Pedal kit for beginner - with GOOD sound!

[Asmus]

Hi!

I'm all new to homemade guitar pedals... Actually I first really looked into it last night and realized that it apparently is quite popular...
I thought it sounded nice, and I would really like to build one myself
I guess I should start with one of those kits:)

So... where do I find one that is easy to make? (It dosn'n have to be that easy- I have physics classes in school - but not to fancy!)

AND... where do I find one that also sounds GOOD!
I'm not really aware how the overall standard of homemade pedals are, but I don't want one that sounds like its homemade (as long as homemade is being "not as good as the real ones")

I'd like to build something like an overdrive and/or distortion, delay, tube reverb or maybe a boost pedal.
And off couse it shouldn't be to expensive but 80 dollars or somewhere under is fine:)

Thanks for any help!

[justin.ray]

There are several websites with kit options. Two popular sites are:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com

Boost and overdrive pedals, IMO, are the easiest place to start. The sound thing is pretty subjective, that being said, I've not come across any kits that sounded bad to me for any reason other than poor craftsmanship or low quality parts. I haven't built any kits in quite a while, so I don't know if anything has changed, but I've not had any quality issues with either of the two aforementioned websites.

Jack Orman has a fantastic website packed with great information as well, but doesn't offer 'kits,' you have to source your own components (he sells circuit boards):

http://www.muzique.com

[milocj]

If you're a full blown beginner I would go with something from Build Your Own Clone because they have very clear instructions with troubleshooting info and good forum support. Plus you get everything you need except solder and the iron. You can download the kit instructions from their website for any pedal that you're thinking about before buying it to get an idea of how difficult it looks. They used to also include a simple OD kit with your first purchase to practice on.

If you don't need the instructions, Mammoth Electronics sells kits for a lot of the www.guitarpcb.com projects. They are nice kits and are modified clones of some good pedals along with some original designs. They're a bit more difficult if you've never built anything before, but if you sign up for the guitarpcb forum they have excellent beginner tips and basic pedal building pointers and videos.

[Okieactor]

Both of these responses are good ones. For beginners, you could also look at modding an existing pedal to start. I still need to do the mod kit I have, for an SD-1. You can get a mod kit for as low as $20, depending on what you have and whether there are kits for it.

[Asmus]

Thanks everyone, the sites are really fine:)
Since I'm now on christmas vacation I will probably order one soon!

[TNO]

I'd recommend the GGG Red Llama kit for a first build. Choose the larger box option to start out.

[keithb7]

Mt first build was a BYOC Phaser. Sounds great and worked first try. Got me hooked which led to building my own Tweed Deluxe 5E3!