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Any DIY pedal builders on TB? Strut your stuff!

#161
G.Bisson said:
In order from most to least favorite:
Hyperion: lives up to the hype as a muff killer. I've built several combo variations with this circuit I like it that much.
Silver Crank: gated fuzz that sounds like a bit crusher. Has a clean well behaved tone.
Ruiner: gated fuzz with a saturated wall of fuzz tone. Like the evil brother of the Silver Crank.
BIT: has some cool crushed fuzz tones, but is SO LOUD! Goes from 0 to 11,000 in the turn of a hair.
GZ: first time I've built this circuit and still getting a feel for it. Kinda sounds generic to me, acceptable fuzz tone, but not unique. At maximum fuzz it gets a bit trashy and harsh.
Dark Boost: dirty boost with some fuzziness in the background. Somewhat boring, like most boost pedals. Havent tested it's synergy with other effects yet, where a boost really shines.
I experimented with combining the Hyperion and Ruiner on the right side with the Crank on the left side and they sounded really good! I was expecting a noisy mess, but found more fuzz sounds in the combos.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you dig it, and that's pretty awesome being able to combine effects like that. Opens up a lot of possibilities.

Today I got started on my first build from PedalPCB and I have got to say: it feels like I'm cheating having only dealt with Vero. They even give you a drilling template - doing the layout work took me forever to measure and line everything up while being sure there was room in the guts to do what I wanted. I don't know how long it took me today, but it wasn't very long. It was nice to only have to line up the paper template: line it up, punch it, pilot hole, then step bit.


joe
 
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#163
Here’s a Mr.Squishy Clone I just finished.
0FAC6016-E149-47AA-B4A0-9654C392B8FD.jpeg

FF4D1037-9F80-4D2B-8725-D31FDCA858E2.jpeg
 
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#165
JoeDaddio said:
Do you have a permanent workspace? I always had such a hard time getting started when I had to unpack everything to start and re-pack everything to get it moved out of the way. If you managed to build all those effects on a stool in your living room it's all that more impressive!


joe
Click to expand...
This gave me an idea, let's see some work bench/work space photos.
I'm fortunate to have a permanent bench in the basement, 2'x7' with storage under and shelving above. Theres plenty of outlets, 8x Bausch & Lomb stereo microscope, and a solder smoke extractor. Its usually covered in parts and projects; I have a Peavey Cirrus bass on it now.
20210101_001333.jpg

After I get a few of these bass projects completed, I need to build a few more pedals
 
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#167
JoeDaddio said:
Do you have a permanent workspace? I always had such a hard time getting started when I had to unpack everything to start and re-pack everything to get it moved out of the way. If you managed to build all those effects on a stool in your living room it's all that more impressive!
Click to expand...

It's a stool in the kitchen/diner... I wish I had space for a permanent work area but my desk is taken up with monitors for my Mac. The stool and a mini vice that clamps on the edge is enough for my scale of pedal building though.
 
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#169
AudioTaper said:
This gave me an idea, let's see some work bench/work space photos.
I'm fortunate to have a permanent bench in the basement, 2'x7' with storage under and shelving above. Theres plenty of outlets, 8x Bausch & Lomb stereo microscope, and a solder smoke extractor. Its usually covered in parts and projects; I have a Peavey Cirrus bass on it now.
View attachment 4110780
After I get a few of these bass projects completed, I need to build a few more pedals
Click to expand...
I will have to clean up before I post a pic but I am fortunate enough to have a bench in my garage that is climate controlled. Keeps me out of the wife’s hair.
 
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#170
Props to ficelles for using such a small workspace.
Envy AudioTaper for having such a well equipped large workspace.
I do all my soldering sitting on the floor at a coffee table.

JoeDaddio said:
It was nice to only have to line up the paper template: line it up, punch it, pilot hole, then step bit.
joe
Click to expand...

I use this same drilling procedure with a 1970's vintage McGraw-Edison drill that I bought at a yard sale about 15 years ago.
The stacks of beer boxes serve as a cutting board. Just trash the top layer when it gets diced up or covered in glue.
20210101_092251.jpg
 
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#172
ficelles said:
It's modulating now... some interesting interaction between the TLE2074 hi-speed quad amp and the recommended TL062 dual which didn't seem to want to play... I now have a 5532 in there which fixed it. Parasit Sentient Machine:
Click to expand...
Nice and tidy. Love that silver metallic. PCB is so nice and neat and you can bend all the legs on the resistors the same. Unfortunately I can’t find everything I would like to build in PCB.
I received a breadboard set as a Christmas gift. That will open up a whole new world of learning. Can anyone recommend some reading on where to start with breadboarding?
I have googled it but the results are overwhelming. I’m basically looking for breadboarding / electronics for dummies, lol.
 
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#173
JoeDaddio said:
It was nice to only have to line up the paper template: line it up, punch it, pilot hole, then step bit.
Click to expand...
Something I use for drilling templates is a free software program from Front Panel Express. They make custom enclosures and (you guessed it) panels. You can use their software to lay out the drill holes and then print it 1-to-1. Lay the printout over your enclosure, center punch on the origin marks, and you're ready to start drilling.

I used this quite a bit making the control panel for my project bass Peavey FrankenCirrus mod thread but it will work for pedals just as well. I have the drill holes, sizes of the pots, and other parts laid out. It's super easy to use
20210101_233214.jpg
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The panel is 6061 aluminum, which I covered in 5G vinyl carbon fiber-look wrap. Those 2 knobs are on backorder...
 
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#176
ficelles said:
It's modulating now... some interesting interaction between the TLE2074 hi-speed quad amp and the recommended TL062 dual which didn't seem to want to play... I now have a 5532 in there which fixed it. Parasit Sentient Machine:
Click to expand...

Mad skills! My pedal building space was a small folding card/mahjong table — about 4-5 times the size of your stool and I still had stuff falling off the sides.

I just love all the Parasit stuff, I want to build it all, including his Vero stuff. I've got a bunch of Parasit PCBs, but so far just built the Flash Filter Fuzz.



mdalamond said:
...
I received a breadboard set as a Christmas gift. That will open up a whole new world of learning. Can anyone recommend some reading on where to start with breadboarding?
I have googled it but the results are overwhelming. I’m basically looking for breadboarding / electronics for dummies, lol.
Click to expand...

BREADBOARD GUITAR FX

It helps if you can speak a bit of French, but is not necessary. You should be able to find something there to get you started, here's the categories and number of FX in each:

Effets

Don't forget good ol' BEAVIS!
beavis audio research
 
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#177
Feral Feline said:
Mad skills! My pedal building space was a small folding card/mahjong table — about 4-5 times the size of your stool and I still had stuff falling off the sides.

I just love all the Parasit stuff, I want to build it all, including his Vero stuff. I've got a bunch of Parasit PCBs, but so far just built the Flash Filter Fuzz.





BREADBOARD GUITAR FX

It helps if you can speak a bit of French, but is not necessary. You should be able to find something there to get you started, here's the categories and number of FX in each:

Effets

Don't forget good ol' BEAVIS!
beavis audio research
Click to expand...
Very cool, thanks so much.
 
#179
When you say "cheap basic one for $35 and up" you're referring to a commercially produce pedal and not a DIY kit, yes?

I've got the BYOC Lil Verb PCB, but I'd recommend getting it with the SMD Verb chip pre-populated and finish the rest yourself. I got it without the FV-1 'cause they didn't have them in stock and so the lil verb just sits unfinished waiting for a sale on FV-1s that'll never happen because that chip is too high in demand.

There are lots of PCBs/Kits for the EQD Ghost Echo, it seems popular. I've had that PCB for some time and now have the Verbrick and delayIC... all packed away due to pending move.

PedalPCB has some good options and offers the SMD FV-1 pre-soldered as an option. MadBean, GuitarPCB... Dead Astronaut.

What sound are you after? Spring/Plate/"natural"...?
 
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