Check out the newest news, views, lessons and more for Fender lovers -- FenderRocks.com

lukasoft · May 13th, 2011, 01:24 PM

Hello everyone, I'm fairly new here, and I've been reading the forums for a while and have learned some pretty cool stuff. I'm a DIY type of guy, not just with guitars, but I'm just now starting to do some DIY guitar stuff. I have a Squier affinity telecaster, which I absolutely love. I have never been a big fan of the neck pickup, but I recently started messing with the pickup heights to get a sound I like more (or dislike less?) to create something more bearable. I've been looking for a few weeks for something to replace it. My first DIY project was the Tillman preamp, which I have just recently finished, and it makes the guitar sound amazing! I'm absolutely loving the new tone that is coming out of the guitar, and I'm thinking it will sound even better once I take it off of my prototyping breadboard and alligator clips and squeezed under my control plate. I plan on drilling a hole in between the two knobs and adding a toggle bypass switch. With these modifications and probably new pots and a 4 way switch, I may not even end up changing out that neck pickup, as I like the direction the new sounds are headed as I modify my guitar.

westin · May 13th, 2011, 01:53 PM

Sounds like you are going to fit in pretty well here. :) -- Have you messed with the Arduino much? Collin Cunningham has some pretty cool videos dealing with using it for guitar effects.

http://youtu.be/_X0bL6WS-VY [For some reason I am having trouble embedding the video, but that is the link. :) ]

lukasoft · May 13th, 2011, 02:12 PM

Westin?? Fancy seeing you here. And what's the chance of you replying to my introductory post? Haha. metguru from AO.

Tried to change to a more legitimate handle, but still use my old one on old forums.

Anyways, I'm not a big Arduino fan. No, I'm not one of those guys that say Arduinos are for n00bz, I just started out on microchip PICs and moved to whomever gives out samples most freely

lately its been TI with those msp430s, haha. Plus TIs are 16 bit. May produce better audio? Idk. ADC's 12 bit so it probably won't make a difference. Anyways, I'm at work right now, so I won't be watching that video until later. Is it pretty easy to use microcontrollers for effects? I have boxes upon boxes of controllers, and some small ones at that. Maybe they'll squeeeze in there with my JFET preamp? Probably not.

I appreciate the welcoming! I'll definitely be around.

westin · May 13th, 2011, 02:24 PM

Haha! Small world. :) That is pretty crazy.

It looks pretty simple to use them. I actually haven't tried much with guitar audio running through them, but from the examples I have seen, I think there is much fun to be had.

I love the Arduino, and I do say it is for n00bz. :)

lukasoft · May 13th, 2011, 02:46 PM

I dont keep up with Arduino prices, but you can get an msp430 launchpad for $4.30. Yea, you saw that right. and it comes with two chips (14pin DIP). So if you're looking for a budget effects pedal, there ya go. The C code you find online probably won't be perfectly compatible, but if you take a few hours you could migrate it over. Or you can just write your own code. A lot of them also have built in DACs (some 20pins do), meaning you need even less other hardware with them. I'll keep doing research. While 12 bit audio is less than perfect, it'd be worth prototyping with a 12 bit DAC, and replacing it with a (semi?)compatible surface mount uC with a higher resolution. If you have any other information, I'd love to see it.

westin · May 13th, 2011, 02:51 PM

Wow. Arduinos usually start at around $30. I might have to start looking into some alternatives. Sounds like it would save me quite a bit of $$ in the long run. I work with a guy that graduated with an electrical engineering degree, so I might pick his brain a little. ;)

lukasoft · May 13th, 2011, 02:58 PM

If you have any questions about alternatives (there are more companies as well who make cheap uC dev boards), feel free to PM me (here or AO), as it's not really very relevant to guitars. I'm not a microcontroller expert, but I am fairly familiar with them, and am going to school for computer engineering, so in addition I have a decent general knowledge of discrete components. If I do find out anything interesting pertaining to uCs and audio, I'll make sure to post it on these forums.

westin · May 13th, 2011, 03:08 PM

Sounds great man. Also, post some pics of your guitar if you get a chance. :)

lukasoft · May 13th, 2011, 03:13 PM

Well since it's completely stock right now I'll at least wait until I get that toggle switch in it. That way it'll be a 'little' unique?

electrablue · May 13th, 2011, 11:16 PM

Welcome!

DOGMA Dunn · May 14th, 2011, 01:00 AM

Welcome and have a good time.

looney77 · May 14th, 2011, 01:42 AM

Welcome!

yangounet · May 14th, 2011, 04:07 AM

welcome!

paesano · May 14th, 2011, 04:53 AM

Welcome!

flag72 · May 14th, 2011, 05:16 AM

wow a 2 member post ;0)
welcome abord lukasoft you will love the TDPRI its awsome ...lol

lukasoft · May 17th, 2011, 02:54 PM

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I have finished the modification to my guitar and it sounds great. Is there a specific forum that is best suited for photos?

May 13th, 2011, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	Telecaster fan Hello everyone, I'm fairly new here, and I've been reading the forums for a while and have learned some pretty cool stuff. I'm a DIY type of guy, not just with guitars, but I'm just now starting to do some DIY guitar stuff. I have a Squier affinity telecaster, which I absolutely love. I have never been a big fan of the neck pickup, but I recently started messing with the pickup heights to get a sound I like more (or dislike less?) to create something more bearable. I've been looking for a few weeks for something to replace it. My first DIY project was the Tillman preamp, which I have just recently finished, and it makes the guitar sound amazing! I'm absolutely loving the new tone that is coming out of the guitar, and I'm thinking it will sound even better once I take it off of my prototyping breadboard and alligator clips and squeezed under my control plate. I plan on drilling a hole in between the two knobs and adding a toggle bypass switch. With these modifications and probably new pots and a 4 way switch, I may not even end up changing out that neck pickup, as I like the direction the new sounds are headed as I modify my guitar.

May 13th, 2011, 01:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
westin Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SW - MO - usa Posts: 249	Sounds like you are going to fit in pretty well here. :) -- Have you messed with the Arduino much? Collin Cunningham has some pretty cool videos dealing with using it for guitar effects. http://youtu.be/_X0bL6WS-VY [For some reason I am having trouble embedding the video, but that is the link. :) ] __________________ "Those of us that had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts, we wanted strong drink." -HST

May 13th, 2011, 02:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
westin Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SW - MO - usa Posts: 249	Haha! Small world. :) That is pretty crazy. It looks pretty simple to use them. I actually haven't tried much with guitar audio running through them, but from the examples I have seen, I think there is much fun to be had. I love the Arduino, and I do say it is for n00bz. :) __________________ "Those of us that had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts, we wanted strong drink." -HST

May 13th, 2011, 02:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
westin Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SW - MO - usa Posts: 249	Wow. Arduinos usually start at around $30. I might have to start looking into some alternatives. Sounds like it would save me quite a bit of $$ in the long run. I work with a guy that graduated with an electrical engineering degree, so I might pick his brain a little. ;) __________________ "Those of us that had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts, we wanted strong drink." -HST

May 13th, 2011, 03:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
westin Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SW - MO - usa Posts: 249	Sounds great man. Also, post some pics of your guitar if you get a chance. :) __________________ "Those of us that had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts, we wanted strong drink." -HST

Sponsored Ads	#
Forum Sponsor Sponsored posting Join Date: March, 2003 Location: Forum HQ Posts: N/A	Sponsored by...

May 13th, 2011, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	Westin?? Fancy seeing you here. And what's the chance of you replying to my introductory post? Haha. metguru from AO. Tried to change to a more legitimate handle, but still use my old one on old forums. Anyways, I'm not a big Arduino fan. No, I'm not one of those guys that say Arduinos are for n00bz, I just started out on microchip PICs and moved to whomever gives out samples most freely lately its been TI with those msp430s, haha. Plus TIs are 16 bit. May produce better audio? Idk. ADC's 12 bit so it probably won't make a difference. Anyways, I'm at work right now, so I won't be watching that video until later. Is it pretty easy to use microcontrollers for effects? I have boxes upon boxes of controllers, and some small ones at that. Maybe they'll squeeeze in there with my JFET preamp? Probably not. I appreciate the welcoming! I'll definitely be around.

May 13th, 2011, 02:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	I dont keep up with Arduino prices, but you can get an msp430 launchpad for $4.30. Yea, you saw that right. and it comes with two chips (14pin DIP). So if you're looking for a budget effects pedal, there ya go. The C code you find online probably won't be perfectly compatible, but if you take a few hours you could migrate it over. Or you can just write your own code. A lot of them also have built in DACs (some 20pins do), meaning you need even less other hardware with them. I'll keep doing research. While 12 bit audio is less than perfect, it'd be worth prototyping with a 12 bit DAC, and replacing it with a (semi?)compatible surface mount uC with a higher resolution. If you have any other information, I'd love to see it.

May 13th, 2011, 02:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	If you have any questions about alternatives (there are more companies as well who make cheap uC dev boards), feel free to PM me (here or AO), as it's not really very relevant to guitars. I'm not a microcontroller expert, but I am fairly familiar with them, and am going to school for computer engineering, so in addition I have a decent general knowledge of discrete components. If I do find out anything interesting pertaining to uCs and audio, I'll make sure to post it on these forums.

May 13th, 2011, 03:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	Well since it's completely stock right now I'll at least wait until I get that toggle switch in it. That way it'll be a 'little' unique?

May 13th, 2011, 11:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
electrablue Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Carolina Age: 58 Posts: 5,388 16 Photos	Welcome!

May 14th, 2011, 01:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
DOGMA Dunn Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Reno Posts: 4,274	Welcome and have a good time. __________________ Marriage is the leading cause of all divorce. Marriage also contributes to spouse abuse. .

May 14th, 2011, 01:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
looney77 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kentucky Age: 35 Posts: 1,398	Welcome! __________________ There's fever in the funkhouse now. - Mick Jagger

May 14th, 2011, 04:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
yangounet Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lyon france Age: 52 Posts: 2,150	welcome! __________________ No hope, no fear.

May 14th, 2011, 04:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
paesano Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 399	Welcome!

May 14th, 2011, 05:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
flag72 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada/venise-en-quebec Age: 53 Posts: 1,781	wow a 2 member post ;0) welcome abord lukasoft you will love the TDPRI its awsome ...lol __________________ Daniel tele's and others>TU2>DOD FX80B>MXR Wylde O.D.>BOSS OD3>MXR phaser 90>A/B selector box>amp's:Fender Twinn Reverb>peavey Bandit 112 & classic 30

May 17th, 2011, 02:54 PM	#16 (permalink)
lukasoft TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PA Posts: 38	Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I have finished the modification to my guitar and it sounds great. Is there a specific forum that is best suited for photos?

Check out the newest news, views, lessons and more for Fender lovers -- FenderRocks.com

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.