- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
i built my own el grande a few years ago. i just designed and ecthed a PCB for it using the MXR schematic, then etched an aluminum enclosure for it:
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Any DIY pedal builders on TB? Strut your stuff!
- Thread starter SubHuman
- Start date
i built my own el grande a few years ago. i just designed and ecthed a PCB for it using the MXR schematic, then etched an aluminum enclosure for it:
D
Deleted member 165050
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I like them all... red, green, blue, got some nice orange ones that work well with some enclosure colours, also pink and purple but they're a little hard to come by. I prefer 3mm in a metal holder.
Unfortunately I don’t have the diy pcb skills. Yet,lol. I have been doing pretty much all stripboard with a couple bought pcbs here and there. I have been on your site probably 500 times in the last 6 months. It’s a great resource. I find pedal layouts I’m interested in then I go to your site to read your description and many times listen to the demos and sometimes compare to see how I did . You build some very nice bases as well.
I finally got my delivery today. Has to go to a bigger box to fit this one in . I could have crammed it in a 1590bb but I kinda wanted to stick to the Malekko version as close as I could but put my own twist on it. I don’t have an original Maestro or even the Malekko to compare to but either way it sounds killer and I’m very happy with the sound. And it’s dead quiet.
Solid effort!
Yup, John's always got great gutshots. He's done a lot for the DIY community, especially DIY'n bassplayers as he has good bass-tweaks/mods for circuits that he openly shares. I've got on my HD probably at least a couple dozen Vero layouts @johnk_10 drew up. I've also made good use of his website as a reference library. Thanks John!
As for LEDs, depends on the theme of the build (similar to Ficelles, I like most all), but despite my last build having a giant red LED on it, generally I don't like red as a bypass indicator.
Ingrained in the brain:
I like the dual-colour ones... red just to show the pedal's got power, green for go.
Bi-colours in a dual pedal, circ one gets red/green, and then red/blue for two.
For those of you not rocking a blue or white LED 'cause they're too bright, why not just put in a bigger CLR? Not too bright if you drop the voltage down enough. Have to admit, a bulk-buy of cheapo red can serve many purposes.
I've got some really nice soft-blue LEDs, one of them is going in my BlueBox clone, not the clear-droplet lazer-beams, on these ones the plastic itself is medium-blue. Picked up some pink recently, and some square ones in amber-orange, green, red and yellow.
Bezels can look good, I used to really like them, well still do. However... After a few boxings before rockings, I started to try and make sure a circuit — jacks, power, LED, stomper, pots, switches — could be easily/completely removed from its enclosure for trouble shooting.
Yup, John's always got great gutshots. He's done a lot for the DIY community, especially DIY'n bassplayers as he has good bass-tweaks/mods for circuits that he openly shares. I've got on my HD probably at least a couple dozen Vero layouts @johnk_10 drew up. I've also made good use of his website as a reference library. Thanks John!
As for LEDs, depends on the theme of the build (similar to Ficelles, I like most all), but despite my last build having a giant red LED on it, generally I don't like red as a bypass indicator.
Ingrained in the brain:
I like the dual-colour ones... red just to show the pedal's got power, green for go.
Bi-colours in a dual pedal, circ one gets red/green, and then red/blue for two.
For those of you not rocking a blue or white LED 'cause they're too bright, why not just put in a bigger CLR? Not too bright if you drop the voltage down enough. Have to admit, a bulk-buy of cheapo red can serve many purposes.
I've got some really nice soft-blue LEDs, one of them is going in my BlueBox clone, not the clear-droplet lazer-beams, on these ones the plastic itself is medium-blue. Picked up some pink recently, and some square ones in amber-orange, green, red and yellow.
Bezels can look good, I used to really like them, well still do. However... After a few boxings before rockings, I started to try and make sure a circuit — jacks, power, LED, stomper, pots, switches — could be easily/completely removed from its enclosure for trouble shooting.
Here is my latest build. Old Conn organ pedals, Teensy USB MIDI into my synth program.
Most of my builds are inspired by visiting @johnk_10 site. I found a lot of ideas for future projects there. And I like the look of the pedals.
Much respect for JohnK's work! Seeing a pedal in his collection has made me aware of a few schematics that have been released into the wild. [URL="https://www.talkbass.com/threads/any-diy-pedal-builders-on-tb-strut-your-stuff.1469191/page-16#post-24942110"]My DOD 250/HAO Sole Pressure hybrid[/URL] used capacitor values from his HAO schematic.
Once again, a big muff left me unsatisfied and I came back for more. Gave this muff a makeover.
To remove the old paint, I poured mineral spirits over the surface and used a razor blade scraper. Then scrubbed off the remaining residue with more mineral spirits and a paper towel.
Spray painted a new coat of primer and started all over. Also sprayed the nuts & washers black. Gave it a green glitter dress and flashy accessories from LoveMySwitches.
Muff 'n Rat dressed for the dance floor.
To remove the old paint, I poured mineral spirits over the surface and used a razor blade scraper. Then scrubbed off the remaining residue with more mineral spirits and a paper towel.
Spray painted a new coat of primer and started all over. Also sprayed the nuts & washers black. Gave it a green glitter dress and flashy accessories from LoveMySwitches.
Muff 'n Rat dressed for the dance floor.
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Love the classy black'n'white B:assmaster - and the glittery dance floor duo!
I finally finished a PCB that has been in a drawer for years: the table top version of the EAR Gristleizer.
That completes my Giger themed trilogy of wonderful weirdness.
I finally finished a PCB that has been in a drawer for years: the table top version of the EAR Gristleizer.
That completes my Giger themed trilogy of wonderful weirdness.
That is a very cool pedal. I like the Box and I love the graphics. I'm more simplistic in my visual approach. I know how to do the mechanics of the graphics but I lack in the creativity Department. I'm good at building things and putting them together and figuring out how they work unfortunately I don't have much of an imagination though. You should do what Dissa did and take a family picture of your pedals. I really enjoy looking at the graphics on them. Another great job.
D
Deleted member 165050
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Awesome! I made one of the small-format Gristleizer derivatives, didn't keep it though. That looks really professional, excellent graphics and enclosure choice.
Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy the graphic part of pedal building. Often enough I move knobs and do off board wiring just for aesthetic reasons.
I've built 50+ by now, quite a few are in the practice room, in use on different boards or waiting for their turn on the shelf, but there are also 2 drawers at home:
I can stop any time ....
I've built 50+ by now, quite a few are in the practice room, in use on different boards or waiting for their turn on the shelf, but there are also 2 drawers at home:
I can stop any time ....
Gorgeous!
Will you paint labels as per your other pedals?
Another fantastic build...
I'm very jealous, I put my name on the EAR wait-list years ago for a table-top Gristleizer PCB and ... still waitin'.
Thanks for showing us your drawers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was messing with the Cowgirl earlier tonight, through headphones. There's a tick that I never noticed before. So I did a quick check with speakers and, yup, the tick is there but not as obvious as with headphones. I have some shielded wire that I didn't use for the in/out — maybe I should've, especially the out, as that's the side the LFO's on. Maybe I'll try some shielding between the LFO's TL062 and the output cap, which due to its size is on long leads that may be acting like antennae. I don't know, never had to deal with ticking before.
Seriously, still waiting? I just checked, I bought mine through Reverb in Feb '17 ...... too bad I didn't get more or I'd send you one.
Skipping labels on these. Dont want my sloppy brush skills mucking up those pretty finishes. They both use typical Volume, Tone, Gain format anyways.
Been awfully quiet around here. Everyone must be on the bench. I have been in the man cave creating my newest addition to my pedal board. I’m really happy with this one. Yeh it’s another muff BUT this one is tuned for bass , wrecking ball style bass. Super low end, mid cut boost switch . Imagine a Dope priest or a Bluebeard on steroids. This is a monster muff. I have made my own tweaks and I love it. Sorry no gut shots. Feral Feline I see your Cow Girl and raise you a bunny, lol.
Seriously cannot stop laughing, out loud. So much win right there...
I looked at the pics before I read the post and thought "Killer Bunny"...
I'm glad I wasn't taking a swig of my coffee just now.
You better be careful, mdalamond, those Muff circuits breed like, well... you know!
