Messages

1

Open Discussion / Re: V-Scoring in KiCAD....?

« on: May 30, 2020, 12:36:08 PM »

I don't use Kicad, but that isn't software specific. Make a new layer, draw the lines, and include that layer when exporting the Gerber files in the mechanical/GML file. And make a note when ordering: V-scoring in the GML file.

2

General Questions / Re: Calrec parametric eq, optimise for instrument level?

« on: July 03, 2019, 01:55:57 AM »

Just put a voltage follower/buffer in front. Output is fine as is.

3

Mods / Re: Pepper Spray: Low/High pass filters?

« on: June 24, 2019, 02:56:14 PM »

There is also the BE resistance of the transistor in parallel, which is much lower than that.

https://guitarscience.net/calcs/cecb.htm

Put in some rough values here, you will get less than 1k.

You also need to consider C4, which is probably big enough, and C6, which is too small if you want full bandwidth response. Soundwise, that might actually not be desirable. The low end is also for normal guitar very attenuated.

4

Open Discussion / Re: How important is soldering technique to you?

« on: June 14, 2019, 05:33:24 AM »

Something quite a bit rarer is a reply stating that, as long as your iron has enough oomph behind it and a tip that can physically transfer heat to the particular size part you have, technique is something that the person should work on.

It's really all that matters. I recently had to go back to my very first iron for a couple of days when my current JBC refused to work. It has temperature control via a simple thyristor adjusting the mains voltage. When I started out with electronics it was all I had, and I sucked, and I thought at least part of it was to blame on the iron. Now going back, I can work absolutely fine with it, really nothing to complain about its operation. Besides the 2-3min heatup time. The JBC is hot within less than a second, and I never want to use anything else again if I can avoid it. The slim handle, the vast choice of tips available and their durability are far superior of course as well. I have used the same three tips for over 7 years now.

5

Open Discussion / Re: Soldering Iron Suggestion

« on: June 14, 2019, 05:22:07 AM »

The thing is, that with guitar pedals there are plenty of components that are temperature fragile, such as diodes and transistors.

That's a myth that just doesn't want to die. In almost 20 years of electronics I haven't managed to destroy a single part with hand soldering. Have you ever looked at reflow temperature profiles? Way more stress than even the worst soldering novice will cause the component.

6

Open Discussion / Re: Packing in

« on: June 07, 2019, 08:00:56 AM »

Hobbies come and go.  I'm hoping you still hang around here a bit.  I think many people here have gone through similar cycles.

Yes, both within the electronics hobby and in a broader sense. At the moment it is tube amps once again and particularly transformer winding. To be more precise, starting with winding transformers brought me back to building amps, gotta put all that iron somewhere. I never would have expected to be both fascinated and entertained to that degree by putting copper wire on a piece of plastic. But I really enjoy the whole process immensely. I also play piano and a bit of drums besides guitar, so that goes in cycles as well. Same story for sports...

7

General Questions / Re: Tone Wood Debate anyone....this is so good

« on: June 05, 2019, 03:54:11 PM »

I don't think I would like to have one, since I just love wood as a material way too much. But there are some very interesting engineering ideas in this.

8

Open Discussion / Re: Look at all those buckets.... (BBD die shot)

« on: May 27, 2019, 11:21:13 AM »

Credit where credit is due: https://zeptobars.com/en/

I actually have a couple of his shots hanging on the walls of my workshop and in my office. Some of these look really amazing with great colors. Always fun when somebody asks for the artist.

9

Open Discussion / Re: Is the 2n5088 out of production?

« on: May 21, 2019, 08:13:34 AM »

OnSemi seems to have stopped production, but it is available from Central Semiconductor now (a company which often picks up parts that are being terminated by others). Mouser and Digikey have stock.

10

Open Discussion / Re: Does this only happen to me???

« on: May 11, 2019, 07:07:28 PM »

I always have a shitload of different projects going on at the same time, not just pedals, in various stages from development to actual building. Since most of these don't have to be finished at any certain time, they can be lying around for months or years and progress at different speeds. Unless I want to finish a particular thing and I stumble upon parts I am missing, I note them down in a spreadsheet. The parts are sorted by supplier (with annotation for what project, or I wouldn't remember what half the stuff was for), so once I order from Mouser when something more pressing comes up, I won't forget anything I want from Mouser.

Since you are new to effects building/electronics, you have to build up some stock of standard parts. Definitely get a full set of resistors from 1R to 10M, also a range of typical capacitors, ICs and transistors. There are several threads here where reasonable things to buy for beginners are discussed.

11

Build Reports / Re: Phaser build

« on: May 08, 2019, 05:46:24 AM »

Love the drill pattern finish, cool stuff! Also a big fan of stamped letters, just a nice simple, rough look .

12

Open Discussion / Re: EMS synthi Hi-Fli repair

« on: April 18, 2019, 12:29:30 PM »

Suffering builds the character  .

I would propose not to leave those copper areas unconnected, not ideal from a noise standpoint.

13

General Questions / Re: Red Llama - Discrete conversion

« on: April 16, 2019, 03:39:33 PM »

I actually tried this a couple years ago when I looked at several CMOS overdrives. I used a dual complementary mosfet (I think it might have been this one) in order to minimize differences between the p and n part. Without a limiting resistor the current was above 1A, that's where I had the limiter of my power supply set. With a resistor in place it amplified just fine, but I never put any guitar through or used it in any real circuit. Too much other stuff going on...

14

Open Discussion / Re: PCBs from Germany can no longer be sent as letters...

« on: April 15, 2019, 07:05:39 AM »

You can register as business customer and use that, they don't check and don't care if you actually are. Just use "free artist" or some bullshit, worked for me. Also, I still sent several envelopes with a single small pcb in it, they all arrived. Just wrap it in enough paper so the whole envelope becomes stiffer. I don't know if they actually xray the stuff, or just do manual random tests, but 4/4 arrived.

15

General Questions / Re: Proper way to turn ON an unplayed tube amp?

« on: April 15, 2019, 05:20:12 AM »

This isn't a vintage amp with rotten components, just turn it on. If it has problems, there are fuses.