First pedal build - kit or ..?

[andershp]

Hi

I am thinking about building a guitar pedal, but since I once ordered a PCB, the parts and the box seperately and never had it workng, I am considering ordering a kit.

Are there any kits I can order online, that you would recommend for a (almost) beginner. I know the onces called BYOC, but they are really expensive in my opinion.

I would like to build some kind of fuzz. I have thought about a (Vox) Tone Bender if possible. Do anyone know a (cheap) kit for that (or one of them)?


Thanks

- Anders

(Sorry for spelling mistakes, I am a dane and I don't have a proofing tool at the moment.)

[wwrrss]

http://www.musikding.de/index.php/cat/c245_Fuzz.html

DAS MUSIKDING does kits that are pretty cheap.

[paul_]

My first pedals were kits from www.generalguitargadgets.com and they were pretty easy and yielded fine effects units all round.

[benecol]

Yep, I made the Musikding Treble Booster, and it's still one of my favourite pedals.

[lorez]

another one here for musikding kit. I made a fuzz face and it was an easy kit to make. I would definitely do more of their kits in the future

[johnnyseven]

Hi

I am thinking about building a guitar pedal, but since I once ordered a PCB, the parts and the box seperately and never had it workng, I am considering ordering a kit.

Are there any kits I can order online, that you would recommend for a (almost) beginner. I know the onces called BYOC, but they are really expensive in my opinion.

I would like to build some kind of fuzz. I have thought about a (Vox) Tone Bender if possible. Do anyone know a (cheap) kit for that (or one of them)?

These are my thoughts exactly, i've always fancied a go at building my own pedal but the BYOC prices put me off buying a kit for fear of ballsing it up. These musikding kits are sooo cheap compared to the BYOC kits that i'm going to have to give it a try. I think i'm going to get the Silicon Fuzz - http://www.musikding.de/product_info.ph ... z-kit.html - good chance of me ballsing it up, but you never know unless you try!

[alpeperker]

I started building a simple feedback looper (experimentaists anonyous) which worked great. (No parts which night melt so you can do your solderings over and over again) After succeeding on that, i built one from musikding (a fuzzfactory clone) which also worked great. If i was you, i'd build a looper and then proceed to an easy pedal like a fuzz-kind of pedal. They are the simplest to make. Hurra foe endnu en dansker her på sitet!!

[SKC Willie]

Check this thread out

[andershp]

I started building a simple feedback looper (experimentaists anonyous) which worked great. (No parts which night melt so you can do your solderings over and over again) After succeeding on that, i built one from musikding (a fuzzfactory clone) which also worked great. If i was you, i'd build a looper and then proceed to an easy pedal like a fuzz-kind of pedal. They are the simplest to make. Hurra foe endnu en dansker her på sitet!!

That may be a good idea. Did you use a kit for the feedback looper or did you build it from scratch?

Since you are from DK too, do you know of any places to buy all the part and a box? I haven't really been able to find any good and cheap stores yet. I guess it may be easier if you live in CPH.

Anyway, it seems to be pretty easy to find the parts for a feedback looper, right? So would you recommend any (layout or kit)?

EDIT:
Okay, I guess you mean this one:
http://experimentalistsanonymous.com/di ... %20LED.gif

Where did you get the parts and the box then, if I may ask?

[johnnyseven]

I've decided to try one of these - http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... egory_id=7 - hopefully it'll work!

[SGJarrod]

I've decided to try one of these - http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/com ... egory_id=7 - hopefully it'll work!

It will work, very easy build.... I have used the GGG kits and they are solid kits, the BYOC are nice too but alittle over priced....


My 2 cents for a first non-kit build would be a DAM Meathead or Catalinbread Hyper Pak per Mike's vero layouts..... both are great pedals... and very simple builds.....

If you do the Meathead experiment with the input cap use .01-.1

[johnnyseven]

I think i'll go with a MXR Dist+ after this as they're supposed to not be too hard, then maybe a silicon Fuzz Face - after that who knows...

[SGJarrod]

I think i'll go with a MXR Dist+ after this as they're supposed to not be too hard, then maybe a silicon Fuzz Face - after that who knows...

The DAM Meathead is a sweet one knob SI Fuzz Face

You have not even built a pedal yet and ur sounding like the addiction is setting in...lol ...just wait it gets worse

[alpeperker]

I started building a simple feedback looper (experimentaists anonyous) which worked great. (No parts which night melt so you can do your solderings over and over again) After succeeding on that, i built one from musikding (a fuzzfactory clone) which also worked great. If i was you, i'd build a looper and then proceed to an easy pedal like a fuzz-kind of pedal. They are the simplest to make. Hurra foe endnu en dansker her på sitet!!

That may be a good idea. Did you use a kit for the feedback looper or did you build it from scratch?

Since you are from DK too, do you know of any places to buy all the part and a box? I haven't really been able to find any good and cheap stores yet. I guess it may be easier if you live in CPH.

Anyway, it seems to be pretty easy to find the parts for a feedback looper, right? So would you recommend any (layout or kit)?

EDIT:
Okay, I guess you mean this one:
http://experimentalistsanonymous.com/di ... %20LED.gif

Where did you get the parts and the box then, if I may ask?

I built the feedback looper from scratch. I just used that thread you posted there and made it step by step.
I bought the parts for it from Banzaimusic og musikding.de, both German companies. Its just a pain in the ass that you have to pay the same amount for the shipping as you do for the parts.
The parts are all very standard and easy to find, so just find the right ones, and order them, no need for a kit. (I assume you have all the basic equipment for soldering, drilling, stuff like that)
Experimentalists Anonymous

There is a step by step tutorial of how to make the looper. Very helpful if it's your first build.

[andershp]

Thanks for the answers and the PM.
I think I will try building the feedback looper then.

I do have the equipment, but I'm thinking about ordering a new soldering iron as well, since mine isn't that great.
Do you know if the Banzai or Musikding soldering irons are fine? Many of them are pretty cheap (fx MLS-48-Soldering-Station - 14€ ) , so I don't know about the quality?
Maybe the Antex ones are better, and what amount of watts will be best for this purpose?

[SGJarrod]

go 30watts...... 25 is fine for pedal building but 30 can handle guitar work too..... tips will last longer with 30watts

[andershp]

I've made a list of stuff (tools) I'm going to order. I figured out that I would order some the basic parts, since a lot of the things I have is either poor or not really intended for this purpose.

Does it look okay? And should something be upgraded/downgraded?


Soldering iron
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Antex-AT-XS2 ... -Iron.html
€ 18.89
Stand (for the soldering iron)
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Solder-iron- ... S-595.html
€ 2.38
Solder
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Solder-SN60-0-90-250g.html
€ 5.88
Replacement sponge
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Sponge-LC-LAB.html
€ 0.98
Insulation tape
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Insulation-Tape-Black.html
€ 0.79
Heat shrink tubes (Value pack)
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Heat-Shrink-Value-Pack.html
€ 3.14
Multimeter
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Multimeter-DM-312.html
€ 7.02
Desoldering pump
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Desoldering-Pump-Std.html
€ 1.43
Test leads – crocodile clamps
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Test-Lead-Set-GT-1810.html
€ 2.08
Pliers set
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Electronic-T ... S-400.html
€ 5.53
Wire stripper
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Wire-stripper-WS-266.html
€ 4.76
Files set
- http://www.musikding.de/product_info.ph ... -pcs-.html
€ 4.90
Wire cutter
- http://www.banzaimusic.com/Wire-cutter-109-1.html
€ 3.87
Tweezers set
- http://www.musikding.de/product_info.ph ... r-set.html
€ 2.50

[Mike]

Yup, as you're realising is not exactly cheap to get up and running.

Drop the pump and get braid instead.

[andershp]

Okay, I think I will get both the pump and the braid.

How about the soldering iron? Is it okay for this purpose and for a start?

[Mike]

It should be fine, but I always recommend the CSI one.