1776 Effects Multiplex Echo Machine

It's been a little while since my last build, got busy with other stuff, but since we aren't going anywhere I figured I'd start this one up. I bought all the parts last year, so I started stuffing the board today, resistors first.



I miss Mammoth for enclosures already.

 

I've read a lot of good things about this delay which is why I chose the board last year. The "waterwheel" is a 4P3T rotary switch to give "Binson", "Echoplex" and "Space Echo" style delays from a pair of PT2399 chips. Last year I built the Madbean Aquaboy, a true BBD analog delay and it's really cool, though took a bit of tweaking with a 'scope to get it sounding optimal. I wanted to try a 2399 based delay and the 1776 board is it.

I've been thinking about graphics, given the goofy weather we get in PA in spring, it may be awhile before I can spray lacquer for a decal so I have plenty of time to mess with it, as it snowed the last couple of days and is too cold to spray outside now. Mrs Z has put a moratorium on spraying indoors (don't blame her, it stinks), so the weather has to cooperate!

 

Film and ceramic (MLCC) caps, sockets, H11F1 optocoupler, trim pot installed. I'm now out of 4n7 and 100n film caps, darn it.
Next up, electrolytics, pots, switches.

 

Electrolytics installed. Like everything else, it's a mix of brands, Nichicon gold audio caps, generic filters, couple of tantalums.


Next up, the rest of the semiconductors; TL072 op-amp, (2) PT2399 delay chips, 2N3904 and a 78L05 regulator.

 

Moving along, started drilling the box

 

It's a tight fit this way, but I like it better. Now the fun part, wiring in the box.


You would think I'd have a full set of knobs, this will do for now, but next parts order. I can't decide to go all chicken head, or the the stepped knob, I like 'em both.



May be awhile before the decal, the weather has been horrible.

 

I didn't pay attention when I got the board last year that there was a modulation board. It sure it tight, I half considered scrapping the box and going with a vertical layout instead. I built an analog chorus last year in the vertical setup and I just don't like the way it looks as much as the horizontal. The pedal itself is cool though, based on an Arion, from NucleonFX.

Since I don't gig, my DIY pedals end up on my workbench chain more often than not. One of my Treble Booster builds is on my only pedal board though.

 

Just an observation, I went looking for an enclosure supplier since Mammoth is gone. When the heck did PedalPartsPlus increase their minimum order quantity for 125B's to 25? Guess they have no interest in DIY'ers.

That totally stinks as I've used them for one offs before, a little more expensive but I could get a couple at a time. 25! Just removed them from my suppliers list

 

I've gotten enclosures from Tayda, I especially liked their polished ones, I used one of those for my son's Karl Fuzz build last year. PedalPartsPlus is the only supplier now with a lot of colors, Mammoth were more limited but still some nice metalflakes. Everyone else is solid colors only, which is cool, though I do love a nice metalflake.

I've built a lot of pedals, but 25 minimum? That's for commercial setups, it would take me years to go through 25 boxes!

I have to replenish some parts, so I'll be checking out Tayda later today.

 

I love that enclosure! That's sweet.

I just ordered some plain black 125B's from Love My Switches (along with knobs etc), a Mouser order for a bunch of passives/chips, and an eBay order for NSL-32's. I'm missing our friends at Small Bear, hope they're doing alright.

Now, back to the delay!