Mike's Pedal Thread

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:00 am

Did you ever demo the Saltstorm, Mike? I'm quite interested in how your first ground-up build went. Particularily how the Silicon/Germanium differ.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:05 am

Empires wrote:Finally got the chance to plug in the Saltstorm tonight and it's more than I hoped for

The Si/Ge switch is a fucking delight

More people should have this pedal, not too many though

Well done, sir... Mission accomplished

Wicked I'm so chuffed you're digging it. I was happy with how it turned out.

Haze I made an audio demo of it on breadboard for Empires so I was sure he'd like it, which I could upload, but I think I'll also add one more and put it on my website with a proper demo, I'll be crediting Empires with the original concept and graphic design.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:38 pm

Have you thought about bass boost pedals? Not like treble boosters, a boost pedal for bass. I've tried my saltbooster and I like the tone change it has when engaged, but it distorts a little too easily with my amp. With guitar it pretty much runs clean until 'break your tubes' volumes but the extra output on a bass doesn't like it. So I'd be interested in something similar that had more clean headroom (if such a thing is possible with boosters, I don't really know the details) or perhaps just something else that has the headroom.

I'd actually be interested in three boosters. I was going to build them myself but I'm tempted by 'Made by Mike' models. The following sort of spec

Hammond A boxes (Hammond rather than Eddystone, I like the curves)
Triangle knobs (I guess that's a maybe, bronco could be cool)
Perhaps say, one saltbooster, one SHO one something else (chilli picasso type?)
Some sort of related colourscheme/decal system (not that this matters for the spec, but it would have to be done really)

I'd probably sell my saltboost for cheap (incidentally, it had it's first birthday a week ago, 23/06/08) and go for a mini set if you were up for doing it. I could understand if the mini stuff is just too much of a pain in the arse though, it looks awkward to make (part of the reason I haven't done it myself).

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:41 pm

oh my god that knob is so awesome.

tell me where i can buy those.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:43 pm

It is awkward but it's also a challenge which can add to the appeal. I'd be up for it. That one looks amazing.

Theres' some really talented guys on diystompboxes and the like who have put DELAY pedals into those things. They're nuts though.

I think a SHO might have more headroom. Maybe try one at Doogfest or something.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:13 pm

The intended application is one for bass, one for a 'clean'ish signal, and one for a dirty signal. I love the Saltboost into an OCD so I'll probably use that for the clean one (I tend to run it just at mild crunch with optional boost to fuzz it up a little with the clean dynamics still there) which leaves one for my dirt chain and one for bass. I'll read up a bit on recommendations for boosters for those uses and see what comes up, I think a SHO is a good choice though. I'll probably wait until Doogfest to try some out, as you say.

Assuming typically simple circuits, how much do you reckon for the three pedals?

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:16 pm

Simplish circuits, probably like Â£40 a throw?

It would be more like Â£50 to a non awesome non shortscale person. Unfortunately they're more expensive than Saltbooster style cases as they're a bastard to work with.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:16 pm

Reece wrote:oh my god that knob is so awesome.

tell me where i can buy those.

Banzai sell them, but a lot of other places do too. I think most places that sell effects parts have them, although from memory the price varies wildly, from say Â£1 each to Â£8 or so.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:22 pm

Mike wrote:Simplish circuits, probably like Â£40 a throw?

It would be more like Â£50 to a non awesome non shortscale person. Unfortunately they're more expensive than Saltbooster style cases as they're a bastard to work with.

I don't know how clear it was from the tone of the first post, but it was a bit of a 'thinking out loud/feeler type thing. I need to asses how much I want this because my initial plan with it was for the two non-bass ones before I started playing bass again. I think I will do, especially with the rob(og) coming. I'm trying to be more exact with my gear decisions to avoid much buying and selling but it's a pain in the arse to accomplish.

To summarise, I'm very much interested and will get back to you after some research/Doohgest. It's vain but going ahead with the idea actually depends a little on how cool a visual design scheme I can think of.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:27 pm

Yeah I got that man, we're just talking here.

You must be getting excited about the guitar. How's it progressing?

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:37 pm

It's near the final stages but I'm not sure exactly where. I've been thinking about the colour again recently. Daphne still wins out in my mind, but I'm tempted to do something a bit more unusual.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:39 pm

Wow. Looking swish.

I would go for Daphne too, don't second guess yourself.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:46 pm

Well really my first choice is for something that isn't Daphne. Something a bit non-Fender and classy. Gretsch smoke green, purple sparkle or even Comp Orange. Then I started thinking about availability and its much easier (Manchester Guitar Tech) to buy vintage Fender colours. My probilem is that although my first choice is for something a bit unusual no one colour beats Daphne.

When considering it previously I left my thoughts at "I'll see it in person and see if a colour shouts at me" so I never really finished the decision. I'd even consider TV Yellow given that it's mahogany and that colour is easily available. I'll have to get back on the photoshops.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:16 pm

chisa wrote:mike i want one of your fuzzfaces, and i also wonder if you can rehouse my french toast add true bypass and a separate switch for the octave? and how much moolah?

OK a FuzzFace is Â£55 + Â£3 P&P as you're in the UK. Do you have any preference for paint colour and LED colour?

It is positive ground meaning it runs on batteries, it can be powered by a standard boss 2.1mm centre negative jack but NOT daisy chained with other "regular" boss style pedals as it will ground out their power supplies.

As for the French Toast, unfortunately that's probably more trouble than it's worth for you as I don't have experience with that particular pedal. I know they use electronic switching which will have to be reverse engineered and fixed to "On" which is not simple, plus those PCB mounted pots are a bastard to get off. I know there is a guy on Harmony Central and FSB.org that does these things for people though, I believe his name is SuperVelcroBoy?

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:05 pm

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:14 pm

Both very, very pretty indeed. I want to make you some more decals soon.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:18 pm

Ah that saltbooster is hands down the nicest one ever. Good job

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:51 pm

What's the white pedal Mike? Looks very slick.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:59 pm

Cheers guys.

The white pedal is my Bass Dual Dirt pedal for Pancakes!

It's a Box Of Rock and an OCD in one. Nice and tight! Gives some nice flavours of Ampeg SVT style grind which is what I was after.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:58 pm

Very nice.