General Guitar Gadgets Kits Help

BruceBass3901 · #1 03-22-2010, 12:29 PM

I am interested in a few of the GGG kits, and thought it would be a good idea to see if anybody here had any experince with them vis a vis changing components to make the pedals more 'bass friendly'.

The kits I am looking at are the following:

Way Huge Red Llama Clone

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...art/Itemid,45/

PT80 Digital Delay

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...art/Itemid,45/

Marshall Guv'nor Clone

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...art/Itemid,45/

Ibanez Tube Screamer Clone

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...art/Itemid,45/

Which of the above overdrive units would you all say is the better option?

I have experince in making things that involve soldering, so there is no issue with the practical side of these pedals, I am really looking for help deciding which to go for and whether any of them would require modifying.

All help is welcomed with open arms

karter2000 · #2 03-22-2010, 01:07 PM

I've built the Red Llama and the Tube screamer. Both sounded quite nice, although the Red Llama wasn't necessarily bass-friendly in it's stock form. I believe Bongo did some mods on his RL which involved changing some of the caps to 0.1 or similar.

To make the Tube Screamer more bass friendly, I would do the "AMZ fat mod" which is listed on the IT8 mods page on the GGG IT8 page. The mod basically bypasses C3 with a SPST switch. Alternatively, you can increase the value of C3 (to 0.22 or so) which also flattens the frequency curve and gives a bit more bass.
There is also extra holes on the PCB to allow for the fat mod switch. The IT8 mods page is a good resource for getting some different sounds out of the TS.

Hope that helps!

rratajski · #3 03-22-2010, 01:18 PM

DIYStompboxes is a great place to post that question.

The PT80 Delay is bass-friendly, IME. I've built a ton of them and love it on bass. No bass loss for me!

You might want to look into a blender for the dirt pedals. Check out www.woundedpaw.com.

chicago_mike · #4 03-22-2010, 01:34 PM

Also freestompboxes.org. The mxr filter from them, also at tonepad is a good one to diy as well.

BruceBass3901 · #5 03-25-2010, 11:38 AM

Ok, so I've decided to go ahead with the PT80 as I have heard from a few different sources it is god with bass.

The next question is which Dirt pedal to build. Currently, I am heading towards the Red Llama, but was wondering how it compares to the Pork Loin?

rratajski · #6 03-25-2010, 12:37 PM

I would suggest doing the PT-80 without the charge pump. Run it at 12V. I've had two charge pumps fail in ones that I built.

As for dirt, what sound are you looking for??? The dirt pedals on GGG all have pros and cons and different sounds.

BruceBass3901 · #7 03-25-2010, 04:30 PM

Really, I'm looking for a general overdrive that can do boh subtle and really hard driven. As I know that the Way Huge Prok Loin can do this, when I saw a Red Llama clone, I thought ''Why not get the kit and make it myself?'' Really, I want to know whether the Red Llama clone is anything like the Pork Loin. I ask becasue atm, my computer has no sound, so I can't check vids, etc.

BruceBass3901 · #8 03-25-2010, 04:34 PM

Also, @rratajski, how does the delay receive power without the charge pump? After reading the blerb on it on the GGG website, it sounds like a necessity. Are any mods necessary to make it run off a 12V wall wart?

BruceBass3901 · #9 03-26-2010, 01:11 PM

Has anybody tried the GGG Guv'nor clone?

Silent Fly · #10 03-27-2010, 07:13 AM

All the effects you mentioned can be make more bass friendly.

If you tell me which one you like, I'll give instructions to do it. It shouldn't be too difficult.

rratajski · #11 03-27-2010, 12:07 PM

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...g_pt80_lo2.pdf

My mistake. Run it @ 15-18V.

BruceBass3901 · #12 04-05-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/...g_pt80_lo2.pdf

My mistake. Run it @ 15-18V.

I am defo getting this kit now, so was wondering how I should wire it without the charge pump. Is it obvious once you are looking at the PCB? Any advice on this build? Did you make any mods to make it more bass friendly? I've contacted one guy (jimmy rocket) about the one he built and he said that he thought it was fine without any changes, but I'd like a second opinion.

Also, would it be feesable to add a tap tempo to this? If so, how would I go about doing so?

rratajski · #13 04-05-2010, 10:12 AM

Dude...look at the link I included above. The kits are paint by numbers.

You don't need to mod anything on the delay to make it bass friendly...It already is. If you run it at 15-18V, you'll LOVE it.

I've built a bunch of these.

You can't add tap tempo.

BruceBass3901 · #14 04-05-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

Dude...look at the link I included above. The kits are paint by numbers.

You don't need to mod anything on the delay to make it bass friendly...It already is. If you run it at 15-18V, you'll LOVE it.

I've built a bunch of these.

You can't add tap tempo.

Thank you =)

Sorry if I seem a little slow with all this, I'm new to the building side of this.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why can't a tap tempo be added?

rratajski · #15 04-05-2010, 11:08 AM

It needs another section of the board to be added. It's not as easy as replacing a pot with a switch. Also, read all of the info JD provides on the GGG site to learn about the pedal you want to build. Many times he provides different instructions for mods, etc.