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Any DIY pedal builders on TB? Strut your stuff!

#721
I wired up the PedalPCB Depot Fuzz (EQD Terminal Fuzz clone) last night, I really like it. The lows come through much better than other fuzz pedals I've tried/have. More responsive, doesnt have that wimpy 'baaouwlll' sound some have on low notes. It will probably like my passive basses better than the active Warwick I used to test, but they arent put together at the moment :bassist:

I used metal can 2N2222A in place of the 2N222A it calls for.
20210421_014125.jpg


My dumb butt messed up the powder coat when I was counter sinking the holes for the pots. Good job! I'll be more careful on the next 6.
20210420_163342.jpg


Edit, I can't really compare it to anything else I have. Probably closest to the Morley Cliff Burton Wah fuzz, but with a little more character. I like the Voice control, almost sounds like a mid-shift (if that's the right term - think of a mid Q control with a fixed level)
 
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#723
G.Bisson said:
I was also surprised with how powerful the Voice control was for tone shaping this fuzz. Sure beats the plain 'ol treble roll-off tone control found on so many other pedals.
Click to expand...
Did you build one? I forgot to mention that the pots were really close together, I had to pull the plastic dust cover off of the Volume and Fuzz pots to make it fit. I'll have to be more careful on the next ones I drill.
 
#724
AudioTaper said:
Did you build one? I forgot to mention that the pots were really close together, I had to pull the plastic dust cover off of the Volume and Fuzz pots to make it fit. I'll have to be more careful on the next ones I drill.
Click to expand...

I built one on stripboard posted here.
I felt it reacted very differently to active vs passive basses and preferred it with active bass.
 
#728
So I’ve been busy. Managed to squeeze this in while studying for a big exam, I’m to old for exams but I gotta do it. One of the biggest things I’ve learned so far about making PCBs is the hole size REALLY matters when it comes time to solder. Other than that it’s fun and when your done and it works you look back and say, man that’s cool , I did all that. Very self satisfying.
I got it all put together last night , hooked it up on the test bench and NOTHING! I checked wires, transistor orientation, looked for bridged solder joints etc… almost pulled out the audio stethoscope, lol. Then I realized my senior moment. I don’t even want to tell anyone but it’s funny, I DIDNT plug in my bass, DUUUHhh. Once I did that I spent the next hour or so playing and comparing to videos. I’m very pleased with the result for it being my first PCB. I have also learned I can easily etch enclosures. It’s not as nice as a @johnk_10 build but not bad for a rookie. I will put up some more pics this weekend. I hope to box it up this weekend but I need to study, build a pedal for a fellow bass player , mow the yard , play with the dog , convince my wife I need more parts , blah blaaa blaa. I ended up using 2n5088s , I couldn’t find a pcb layout for the original 2n3707. If anyone happens to have that layout I would be most great full if you could share it with me. I have built the stripboard version and bent the pins on the 3707s but I don’t care for doing that.

EDIT!!!
I am editing my post so nobody makes the same mistake . Hope this saves someone time and money.
It has been brought to my attention that the layout I used has errors in it. The layout is unverified so no one did anything wrong. I was hoping that I would be the one to verify it but it didn’t work out that way. The circuit does work but just not 100% like it’s supposed to. If you google the layout , it is the only one that comes up. So if your like me and don’t know how to read schematics and apply them to PCB don’t build it. If you can do all that and you figure it out, let me know. I would love to get this right. According to the post below there is an error in the blend portion of the circuit.

Depth Charge.
82F0D6E3-0626-4DC5-9B69-ED0DA2EDB69A.jpeg
9FDAA094-E11A-4540-9CF8-BA1A14ECA152.jpeg
 
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#729
mdalamond said:
So I’ve been busy. Managed to squeeze this in while studying for a big exam, I’m to old for exams but I gotta do it. One of the biggest things I’ve learned so far about making PCBs is the hole size REALLY matters when it comes time to solder. Other than that it’s fun and when your done and it works you look back and say, man that’s cool , I did all that. Very self satisfying.
I got it all put together last night , hooked it up on the test bench and NOTHING! I checked wires, transistor orientation, looked for bridged solder joints etc… almost pulled out the audio stethoscope, lol. Then I realized my senior moment. I don’t even want to tell anyone but it’s funny, I DIDNT plug in my bass, DUUUHhh. Once I did that I spent the next hour or so playing and comparing to videos. I’m very pleased with the result for it being my first PCB. I have also learned I can easily etch enclosures. It’s not as nice as a @johnk_10 build but not bad for a rookie. I will put up some more pics this weekend. I hope to box it up this weekend but I need to study, build a pedal for a fellow bass player , mow the yard , play with the dog , convince my wife I need more parts , blah blaaa blaa. I ended up using 2n5088s , I couldn’t find a pcb layout for the original 2n3707. If anyone happens to have that layout I would be most great full if you could share it with me. I have built the stripboard version and bent the pins on the 3707s but I don’t care for doing that.

Depth Charge.
View attachment 4244768 View attachment 4244769
Click to expand...
if that's the storyboardist depth charge 2N5088 layout, it has errors in the blend circuit.
 
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#730
johnk_10 said:
if that's the storyboardist depth charge 2N5088 layout, it has errors in the blend circuit.
Click to expand...
Yes it is. I sent you a PM . I'm not aware of any other PCB layouts on-line. I have scoured the web in search. I will need to get back on perfboard and recant my statement of it being verified. I had left a comment on there that it was verified but now I see that it is not. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
 
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#732
mdalamond said:
Then I realized my senior moment. I don’t even want to tell anyone but it’s funny, I DIDNT plug in my bass, DUUUHhh. Once I did that I spent the next hour or so playing and comparing to videos.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad...the big reason I need more time with the lil' fella is when I plugged it in, I neglected to realize my bass had a treble defeat switch engaged and it was set on the wrong pickup for my preferred sound. The pedal sounded like garbage and then I ultimately realized my bass was set wrong and it started sounding a lot better but I didn't have too much time screwing around with it after realizing my goofy mistake that was tainting my impressions.
 
#733
Update on the new DigiKey DK Red protoype PCB service:

There was a snafu in shipping to my PO box, which the service rep says is now permanently resolved. He also says they are typically meeting the ten day turnaround time mentioned on the web portal (i.e. shipping within 10 days from order acceptance). I had to pay tax, which OSHpark doesn't charge; free USPS shipping in both cases. The boards I received all have clean edges with no pull tab leftovers to deal with (or not). And I ordered four boards but received six, which I assume is probably a temporary perk of being an early adopter. Board quality looks quite good:

DK_Boards.jpg


So this service gets a tentative thumbs up from me. The service rep was on it very quickly once I pinged him and I was given a free upgrade to Priority Mail, which is still running a bit slow in my neck of the woods unfortunately. No worries, I'm just happy to have a decent second option.
 
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#735
That Depth Charge is thah BAWMB!


Passinwind said:
Update on the new DigiKey DK Red protoype PCB service:

There was a snafu in shipping to my PO box, which the service rep says is now permanently resolved. He also says they are typically meeting the ten day turnaround time mentioned on the web portal (i.e. shipping within 10 days from order acceptance). I had to pay tax, which OSHpark doesn't charge; free USPS shipping in both cases. The boards I received all have clean edges with no pull tab leftovers to deal with (or not). And I ordered four boards but received six, which I assume is probably a temporary perk of being an early adopter. Board quality looks quite good:

View attachment 4245155

So this service gets a tentative thumbs up from me. The service rep was on it very quickly once I pinged him and I was given a free upgrade to Priority Mail, which is still running a bit slow in my neck of the woods unfortunately. No worries, I'm just happy to have a decent second option.
Click to expand...




Maybe the PCB edges are smooth, but they look sharp to me!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@AudioTaper Love the TO-18 2N2222As, they add at least 17.93% more mojo, IIRC. The Terminal is based on the FY-2 Companion, or a period clone from that era? I think I saw "JAX" mentioned somewhere... I'm wondering how close to the original Companion EQD got. I've got a companion build brewing on digital-paper, but not sure which take on the circuit I'll use.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

mdalamond said:
... I need to study, build a pedal for a fellow bass player , mow the yard , play with the dog , convince my wife I need more parts, spend 5 minutes before every build-session learning something new about schematics, blah blaaa blaa. ...
Click to expand...


That's a great idea, man, I bet those 5 minutes would add up quickly to having a solid ability to read schematics.

I'll probably mangle a SuperFuzz board I have on hand to build my Depth Charge, when I get 'round to it. :rolleyes:

What's the Story(boardist) with the blend in the EL version?

~~~~~~~~~

Nothing new to report here, DIY wise. Helped my friend fix my other friend's 1979 Electric Mistress — the screws for the enclosure are long gone, any ideas where I can get some? Or the size or whatever for a trip to the local hardware store?

I'm a little like Leno — he went to a Bugatti-restorer specialist to price some bonnet straps for his vintage Bugatti: $300 or something. Leno goes to the local tack-shop, he says "how much to fab me something like this?" $30–40. I don't remember the real numbers, but you get the idea.

I don't need vintage screws, not even "period correct" EHX reproductions. I just need the enclosure to stay together.

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#737
Finally finished my Delegate compressor! Worked first time, and does what it's meant to do. Not the most extreme of compressors for bass but certainly transparent and now has a place on the pedalboard.

[Edit] Maybe a bit hasty with the term transparent... actually distorts a little on higher settings so might be more of a guitar sustainer than a bass squeezer. I'd better try it on a 6-string...
 
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#738
Feral Feline said:
That Depth Charge is thah BAWMB!
Thanks for the edit,lol. I do spend time learning schematics. I am self taught so I learn at a slower pace than someone getting formal training. I can breadboard basic to moderate schematics and make simple vero layouts. I have not attempted to draw a PCB yet. I'm a lot farther than I was a year ago but have a long way to go. The internet is a great resource and tool but as many know , there is also alot of misinformation out there.
I wish I had the internet when I was growing up, Id be much farther ahead in life at this point. I'm an information junky. Its boards / forums like this that make DIYing so much fun . And the people you meet that you may not have otherwise is just icing on the cake.
So to everyone who has posted here , no matter how big or small. THANK YOU. Ya 'll are Awsome.








Maybe the PCB edges are smooth, but they look sharp to me!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@AudioTaper Love the TO-18 2N2222As, they add at least 17.93% more mojo, IIRC. The Terminal is based on the FY-2 Companion, or a period clone from that era? I think I saw "JAX" mentioned somewhere... I'm wondering how close to the original Companion EQD got. I've got a companion build brewing on digital-paper, but not sure which take on the circuit I'll use.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




That's a great idea, man, I bet those 5 minutes would add up quickly to having a solid ability to read schematics.

I'll probably mangle a SuperFuzz board I have on hand to build my Depth Charge, when I get 'round to it. :rolleyes:

What's the Story(boardist) with the blend in the EL version?

~~~~~~~~~

Nothing new to report here, DIY wise. Helped my friend fix my other friend's 1979 Electric Mistress — the screws for the enclosure are long gone, any ideas where I can get some? Or the size or whatever for a trip to the local hardware store?

I'm a little like Leno — he went to a Bugatti-restorer specialist to price some bonnet straps for his vintage Bugatti: $300 or something. Leno goes to the local tack-shop, he says "how much to fab me something like this?" $30–40. I don't remember the real numbers, but you get the idea.

I don't need vintage screws, not even "period correct" EHX reproductions. I just need the enclosure to stay together.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
 
#739
ficelles said:
Finally finished my Delegate compressor! Worked first time, and does what it's meant to do. Not the most extreme of compressors for bass but certainly transparent and now has a place on the pedalboard.

[Edit] Maybe a bit hasty with the term transparent... actually distorts a little on higher settings so might be more of a guitar sustainer than a bass squeezer. I'd better try it on a 6-string...
Click to expand...

My verdict on the Delegate: not the kind of compressor I want for bass :( But it's a great guitar compressor/sustainer :) I should have known really, it's apparently based on the Ross circuit which for me isn't ideal for bass. I'm wanting more of a dbx rackmount style compressor in a pedal and the only comps I've built like that are versions of the Engineer's Thumb circuit. So having built the FuzzDog and DeadEndFx versions I'm now going to make the PedalPCB one since they've just released it and that can go in the Delegate enclosure. Maybe I'll put the Delegate in a guitar multifx enclosure one day since I have a collection of unused, unboxed builds now...
 
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