
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Nagy's Blue magic
Mid-Fi Peace Gun Fuzz
Zvex Box of Metal
Hermida Zendrive
ROG Thor
Klon Centaur
Zvex Box of Rock
Xotic RC Booster
Mid-Fi Random Number Generator
Keeley Katana
Menatone Red Snapper
Lovepedal Eternity
Bazz Fuss
B Blender
Lovepedal Purple Plexi
Catalinbread DLS
Fulltone 70
Axis Face
Mad Professor Snow White Wah
Colorsound One Knob Fuzz
Hot Silicon
Barber LTD
Suhr Riot
Dr Boogie
Keeley Compressor
DAM Meathead
Lovepedal Les Lius
Roger Mayer Octavia

Some of these were built multiple times and some were scrapped because I didn't like them.  I obviously have an overdrive/distortion problem.  I'm sure there are more interesting lists out there, so let's see em!

Sorry for the stupid question, but I haven't been able to find the answer anywhere.  Most stompbox circuits I've seen have an electrolytic capacitor from +9V to ground, but some use 47 uf and some use 100 uf, etc.  After reading this great Beavis Audio site  http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/Caps/   it seems that these caps just filter out some ripple in the power supply, so does the actual value of the capacitor matter at all?  Can I just use 100 uf for pretty much any stompbox?

Thanks!