DIY Effect Makers (club?)

[NateS]

who here makes their own DIY effect pedals?

I've been trying to, i understand most of it conceptually, but i suck at soldering, so my projects so far have all failed , and other forums aren't as friendly / helpful as this is...

anybody here make effects? I'd love to get to know you!

here's the list!

black-brown-red (#01): bassk81976
black-red-red (#02): TheMutt
black-orange-red (#03): DerHoggz
black-yellow-gold (#04): Taylor Livingston (Iron Ether Electronics)
black-green-red (#05): Cobrahawk
black-blue-gold (#06): Darkglass (Darkglass Electronics)
black-violet-red (#07): brotherdoc
black-grey-red (#08): bigchiefbc
black-white-red (#09): Herr K.
brown-black-red (#10): Mudfuzz
brown-brown-red (#11): xray
brown-red-red (#12): chicago_mike
brown-orange-red (#13): jimmy rocket
brown-yellow-red (#14): rcubed
brown-green-red (#15): karter2000
brown-blue-red (#16): McSpunckle
brown-violet-red (#17): Erik Schieffer
brown-grey-red (#18): oerk
brown-white-red (#19): moose23
red-black-red (#20): dune2k
red-brown-red (#21): UncleFluffy
red-red-red (#22): MetroBass
red-orange-red (#23): paul_s
red-yellow-red (#24): Gabeja15
red-green-red (#25): walker rosewood
red-blue-red (#26): KarateKid25
red-violet-red (#27): zenrad
red-grey-red (#28): jschwalls
red-white-red (#29): Tim Raats
orange-black-gold (#30): rratajski (Fuzzrocous Pedals)
orange-brown-red (#31): naiko
orange-red-red (#32): MPU
orange-orange-red (#33): bjlevine
orange-yellow-red (#34): zaubertuba
orange-green-red (#35): paganjack
orange-blue-red (#36): Low Sound Love
orange-violet-red (#37): Stu L.

[TheMutt]

I'm just on the beginnings of starting out and getting the hang of soldering myself. Only thing I've made so far was a 3-switch aux unit to use with an Eventide pedal (Pitch/Mod/Time-Factor), or other effects that can use 3-switch momentary type pedals.

I'm probably going to put something together before the year is up. I've been thinking about what a NPN germanium Woolly Mammoth would sound like.

[DerHoggz]

I have built one fuzz (Bazz Fuss) but I rushed and didn't bother boxing it up because it was meh.

Next hopefully:
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/a...THAUG2007.html

I'm also thinking some kinda bass friendly fuzz face, maybe germanium.

I kinda wanna make a real germ big muff too.

Also for helpful forums big plus to diystompboxes.com.

[Taylor Livingston]

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

I have built one fuzz (Bazz Fuss) but I rushed and didn't bother boxing it up because it was meh.

Next hopefully:
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/a...THAUG2007.html

While I applaud your spirit, I would suggest you progress in slightly smaller steps. That MFOS synth is a very cool project, but monstrous compared to a bazz fuss. It's a very advanced project, especially because of the huge amount of offboard wiring. And it won't run on a standard power supply, which means you'll need to build your own, and that can be either dangerous or complicated depending on how you do it.

My very first project years ago was a 4MS stereo panneur. People told me that was too complicated for a first DIY build (and it's way simpler than the MFOS synth), I didn't listen to them. They were right. It took me years to debug that pedal, and the frustration of that put me off building for a few years after that.

I think a better way to go, which would end up with similar, maybe better results, would be to build all the elements of that circuit as separate pedals. That way you build it in smaller bites, and after each bite you have a working pedal that does something cool, and you only have to debug that one part at a time. After a while, you'll have something which can do all the fun modular synthy stuff, with even more versatility, but if it takes you a couple of years to get all the different elements done, you could be making some sounds with it along the way. Let me know if you like that idea and I can suggest some projects that would get you going in that direction.

[DerHoggz]

Originally Posted by Taylor Livingston

While I applaud your spirit, I would suggest you progress in slightly smaller steps. That MFOS synth is a very cool project, but monstrous compared to a bazz fuss. It's a very advanced project, especially because of the huge amount of offboard wiring. And it won't run on a standard power supply, which means you'll need to build your own, and that can be either dangerous or complicated depending on how you do it.

My very first project years ago was a 4MS stereo panneur. People told me that was too complicated for a first DIY build (and it's way simpler than the MFOS synth), I didn't listen to them. They were right. It took me years to debug that pedal, and the frustration of that put me off building for a few years after that.

I think a better way to go, which would end up with similar, maybe better results, would be to build all the elements of that circuit as separate pedals. That way you build it in smaller bites, and after each bite you have a working pedal that does something cool, and you only have to debug that one part at a time. After a while, you'll have something which can do all the fun modular synthy stuff, with even more versatility, but if it takes you a couple of years to get all the different elements done, you could be making some sounds with it along the way. Let me know if you like that idea and I can suggest some projects that would get you going in that direction.

I was thinking about splitting it up as a matter of fact. Not only would it be easier, but I figure I would want the octave and square wave section at the front of my chain and the filter and VCA somewhere towards the end.

I'll probably build an SFT clone before that because that would get much more use in my current situation. I need a drive pretty bad, although I can get a fairly nice drive-ish sound from my big muff.

Taylor, you wouldn't happen to have any experience with full wave rectification, it looks neat and simple and like it might yield interesting results.

[Taylor Livingston]

Personally, I'd forget those schems and use similar stuff by Tim Escobedo. He has great, low parts count circuits that do all that fun stuff that run natively from 9v. Fooling with bipolar 12v is a pain in a stompbox format.

[NateS]

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

Next hopefully:
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/a...THAUG2007.html

Jesus...i'd die if i tried to make that!

My first failed attempt was a fuzz, as well, this schematic: http://personal.inet.fi/koti/holmberg/images/sfuzz.gif

with all diodes after the first out, so it was a clean boost or a synthy-squarewave fuzz. Sounded amazing on a breadboard, something i hadn't heard before. Perfed it out, didn't play anything out of it, at all. Soldered it badly, i didn't understand how to make the connections between conponents, and tried to connect them with solder. Didn't work...

second failed attempt happened today, making an even easier schematic: http://img11.imageshack.us/i/thingamabob.jpg/

but cut it down to just an input cap, output cap, and the ic, and it sounded amazing on breadboard as well. Soldered it up corrrectly, that i know of - using the leads of the components to connect them, but it still doesn't work.. i dunno.

[Cobrahawk]

I've been making pedals for a while. I'd be happy to try and answer some questions for you if I can.

[Darkglass]

Same as Cobrahawk!

[NateS]

Thanks!

I don't understand how to connect components on perfboard, could you post a picture of the solder side? I can't really seem to find any that help answer my question

[brotherdoc]

I've been into it for a year now. I suggest http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/ for help. Real cool bunch of guys always willing to help a noob. Culture Jam has some real nice Muff boards. A good sight to buy boards is www.guitarpcb.com. My7of9 makes some nice stuff. Has a little forum on his sight too.

As far as perfboard goes, you just connect the dots with solder, flowing it from one pad to the next. It takes a little practice but not as difficult as it looks. I just perfed my first board a few weeks ago. Zvex SHO for a guitar friend.

[NateS]

Originally Posted by brotherdoc

As far as perfboard goes, you just connect the dots with solder, flowing it from one pad to the next. It takes a little practice but not as difficult as it looks.

Ok, i didn't try that way when i did my first one, i put components in adjacent pads and made two connections, then soldered the two connections together. Made large globs of the stuff that didn't really seem right. Then i read that you're supposed to solder the pad, then bend the component lead to where the next component is, and solder it to that. That didn't really seem to work, either

[bigchiefbc]

I've put together a few BYOC and GGG circuits, and have never had any problems with the soldering or wiring. I bought a Beavis Board last winter, have worked our some cool projects and am now in the later stages of making my first quasi-original pedal. Hope to have a prototype ready in the next few weeks or so.

My theory knowledge is decent, but I am always up to keep learning

[brotherdoc]

take two pads next to each other you want to connect... flow a drop of solder on each then fill in the gap. right or wrong, that's how I do it.

[NateS]

hmm, i'll give it a shot next time. probably tomorrow. I need some new perfboard now..

i didn't know this many people on Talkbass actually did DIY stuff, it never comes up in the effects forum. I was kind of joking about the club part, but i'm starting to think it was a good idea. You guys?

[DerHoggz]

Originally Posted by Taylor Livingston

Personally, I'd forget those schems and use similar stuff by Tim Escobedo. He has great, low parts count circuits that do all that fun stuff that run natively from 9v. Fooling with bipolar 12v is a pain in a stompbox format.

I don't remember ever seeing another octave besides the shocktave.

[Herr K.]

Originally Posted by Taylor Livingston

My very first project years ago was a 4MS stereo panneur. People told me that was too complicated for a first DIY build (and it's way simpler than the MFOS synth), I didn't listen to them. They were right. It took me years to debug that pedal, and the frustration of that put me off building for a few years after that.

That was my first project too! What a coincidence. I don't know how, because I'm not all that experienced, but all of the projects that I've done (a simple amp, the Panneur, and a Casper Audio Drone Lab) all worked on the first try. Lucky me.

[Taylor Livingston]

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

I don't remember ever seeing another octave besides the shocktave.

Oh, there are tons.

Slacktave
Nocto and Nocto
Harmony Generator
Rocktave
Blue Box

Note that none of these (including the MFOS guitar synth) will sound smooth like the OC-2, they are all buzzy square wave types.

Originally Posted by Herr K.

That was my first project too! What a coincidence. I don't know how, because I'm not all that experienced, but all of the projects that I've done (a simple amp, the Panneur, and a Casper Audio Drone Lab) all worked on the first try. Lucky me.

Did you build on one of their nice PCBs? Back when I built mine, Dann didn't have PCBs or nice kits. You were supposed to build them on pieces of matboard (thick paper basically), connecting everything point to point but without the convenience of a rigid surface or plated pads like perf board. And none of the pots were on board, so you had to run about 40 wires from this piece of paper to your pots, jacks, etc. It was a huge mess, but I didn't know better, and the internet DIY scene had not progressed to where it is today. Building one these days would be an enjoyable breeze compared the way he used to do the kits.

[NateS]

i really like the sound of the slacktave, i wish i could build it - maybe in time..

i have a bookmark folder of about 10 schematics that i am going to eventually make. Maybe i should save them as well, don't want them to disappear on the internet

EDIT: And the drone lab would be an insane object to have! 'm almost tempted to just buy one of the completed units, but i know it'd be so much more fun to at least assemble it on my own. THat may be my next project, actually... if you buy the set with the PCB, you only have to solder the pieces in the correct holes, right? They are connected by the circuit board?

[Herr K.]

Originally Posted by Taylor Livingston

Did you build on one of their nice PCBs? Back when I built mine, Dann didn't have PCBs or nice kits. You were supposed to build them on pieces of matboard (thick paper basically), connecting everything point to point but without the convenience of a rigid surface or plated pads like perf board. And none of the pots were on board, so you had to run about 40 wires from this piece of paper to your pots, jacks, etc. It was a huge mess, but I didn't know better, and the internet DIY scene had not progressed to where it is today. Building one these days would be an enjoyable breeze compared the way he used to do the kits.

Ah, that would explain it. Yes, I did have the PCB. I found it pretty easy by that route, and it was the second thing I ever took a soldering iron to.

Originally Posted by bassk81976

EDIT: And the drone lab would be an insane object to have! 'm almost tempted to just buy one of the completed units, but i know it'd be so much more fun to at least assemble it on my own. THat may be my next project, actually... if you buy the set with the PCB, you only have to solder the pieces in the correct holes, right? They are connected by the circuit board?

Yes sir. There is one component that is optional, where connecting two holes by jumper is the other option, but other then that, the PCB does all the work. They even have a pdf that tells you where to put every component. Building it was pretty fun, and using it even more so. I definitely would recommend building it yourself - much cheaper, and much more satisfying. Even with the terrible soldering equipment that was all I had access to for most of the build, it worked perfectly as soon as I finished soldering everything and powered it up.