Any DIY pedal builders on TB? Strut your stuff!

[Feral Feline]

Not rambling at all!

Good, solid advice.

I like sockets!

 

[Deleted member 165050]

DeadEndFX PLLain... nearly ready for the 18-hole drill marathon.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Just a little remedial filing was needed, now a problem of a cap that is too tall for the very tight fit in the 1590xx...

 

[JoeDaddio]

Just a little remedial filing was needed, now a problem of a cap that is too tall for the very tight fit in the 1590xx...

Speaking of sockets: do you prefer/recommend those IC sockets you have over the machined ones? I'm looking at options and see two kinds, so just wondering what your experience is.

That build looks fantastic, by the way. Great work.



joe

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Speaking of sockets: do you prefer/recommend those IC sockets you have over the machined ones? I'm looking at options and see two kinds, so just wondering what your experience is.

That build looks fantastic, by the way. Great work.

joe

I prefer the leaf type I use as it seems to me the flat IC pins fit better, but I have to admit the fact they are much cheaper is also a draw...

Still a little way to go on the build, I have to move a cap to the other side of the board and decide where the DC and jack sockets are going, but with any luck will be powering it up tomorrow

 

[cosmicevan]

Been reading a lot about this stuff. I actually have a need for some utility pedals - need an AB switcher and would love to make a small matrix mixer or pedal sized mixer. Are those kinds of projects good to start with or is that more on the advanced end? I'd guess without a complex circuit something like an AB switcher would prob be a great place to start?

 

[76jazzbass]

Just a little remedial filing was needed, now a problem of a cap that is too tall for the very tight fit in the 1590xx...

Nice job! I find it easiest to cover the face with painter tape and then use a combination square to draw straight lines perpendicular to the edges. Then center punch and drill holes. Otherwise it could look like a Lone Wolf pedal

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Been reading a lot about this stuff. I actually have a need for some utility pedals - need an AB switcher and would love to make a small matrix mixer or pedal sized mixer. Are those kinds of projects good to start with or is that more on the advanced end? I'd guess without a complex circuit something like an AB switcher would prob be a great place to start?

Fulltone have a good AB switcher build doc on their website: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[JoeDaddio]

Been reading a lot about this stuff. I actually have a need for some utility pedals - need an AB switcher and would love to make a small matrix mixer or pedal sized mixer. Are those kinds of projects good to start with or is that more on the advanced end? I'd guess without a complex circuit something like an AB switcher would prob be a great place to start?

The Tagboard Effects site has some great projects: Guitar FX Layouts: Site Map NEW

Don't let them being vero hold you back, just be sure to measure twice and cut once, and all that. Beavis Audio was also a big help in trying to understand how this stuff actually works. I haven't done any experimenting yet, but reading through his site is helpful: beavis audio research

There is a lot of information out there and the best thing to do I'd say is to find a project and go for it. It will be ugly and harder than you think, most likely, but it will be fun. Or, if it's not, you at least know that it's not for you! Basics for parts: I use Tayda for most electrical components, such as resistors, caps, etc. Also for in production ICs and transistors, diodes, LEDs, etc. They have amazing prices and good shipping IME. Mouser is another good one for that kind of thing, and I have read that people believe them to have better quality resistors and caps, but their website sucks if you ask me and their search might work well for someone with an EE degree, but for Joe Schmoe it's overwhelming. Tayda is much more simple, and thin leads on resistors are not something that seem to bother me. I buy pots from Tayda as well because they are inexpensive and have all seemed to work well for me.

Love My Switches is great for switches, plugs, and jacks. They have good quality stuff and great shipping as well. They also have a great selection of knobs and it's where I have gotten most of that stuff.

Small Bear is great for anything that is NOS or harder to find. Need that funky NPN germanium transistor within a particular gain range? They have it.

There are a lot of other specialty shops out there, but these are the ones I regularly use and search through and should get you started (if you're in NA, at least!). I'd say don't worry too much about it and just get going, though. Just be sure to triple check your list before smashing that "order" button.


joe

 

[mdalamond]

The Tagboard Effects site has some great projects: Guitar FX Layouts: Site Map NEW

Don't let them being vero hold you back, just be sure to measure twice and cut once, and all that. Beavis Audio was also a big help in trying to understand how this stuff actually works. I haven't done any experimenting yet, but reading through his site is helpful: beavis audio research

There is a lot of information out there and the best thing to do I'd say is to find a project and go for it. It will be ugly and harder than you think, most likely, but it will be fun. Or, if it's not, you at least know that it's not for you! Basics for parts: I use Tayda for most electrical components, such as resistors, caps, etc. Also for in production ICs and transistors, diodes, LEDs, etc. They have amazing prices and good shipping IME. Mouser is another good one for that kind of thing, and I have read that people believe them to have better quality resistors and caps, but their website sucks if you ask me and their search might work well for someone with an EE degree, but for Joe Schmoe it's overwhelming. Tayda is much more simple, and thin leads on resistors are not something that seem to bother me. I buy pots from Tayda as well because they are inexpensive and have all seemed to work well for me.

Love My Switches is great for switches, plugs, and jacks. They have good quality stuff and great shipping as well. They also have a great selection of knobs and it's where I have gotten most of that stuff.

Small Bear is great for anything that is NOS or harder to find. Need that funky NPN germanium transistor within a particular gain range? They have it.

There are a lot of other specialty shops out there, but these are the ones I regularly use and search through and should get you started (if you're in NA, at least!). I'd say don't worry too much about it and just get going, though. Just be sure to triple check your list before smashing that "order" button.


joe

I’ve build all my pedals on stripboard from Tagboard and dirtbox layouts. Great sites. I tend to buy most my supplies from mouser, Newark and stompbox parts. I really like stompbox parts, they ship quick, very quick.

 

[JoeDaddio]

I’ve build all my pedals on stripboard from Tagboard and dirtbox layouts. Great sites. I tend to buy most my supplies from mouser, Newark and stompbox parts. I really like stompbox parts, they ship quick, very quick.

I've read lots of good things about Stompbox parts. I've never ordered from them, but they are in my bookmarks and their rep seems to be pretty stellar. I feel like the more experience I get the better I'll be able to source what from where in regards to quality and cost. But Tayda is just so convenient for me right now as they offer like 90% of what is needed for most buuilds. I'm in CA and they ship to me from Colorado, so it gets here pretty quickly once it ships as well which is nice.


joe

 

[Feral Feline]

I've never heard of stompbox parts, got a URL? Thanks for that in advance.
Oh, wait, do you mean Fuzz Dog?
EDIT: Stomp Box Parts | Quality Components for Effects Pedals
How'd that miss my radar???

Been reading a lot about this stuff. I actually have a need for some utility pedals - need an AB switcher and would love to make a small matrix mixer or pedal sized mixer. Are those kinds of projects good to start with or is that more on the advanced end? I'd guess without a complex circuit something like an AB switcher would prob be a great place to start?

For the Matrix mixer, this could be a good vero start: Link Removed, it's several of Craig Anderton's projects met steroids.

I had another 5 or 8 channel SuperParaMix vero layout kickin' 'round my HD, but can't find it... maybe is on the old compooter? IIRC I think it's scalable, add as many channels as you need.


TH CUSTOM has some good switchers & (very) small mixers, get the PCB or kit, or go to musikding for THC kits, and a lot of other stuff too.
On THC's link above, scroll down to "Switcher" then "Mixer/Splitter". I've just ordered the Epic Looper (switcher) from JMK which partnered with TH Custom to produce the project (I've also got the JMK Paralyzer, splitter 2ch mixer). I got the Pro-cessor mixer quite a while ago, yet to build it up yet. It's got some HPF/LPF functionality to it that I like.

Another switcher I really like from TH Custom is the Link Removed; up to 5 effects or loops, depending on how you build it, can be set up to switch in a few different ways, and the "Radio-Button" being my favourite.

• Mode1: standard switching On/Off for each channel
  
  
• Mode2: real radiobutton-mode (One channel is active at any time)
  
  
• Mode3: fake radiobutton-mode (One channel is active but can also be toggled off – unit bypass)
  
  
• Mode4: cycle through channels (up and/or down using one or two momentary switches)

Another interesting Switcher is at uk-electronic.de.
There's 8 loops and a modest MIDI implementation.


That newish Invalid Link Removed Omnilooper/mixer looks fantastic, though I'd build it in a sloped Hammond (1456CE2BKBU) enclosure w/ jacks on the top flat shelf part for easy access.


I've got BYOC's SUPER8, it is a clever unit in that it looks small, but can still handle 8 loops with 5 stompers.


I like the Translocator on GGG.


From Fuzz Dog's utility page, I like Moosapotamus' Brass Blender (blend looper w tone-stack derived from the BrassMaster Fuzz), Fat-ass Blooper (bypass w/ integrated dry blend), and the Spluffer (4-way splitter — though I made my own on perf). 'Course, I want all the buffers splitters loopers utility-fixtures on that page... just in case I find a use for one or more.


I bet there's even more matrixymixology in the DIY eurowracked schtufffins... could be adapted to pedalia if needed. DIY-synth, such a deeeep daaaarrrrk hole-iohhhhh.




I want all the solutions, in case I run into a problem. Answers, in search of a problem.

Yes, I like Utilities, mhmm.

 

[cosmicevan]

Appreciate the advice and words of guidance and encouragement. I've bookmarked all this info. I'm still in the VERY beginning stages of actually considering taking on a project. Reading, learning the basics of schematics and how all this stuff works. I'm eager to dive in, but there's a ways to go for me still.

 

[Feral Feline]

Bahh. As you say... DIVE IN!

My very first pedal was a Llama with boost with switchable green ringer with boost with a BMT tone stack added and LPF'd clean-blend.


'Course, couple years on and I'm still trying to fix it and make it all work... Well, no, BUT I should get back on that bilk, uhm, bike and make it run.

I should've heeded advice and started with a simple single-transistor buffer/boost/OD/fuzz KIT whatever — but I've no regrets.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Appreciate the advice and words of guidance and encouragement. I've bookmarked all this info. I'm still in the VERY beginning stages of actually considering taking on a project. Reading, learning the basics of schematics and how all this stuff works. I'm eager to dive in, but there's a ways to go for me still.

My electronics knowledge is patchy but I can read schematics these days, not sure I understand why some components are where they are though!

Btw I have a little box of builds that didn't quite work out and I've re-used quite a few enclosures from what they originally were meant for... don't be put off by a failure or two.

 

[JoeDaddio]

My electronics knowledge is patchy but I can read schematics these days, not sure I understand why some components are where they are though!

Btw I have a little box of builds that didn't quite work out and I've re-used quite a few enclosures from what they originally were meant for... don't be put off by a failure or two.

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in regards to how things work and why: http://www.kitrae.net/music/Images_Secret_Music_Page/BIG MUFF CIRCUIT GUIDE.pdf

His page is a deeeeep dive in to the Big Muff pedals, and has a lot of great info: The Big Muff Pi Page


joe

 

[Feral Feline]

That helped me a lot! I still refer to it often.

Also check out Electrosmash, many PEDALS analysed and explained there. Too much math for me, but still good.

Sometimes Fred Briggs gets into analysis mode, over at Revolution Deux (link list to the right).

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Well I didn't quite get there today, still got the footswitch to wire in. If anyone is thinking of making a PLLain, it is pretty tight in a 1590xx as you can see... another few mm of height would be good and you need to drill pretty accurate for the pots and switches as that board has zero wiggle room. But it does just go in there!

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Finished, and even worked first time! So I now have 4 PLLs, 2 of which are Schumann clones and the EQD clone really is a clone of something awfully close to a Schumann... think I might have made enough PLLs for now.

 

[JoeDaddio]

Finished, and even worked first time! So I now have 4 PLLs, 2 of which are Schumann clones and the EQD clone really is a clone of something awfully close to a Schumann... think I might have made enough PLLs for now.

That looks rad.

I'd never heard of the Schumann PLL before seeing yours here not long back (or at leas Id'd never paid it any attention till now if I had), and it seems pretty gnarly. Are you using them on any specific projects? I've only watched a few demos and it feels like I'm watching someone try to fly a plane for the first time without any instruction in most of them. What do you plan to do with four of them?

Now that i know these exist I feel like I've got to build one. Maybe I'll make that my 2021 goal: get to a place where I feel I can take on a larger project like this and complete it.

Quick edit to add: have you built the full PLL, the one with the momentary and drone switches?


joe