First pedal build advice

[Groovy Luca]

Hi everyone, first post here in the Effects forum.
So I was looking around for a 'tube-ish' sounding pedal and read good things about the Runoffgroove Ginger.
Then I found this kit ROG Ginger Ampsim kit, 33,00 € and I think it might be real fun as my first DIY build.
My concerns are about my electronics knowledge: I have decent equipment and I can solder pretty well, I've done various bass and guitar wirings, cabinet crossovers and recapped an old stereo amp in the past. However I'm kind of self taught and have never studied electronics, so basically I can only copy circuits without understanding everything and I can't read schematics.
Do you guys think I'll be able to get it done and is it a good choice for a first pedal build?
Any general guides/video/books suggestions are very appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[GMC]

That looks fairly complex, there's a lot of components on there. Personally, I would start simple like a Red Llama circuit, or maybe a Woolley Mammoth circuit. Just to get you experienced in wiring pots, Resistors, various caps, LED's, Diodes, Transistors, IC's etc. Just recognising and handling these components is a learning curve. Then there's the placing and soldering. The most complex circuit I've built is the Wampler Triple Wreck with the DAM Ezekiel clone coming a close 2nd place.
Just to add a bit more, I chose a Vandergraph / Son of Clay Jones circuit as my first pedal built. Not to use on bass, but just to cut my teeth into the workflow. It's a great Tube Screamer circuit, however TS's don't sound so great on bass inho.

 

[Feral Feline]

You could do it.
If you work slowly and take your time...

My first build was a multi, comprising a Red Llama with integrated boost, a Green Ringer with external Boost, and a 3-Band EQ — and I didn't even know how to solder yet.

Each circuit worked well on its own, but I was unable at the time to make them all work together in the box — too much crammed into too small a container (a habit which continues to plague me). So, somewhat successful — individually the circuits all worked, but I was in over my head and the project as intended was a failure overall. So...


Should you do it?
Only you can answer that.


Should you decide "yes"...

The THCustom build doc is rather rudimentary, not a lot of detail on the basics a novice would need/want.

Also look at the FuzzDog version. Its build doc has a bit more info for first-time builders. I recommend downloading all build docs regarding the Ginger that you can find. Read as many DIY threads discussing the Ginger as you can. Doing so will help you learn and digest info such as how to read a schematic.


OR...

Or you could build the BazzFuss.

Simple single-transistor circuit, great sound and you'll quickly learn the basics — and if something goes wrong, wwwaaayyyy easier to trouble-shoot.

Joe Gore has a great PDF to get you started on it. Not exactly "tube-ish" though.



As GMC suggested the Red Llama. Simple single chip-based circuit, tube-ish OD to distortion, low parts count, easy to trouble-shoot (unless you add a Green Ringer, boosts and BMT-EQ to it).


Whatever you decide, drop by the DIY thread and hang out!
Any DIY pedal builders on TB? Strut your stuff!

 

[Groovy Luca]

Thanks for your nice replies and suggestions guys. Eventually I've decided I'll do the Ginger and I'll order it soon. I've read forums and watched a lot of videos on pedal building, and I feel pretty confident I'm not gonna blow up anything.
My main concern was actually wiring the switch and jacks since the board is all labelled and I'll follow the common order (resistors, diodes, etc.), but then I found a specific video for the switch so I think I'm alright.

While the kit is on its way I'll also practice some soldering on a crappy old pc mobo I have.

When it's done I'll definitely post it in the DIY!

Cheers

 

[mdalamond]

Thanks for your nice replies and suggestions guys. Eventually I've decided I'll do the Ginger and I'll order it soon. I've read forums and watched a lot of videos on pedal building, and I feel pretty confident I'm not gonna blow up anything.
My main concern was actually wiring the switch and jacks since the board is all labelled and I'll follow the common order (resistors, diodes, etc.), but then I found a specific video for the switch so I think I'm alright.

While the kit is on its way I'll also practice some soldering on a crappy old pc mobo I have.

When it's done I'll definitely post it in the DIY!

Cheers

See you in the rabbit hole. Lol.

 

[Groovy Luca]

See you in the rabbit hole. Lol.

Lol I'll bring some beers down there

 

[G.Bisson]

Kit comes with all the parts you'll need. Takes the hassle out finding a source for the jfets. Buy a pre-drilled enclosure and use with the PCB mounted pots to make final assembly easier. Dont forget to pick out knobs!
Ginger is also on my DIY-GAS list. Good luck with the build.

 

[Groovy Luca]

Kit comes with all the parts you'll need. Takes the hassle out finding a source for the jfets. Buy a pre-drilled enclosure and use with the PCB mounted pots to make final assembly easier. Dont forget to pick out knobs!
Ginger is also on my DIY-GAS list. Good luck with the build.

Thanks G., I just put in the order with drilled enclosure and four knobs. Now I have to choose the color! I agree the kit looks good and cost 50€ including shipping which I think is pretty good.
I'll post the results once it's done

 

[Groovy Luca]

Also look at the FuzzDog version. Its build doc has a bit more info for first-time builders. I recommend downloading all build docs regarding the Ginger that you can find. Read as many DIY threads discussing the Ginger as you can. Doing so will help you learn and digest info such as how to read a schematic.

And thanks a lot for this build doc link man!

 

[Feral Feline]

No worries.
Like G.Bisson, the Ginger is on my To-Do list!

 

[Groovy Luca]

One quick question guys,
Are there any advantages for this switch wiring (from the FuzzDog doc):

instead of this one:

since I won't have the TRS jack and battery?

 

[Groovy Luca]

Oh I get it now, board input is grounded when bypassed

 

[Feral Feline]

@Groovy Luca
Here's another way to ground the input of the board in bypass (scroll to near-bottom of PDF):

https://www.madbeanpedals.com/tutorials/downloads/MBP_FootswitchWiring.pdf

 

[Groovy Luca]

Thanks, cool pdf! I think I'll do this one

 

[Feral Feline]

That's the one I use (via 3PDT-daughterboard), minus the lug 1 to 6 jumper — I think I'll start adding that jumper in.


The Marc Skreddy one from the Madbean PDF, it was just suggested to me in another forum, is potentially not great for High Gain circuits as having the in and out signals that close to each other can lead to some unwanted interference/crosstalk whatever I don't know.

 

[mdalamond]

I have built the ROG Ginger on stripboard. Very cool circuit. I'm sure you will enjoy the sound it creates. If I'm not mistaken it based on the Ampeg SB12 portaflex.

 

[Groovy Luca]

The kit arrived yesterday and here's the progress so far

Tested it with a 9v battery and everything seems to work fine. Sounds good, maybe too much gain but I think I'll fix that with the trimmers once it's all assembled.
Only flaw with the TH custom kit (or possibly the enclosure I got) is the two pots facing each other touch when they're in position, so I bent the legs a bit and put tape on one of them, just in case they get closer once I tighten everything.

Thanks again everyone for your advice!

 

[Feral Feline]

Excellent!

Looking forward to the boxed photos.


I see you've soldered the transistors directly; most of the time I use SIP sockets, that way I don't run the risk of over-cooking a transistor and then having to desolder it to replace it.

With socketed transistors/chips/diodes, you can play around with component mixing and matching — such as trying green LEDs instead of red or 1 red 1 green; different JFETs/BJTs/MOSFETs etc. Maybe try sockets in your next build, and see which you prefer — 'course some tone-baked builds you just know you're not going to mess with the recipe.


Speaking of "next", what's planned for your next project?

 

[Groovy Luca]

Yes you're right, I actually wanted to get the transistor sockets but the website I ordered from was out of stock, and I was a little impatient
I made sure not to cook them, luckily I have some good 60/40 solder and added a touch of flux, so it took about a second on each lead.
Haven't thought about the next one yet, I still have my hands full painting the box and next the offboard wiring! Thanks

 

[40Hz]

Only flaw with the TH custom kit (or possibly the enclosure I got) is the two pots facing each other touch when they're in position, so I bent the legs a bit and put tape on one of them, just in case they get closer once I tighten everything.

If you're going into a predrilled enclosure it's sometimes better to mount the pots first (not too tightly), then drop the board down onto the pins, and then solder them. Once done, remove the board and see if anything is touching. Most times everything will clear. You can then put the board back in the enclosure and sock everything down.