DIY stompbox question

I've been surfing do-it-yourself stompbox company websites, and none of them say much about their products. You can't tell if the boxes are wall-warted or battery-only, whether they're true bypass, whether they test their chips before they send them out, or what companies their components come from - if they're selling Switchcraft parts, for instance, you'd think they'd want customers to know it.

Instead, the ones I've found so far are all a pig in a poke - and I hate getting poked by pigs!

Most of them don't mention much about how helpful their assembly instructions are, either.

And the prices - $50, $75 - seem like a lot for a bag of unassembled generic parts. I see used boutique boxes right here at TDPRI for not much more!

I'd like to take a crack at building a box or two, but I don't want to put money and effort into something that'll sound bad.

Any tips?

Thanks!

cb

Build Your Own Clone (http://www.buildyourownclone.com/)

All are battery or adapter powered. Great instructions, support is forum-based, but lots of help posters and mod information (hmmm...sounds like another forum I know). Possible mod parts included in kit and shown in instructions (instructions available via web only - PDF).

+1 on BYOC. They use good parts. If you inquire with Keith directly, or ask on their forum, they'll be able to let you know all the exact brands of parts. I know Neutrik or Switchcraft jacks and Alpha pots are some of the brands in the BYOC kits. All BYOC kits are true bypass as well. BE WARNED THOUGH, I have bought a over a dozen of their in the past year as it is a rather addictive hobby....

this forum made me go look at BYOC today, and it may be the end of my free time for the summer...

Cool! Sounds like I might build myself a compressor someday soon!

Thanks -

cb

I've built 9 byoc pedals now... they are really good... and as a card carrying not gifted person... they are doable....

I recommend the terry downs dvd if you aren't an experienced solderer and I bought the stuff Terry recommends and it was very helpful.

I've been surfing do-it-yourself stompbox company websites, and none of them say much about their products. You can't tell if the boxes are wall-warted or battery-only, whether they're true bypass, whether they test their chips before they send them out, or what companies their components come from - if they're selling Switchcraft parts, for instance, you'd think they'd want customers to know it.

Instead, the ones I've found so far are all a pig in a poke - and I hate getting poked by pigs!

Most of them don't mention much about how helpful their assembly instructions are, either.

And the prices - $50, $75 - seem like a lot for a bag of unassembled generic parts. I see used boutique boxes right here at TDPRI for not much more!

I'd like to take a crack at building a box or two, but I don't want to put money and effort into something that'll sound bad.

Any tips?

Thanks!

cb


If you're questioning the parts quality of the BYOC kit and you're capable of reading a schematic or diagram you'd probably be better off going to Tonepad (http://www.tonepad.com) or GGG (http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/) and buying a board then getting the parts (the ones YOU want) from MOUSER (http://www.mouser.com) or Small Bear Electronics (http://www.smallbearelec.com). The selection of projects is much more diverse, the potential quality of the pedal is much better, you'll learn much more (from visiting DIY Stompboxes (http://www.diystompboxes.com) and getting help w/ your project and to buy a 3PDT switch), and the finished pedal will be YOUR custom creation.

BYOC is fine for beginners or people who don't want to get too involved in parts selection or tweaking. If you don't mind picking the parts and researching the build you can get better quality for less if you do a complete DIY project.

Also, FWIW, I wouldn't be too worried about the BYOC pedals sounding bad unless you're terrible at soldering or assembling.

If you want to build a compressor you might try making an Orange Squeezer. It's a fairly simple build and sounds great (and very transparent).

I'd agree with GuitarMole on all counts.

agreed. Many sources for parts out there. the only marginally difficult bit is the board etching, and parts can be bought from radioshack. Tonepad and General Guitar Gadgets also sell their own PCB's.

I've soldered a few speakers and jacks and a capacitor or two, but am still a beginner. And I wouldn't know where to begin tweaking a stompbox to change the sound. So - parts shopping sounds fun, but I'll probably just buy the kit. It sounds plenty good enough.

I think GGG sells kits too (in addition to boards). It'll sound good and you'll be happy with it regardless of what parts are in it. Just be sure you socket the IC chip and/or heatsink the transistors if you're not a skilled solderer. What pedal are you wanting to build?

I just want to suggest to anyone thinking of getting into the pedal building, but aren't too familiar with soldering, that one of the best investments you can make is getting a "Solder Practice Kit" (or two) before you get into making pedals.

I had little soldering experience, and got a couple practice kits (for about $5-6 each) to work on, where you make a siren and some blinking LEDs. I practiced on these cheap kits so when I got started on my BYOC kits (which cost much more than a practice kit) I was not nervous about soldering, and was able to make my first 2 builds (and every build ever since) fire up on the first try.