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Help! I want to start building pedals.

I

Irtemed

Apr 6, 2009
99
0
www.youtube.com
#1
In order to do that, where do I start? I had trouble searching for a similar thread so I'm just posting my own.

I've looked and one of the best agreed upon starting projects is the DOD 250 overdrive circuit, and I kind of like the tone of it on bass. I'm sure that is would sound good through my Walkabout, since all overdrives sound better through tube amps. The optical compressor by Build Your Own Clone (BYOC) also seems nice. General Guitar Gadgets (GGG) makes an Orange Squeezer clone, I've heard that pedal's reissue is awful, but I know nothing about the actual aesthetics of the circuit and how it is on bass. Another great thing that GGG makes is a Brassmaster clone But I think my girlfriend knows how to solder, so I might not end up having a problem with soldering. I also notice that BYOC tends to be more expensive than the more fairly priced GGG kits. Is there a reason for that? Does BYOC use better materials? Are there better DIY brands that sell full kits, or are those the best in general.

So to sum up my question for the lazily impaired, I would like to start making my own pedals, but I don't know where to start. I've heard that the DOD 250-type circuit is a good, simple starting place, and since a new overdrive is one thing I want, I might go that route. Of the four options, which of these do you think would work best: Invalid Link Removed The Way Huge Red Llama clone also looks simple, anyone know about that pedal?

Currently I have:
a MultiDrive, (old, not true-bypass version, might be broken)
an OC-2, (very old and beat-up, was 20 dollars used, not the best in tracking, might get a better OC-2)
a Swollen Pickle (sufficient for now, but eventually will be replaced) and tomorrow I'm getting
a ZVex Mastron (I have a feeling I'll permanently keep it)

Pedals that are priority in getting next are a compressor, an overdrive, and an envelope filter.
 
#2
You could start on the kits, they're simple, like paint-by-numbers for effects. I'd suggest making a few to get the assembling aspect down first. However, I think there is much to be learned from just looking up schematics and building from there. Learning to read schematics is an essential skill in building original pedals. You learn how each part works in the whole, what the building blocks of signal proccesing look like (i.e. a buffer, envelope follower, filter, etc), and most importantly, how to transfer a design to the physical world and make it fit. I would also recommend looking at basic electrical principles if you don't already know them. A site that helps with that in relation to audio signal processing is Beavis Audio.

Hope this helps, and hopefully a few of the more experienced builders will chime in soon.

PS: If you're looking for synthy, velcro-ripping fuzz the mastotron will be right up your alley. Good bass response. It is, though, anything but smooth (unless you run it into some distortion).
 
#3
I doubt there is any substantial difference between the BYOC and GGG versions of the 250 overdrive. The various versions are the same circuit, but a few capacitor and resistor values are different from unit to unit. Just going by the schematics, it looks like the DOD 250 "Gray version" would be the best for bass because it has a honkin' 22 μfd capacitor on the output (C6) - the bigger the capacitor, the more bass frequencies it can pass. The other versions have a 1 μfd or 4.7 μfd capacitor on the output.

Soldering is an easy skill to learn, just takes a little practice. Check YouTube for some how-to vids. See if a local electronics store carries Velleman kits, that would be a good cheap way to get some experience soldering before tackling an effects kit. Also, buy and learn how to use a multimeter, also called a DMM or volt-ohm meter. They are not expensive, you can get a usable one for as little as $10 ~ $20. It's practically impossible to troubleshoot your work without one if something goes wrong.
 
#4
I also have just recently got into building pedals.

If you have little or no experience soldering and placing components some of the easy level kits from BYOC are nice. They give you an idea of what to expect on the labor and outcome side of building a pedal. The complexity is about like making a TV dinner.

Mad Bean pedals is a nice resource if you want to experience the whole shopping for parts and putting everything together yourself with only guidance. It's like working out of a cookbook.

When you get to the point that you are looking for parts and components these are my two favorite places.

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Invalid Link Removed
 
#6
I was close to where you are about 4 months ago. I had modded a few pedals, but that was it. My first work was on a BOSS ODB-3, followed by the DOD OD-250. Both of these pedals were modded using Brian Wampler's book & with the help of my guitar tech/buddy. I enjoyed the results & got the itch to continue.

After learning how to read schematics I thought I was ready to go. The first thing I tried was rehousing & radically modifying a USA Big Muff. I ended up killing it & although I will fix it eventually, I was out close to $100 for my troubles. Then I got started on modding a Rat, which has been a complete success. I changed caps, added clipping toggles, replaced resistors with trim pots, installed a DC jack, & even came up with a mod I hadn't seen anywhere else online.

Now I'm going to build my first pedal from scratch. Idk if it will be anoyher Rat, a Muff, or something I design, but my errors were essential. What I'm trying to say is YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES. Don't let that discourage you. Start small & be realistic about your skills, resources, & understanding. Also, know that there are quite a lot of schematics available online, but many of them have errors, some small & some huge.

I highly recommend you visit freestompboxes.org & diystompboxes.com
 
#8
Okay, thank you all for your responses. I have never soldered before, however my girlfriend got really into doing general electronics a year or so before, so she said that she could help me learn how to solder and make pedals.

On the subject of my Way Huge SP, would it be an easy mod to add a clean blend? Or would that be really hard? Is there any one I could send it to who'd do that for not too much money? My biggest issue with that pedal is that it really loses a lot of the bass's initial tone, which is good for synthy lines, but makes it a little less versatile. If I could somehow add a simple clean blend, that'd be a good way of practicing soldering if it's not too complex.

Also, of the GGG Distortion Complete Kit, which of the 4 different options looks best? These are the options:
  • [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
  • Invalid Link Removed
  • Invalid Link Removed
  • [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
What's the difference between all of these? They all seem to be similar, but I don't know what the difference between the normal 250 and the 1977 gray 250. The GGG would be a better option because it is surprisingly cheaper than BYOC's 250, and it has the GGG has the 4 variations.
 
#11
I remember not so long ago when Way Huge effects went for ridiculous sums of money on ebay, due to their scarcity. The Swollen Pickle especially. It's kind of funny how that changes with a reissue.
But I digress - when I started building, the first place I stopped was my local big box hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, Menards) and got the best multimeter I could afford. If you have all the tools, you're good to go. If not, just a basic soldering pen and electrical solder will do. Also, get some alligator clips. They come in handy for just about everything. I soldered one to a piece of round steel stock, so now I can keep my fingers away from the soldering pen, and it works as a heat sink.
Most schematics will have the parts labeled. If you can't read these, most of the aforementioned home improvement stores carry an illustrated electronics guide that will help you out immensely. The one I have is about the size of the average copy of Moby Dick, and equally as entertaining. It also cross-references substitute parts, and explains what some of the characteristics of the parts are.
Finally, make yourself a parts list and either go to your local Radio Shack or check out Mouser. Pots are usually the most expensive components, so if you plan on building quite a few pedals, consider buying them in bulk.
Breadboards can be purchased pretty cheap at the same places, or on ebay. If you're doing point-to-point, you can make your own out of just about anything that doesn't burn too bad.
Cases are hard to find and expensive components. I've heard of guys using structural steel 2x4's and cutting tabs with shears. I've tried that, but I'm not awesome at layout work, so they ended up looking sloppy. A cheaper solution is the metal electrical boxes at your local home improvement store. They're pretty easy to drill through, and they're cheap. I managed a restaurant for 5 years, and I found my secret source that way, that I'll share with you - there are a ton of restaurants that open and fail. All of their equipment ends up going somewhere, usually to places that resell it at discount rates, or to other restaurants. For a smaller circuit, a 2.5" 1/9 pan will work perfectly. They're about $2.50 a piece new, and they look pretty slick. For a bigger circuit, a 2.5" 1/6 pan also works well. Those are about twice as much, and those are new prices. If you find a reseller near you, see what they have in stock. A lot of smaller things like those tend to pile up quickly. I ended up getting a box of 50 for $25 dollars, and they came with lids. Whatever you don't use, you can sell to a scrapyard and make a decent portion of your money back with those prices! Anyway, that's what I know about that.
 

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