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DIY Effect Makers (club?)
- Thread starter NateS
- Start date
I want to try my hand at building effects. The one pedal I adore the most is the Fuzzrocious Dark Driving. Can anyone point out a schematic or kit that would have a similar dark growly sound?
I've been building tube and ss pedals about 10 years now. I like it. I also dabble in tube amps. Haven't built one, but i've modded quite a few. I now have just enough theory and experience that I can fix pedals and amps fairly easily.
rratajski
Commercial User
- Jul 1, 2008
- 6,121
- 2,671
- Disclosures
- Builder for FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS
Just finished my first build, the BYOC Optical Compressor.
Took me three days, and after spending $20 on a cheap multimeter and redoing the solder about 500 million times, it finally worked!! (not to mention a pinky finger that will no longer have a fingerprint after an encounter with a soldering iron)
Used it at church this morning, it worked great.
I think I'm addicted, I'm already wanting to do another one.
Took me three days, and after spending $20 on a cheap multimeter and redoing the solder about 500 million times, it finally worked!! (not to mention a pinky finger that will no longer have a fingerprint after an encounter with a soldering iron)
Used it at church this morning, it worked great.
I think I'm addicted, I'm already wanting to do another one.
stubled on this thread, so i thought i should share my recent builds.
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wish you a nice time guessing what is what
Nice! Fuzz face, parametric EQ (?), some kind of optical compressor?
you found 1 out of three!
optical compressor - yeah! (actually a demeter compulator clone)
fuzz face - no, not at all! absolutly no
something with much more magic!parametric eq - no.
you found 1 out of three!
optical compressor - yeah! (actually a demeter compulator clone)
fuzz face - no, not at all! absolutly no
parametric eq - no.
So.... two months later.... what are they?
Not only am I trying to revive a dying thread here, as diy pedals have become somewhat of a fascination for me... but I'm genuinely curious to know what these are!
Heyyy DIY effect makers- I've recently hit a major road block with my recent Ooh Wah clone build. If any of you wanna take a stab at helping me, I've got the whole story posted over on the MadBean forum:
Dig Dug
my username on MadBean is the same as it is on here. Feel free to respond to either threads or via PM! Thankssssssss
Dig Dug
my username on MadBean is the same as it is on here. Feel free to respond to either threads or via PM! Thankssssssss
rratajski
Commercial User
- Jul 1, 2008
- 6,121
- 2,671
- Disclosures
- Builder for FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS
I am reviving this thread because I have never built a pedal but finally read a book on it and want to give it a shot - and hopefully be able to be a part of all this DIY stuff. Seems awesome.
A pedal I need and think would be a good first project is a gated fuzz to replace the Bass Big Muff Pi in my Octave > Fuzz > Envelope setup. I have found a lot of kits for fuzz pedals, but none that are definitively gated. Am I missing something? Anybody know of a gated fuzz kit?
EDIT: Anybody tried this guy?
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A pedal I need and think would be a good first project is a gated fuzz to replace the Bass Big Muff Pi in my Octave > Fuzz > Envelope setup. I have found a lot of kits for fuzz pedals, but none that are definitively gated. Am I missing something? Anybody know of a gated fuzz kit?
EDIT: Anybody tried this guy?
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The kit you linked to is obviously a clone of the Zvex "Fuzz Factory" pedal. I've never messed with one, but they can be set to be 'gated'. Not the simplest fuzz you can build, but still appropriate for a first build. Please, buy and learn how to use a MULTI-METER, also called a volt-ohm meter or DMM (digital multimeter). A good basic unit is only $10 - $20, a better one that measures can be bought for $40 - $50. You CANNOT troubleshoot electronics visually, you need a meter to see what's going on.
I would recommend using sockets for the germanium transistors.
I would recommend using sockets for the germanium transistors.
I was planning on getting a beginners tool kit from BYOC. Are those tools quality or should I seek out better ones?
Also, I'd rather not step on anybody's toes, so if anyone knows of an out of production or original gated fuzz DIY kit or project thread or anything let me know. Thanks.
Those tools aren't the greatest, but they will get the job done. They should be fine for building your first pedals.
Gosh, that's honorable/ethical of you.
A US-based outfit that sells printed circuit boards for effects pedals quit selling their Fuzz Factory clone boards by mutual arrangement with ZVex. Many, many effects pedals, including "boutique" designs, are straight-up copies of classic effects or tweaked versions of classic effects. And the gated fuzz pedal is a recent invention, so any of the gated fuzz pedals will probably be a recent design that are still under production. So step on those toes or get out your wallet and buy from the original designer/builder.Those tools aren't the greatest, but they will get the job done. They should be fine for building your first pedals.
Gosh, that's honorable/ethical of you.
Thanks for the info - need that gate. Going to give it a shot and see what comes out.
Hoping someone will be so kind to let me know how to modify a surface mounted component. I am going to add a noise gate to my bass big muff and all that needs to be done is replace the R14 transistor with a 100k trimpot. But most of the circuit board is surface mounted. Would it work to remove the transistor, drill holes at the connections, and solder in the trimpot?
