Retired, now going to make an attempt at building a pedal build

[kbold]

Question - are there some components I could buy to have on hand to swap out to see how they affect the circuits tone ? Ex.) germanium and silicon transistors ?

I'm not sure what values would be needed, I'm sure this comes with experience, but I was thinking if I had some on hand I could swap in/out of a circuit to see how it affects the tone.

Maybe a breadboard would be good for this? Im probably getting way ahead of myself, lol but just some thoughts.

I'll buy a couple kits to start out with.

Just buy one kit to start with. I would recommend a Klon clone.
Aion effects has a good one: you can buy just the PCB or a complete kit.
Their paperwork includes a range of components that can be modified for different characteristics.
I fitted lead sockets for the IC's and some components ..... but to date have never modified it from standard.

 

[robistro]

So I finished my 1st pedal build! It was a learning experience for sure.
This kit was simple, I followed instructions, but wasnt happy with the order it had me soldering some of the parts. I could have routed them differently. Also, the ac jack is cheesy, it wont tighten.

Other than that I cant really complain with how the pedal sounds! and was a success! no smoke when plugged in for the first time!

Im ready for another build or a few.

 

[old wrench]

Point to point - it looks like it came together nicely!

I'm sure you mean the DC jack - not AC

A suggestion on those DC jacks and their cheesy plastic threads - don't put a nut on the outside, instead just use a washer and nut on the inside - that'll give you a little bit more "good" threads for the inside nut to bite into

I've noticed that those cheesy plastic threads taper down to nothing when you get towards the end, and they strip-out if you look too hard at them

I ended up buying some better metal DC jacks to replace those chintzy plastic ones that StewMac supplies with their kits

 

[ahiddentableau]

Grats man! Welcome to the pedal building addict community!

 

[hopdybob]

maybe this is a nice try to?

Diaz Texas Ranger Schematic

Substitute transistor BC547 or BC547A or 2N3904 hFE gain from 220 to 300

www.tdpri.com

 

[robistro]

See what you all did to me ?! lol
A fuzz and a boost pedal. I may never buy another pedal again, these sound great!

Still learning and haven't made it from breadboard to enclosure yet, but I'll get there. Still having problems understanding schematics and wiring the switches, but I'll get there. This is all a new hobby to me.

 

[ficelles]

I've built some great pedals using PCBs from PedalPCB, MusicPCB, DeadEndFX, FuzzDog, Parasit Studio to name a few. I really got the bug in lockdown and ended up with a crazy number of pedals, most of which I managed to sell on Reverb this year to my surprise. The best thing was building clones of cult pedals which sell for more than I could ever justify spending, like Lovetone or Schumann. It's a fun rabbit hole to go down.

 

[hopdybob]

See what you all did to me ?! lol
A fuzz and a boost pedal. I may never buy another pedal again, these sound great!

Still learning and haven't made it from breadboard to enclosure yet, but I'll get there. Still having problems understanding schematics and wiring the switches, but I'll get there. This is all a new hobby to me.

and that is not all, think about making your own graphics!

 

[robistro]

maybe this is a nice try to?

Diaz Texas Ranger Schematic

Substitute transistor BC547 or BC547A or 2N3904 hFE gain from 220 to 300

www.tdpri.com

I built this guy, which is suppose to be based off the Rangemaster. Has a germanium transistor.
It sounds even better with the spark boost in front of it.

 

[Chipss36]

building a pedal, is like a gateway drug, be careful, you may end up going full geek, pocket protector, slide rule , and horn rimmed glasses, and spend weekends reading component white papers…..
you have been warned. Muhahaha

 

[robistro]

building a pedal, is like a gateway drug, be careful, you may end up going full geek, pocket protector, slide rule , and horn rimmed glasses, and spend weekends reading component white papers…..
you have been warned. Muhahaha





View attachment 1055910

Im not messing with big capacitors...They might kill me.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

What about a guitar kit? Just don't start with a hollow body. That was a mistake I made. Turned out great but for a first it was a ridiculous build.

Fretwire Guitar Kit

 

[robistro]

What about a guitar kit? Just don't start with a hollow body. That was a mistake I made. Turned out great but for a first it was a ridiculous build.

Fretwire Guitar Kit

I stripped the paint from a strat body and am going to be putting back together with different parts.

 

[mjcyates]

Another vote for AionFx. Their projects are great. I normally build pedals from scratch but I like building their kits just for therapy.

 

[hopdybob]

I built this guy, which is suppose to be based off the Rangemaster. Has a germanium transistor.
It sounds even better with the spark boost in front of it.

View attachment 1055907

is it a vero build and maybe have a link to it?

 

[hopdybob]

What about a guitar kit? Just don't start with a hollow body. That was a mistake I made. Turned out great but for a first it was a ridiculous build.

Fretwire Guitar Kit

well, you could start with a midboost

The Fender Eric Clapton Active Mid-Boost

In our previous two installments, we

www.premierguitar.com

https://singlecoil.com/docs/active_strat.pdf

and i am thinking to put it in a stompbox and use it for every guitar

 

[ahiddentableau]

See what you all did to me ?! lol
A fuzz and a boost pedal. I may never buy another pedal again, these sound great!

Still learning and haven't made it from breadboard to enclosure yet, but I'll get there. Still having problems understanding schematics and wiring the switches, but I'll get there. This is all a new hobby to me.

Seeing this makes me believe you're going be good at pedal building. If you're breadboarding right from the start you're way ahead of the curve!

 

[robistro]

Seeing this makes me believe you're going be good at pedal building. If you're breadboarding right from the start you're way ahead of the curve!

Thanks for the encouragement!
once I understand what each component is doing I'll have a better understanding of what to modify on the boards. I could also probably use better components, but I figured what I have is a good start.

No oscilloscope, so I dont know what the pedals are doing as far as clipping. I adjusted them by ear.

I did modify the pedals I built, trying different resistors and transistors for the fuzz and I did bias it. I got both pedals to where I think they sounds best through my amp.

Now I need to put them in a box and lend them out to get some feedback on how they sound.

 

[cousinpaul]

A good meter is helpful. It can be hard to read the value on tiny components. My eyesight isn't great and I always double-check values with the meter before soldering them in.

 

[robistro]

is it a vero build and maybe have a link to it?

Is an Aion FX kit. I ordered the full kit then ordered Germanium transistors separately. I also ordered parts to build a 2nd pedal without the enclosure. https://aionfx.com/project/radian-germanium-boost/