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Pedal Builders - Worthwhile purchase?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:33 pm
by Empires
LINK
I fancy learning a bit more about pedals, electronics and tone... and perhaps make a disgusting noise or two in the process.
I'm sure that most of you guys have the talent to build one of these in your sleep for pennies but would you think buying something like this is a good idea for a n00b?
Anyone got one or something similar?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:48 pm
by Mike
It's a cool idea and a useful way to get stuff up and running and easily testable. I've made myself a breakbox box which I connect to my breadboard which has jacks and a DPDT footswitch on it to switch between bypass and my effect under test. I also have a bunch of common value pots with flying leads I use to test - connecting them via the breadboard to my board/prototyped circuit. Can't find a price.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:54 pm
by DanHeron
Mike wrote:It's a cool idea and a useful way to get stuff up and running and easily testable. I've made myself a breakbox box which I connect to my breadboard which has jacks and a DPDT footswitch on it to switch between bypass and my effect under test. I also have a bunch of common value pots with flying leads I use to test - connecting them via the breadboard to my board/prototyped circuit. Can't find a price.
"beavis board complete kit $249 + $20 Shipping
beavis board board only $109 + $14 Shipping "
I say it's not woth it for that, but i know nothing about making pedals.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:54 pm
by Mike
Jesus Fuck. That's incredibly overpriced.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:59 pm
by Empires
Aye,
£75 for just the board
£172 for the board and parts stash
(both excl. shipping)
It's a niche market so they can get away with charging those prices...
I haven't seen anything similar...
I like the idea though.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:01 pm
by Bacchus
It's a good idea, but is that not seventy five quid for no circuit? at all? By it's definition?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:25 pm
by aen
YIKES! Buy thae parts, build your own.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:37 pm
by Hurb
This is so stupid. if you have the skills to make pedals. then you have the skills to make this surely. bent as fuck.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:44 pm
by Doog
I reeeeally want to get into making a few pedals, even if just to have some wonkified version of a existing box on my pedalboard in mysterious chrome box form.
Buildaz: any recommendations for first builds? Fuzz Face doable? Don't really need another booster.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:12 pm
by Empires
I shall be trawling the internetz for the following shite for the remainder of the evening...
diystompboxes.com forum wrote:
Wire cutter/stripper. So that you can cut and strip wires.
Needle nose pliers (small). Very useful to bend leads etc....
Wire snips (picture to come). Allows you to cut wire close to the solder joint.
Solder
Solder Sucker - or Desolder Braid Smiley
- I prefer the solder sucker bulb or "syringe" looking sucker. Keep a skinny nail handy to clear the bulb if it gets stuck with solder.
A decent soldering iron. 15-30 watts, even the Radio Shack one is OK for a few projects before the tip breaks down.
A digital multimeter.
A logbook (an artists sketch book works great. This is the type with the thick paper - you can build and write info in it)
Xacto Knife or other sharp knife for scoring the perfboard.
Ruler for guiding the knife.
Please ask if you have any questions.
Aye, and a breadboard... and stuff to make my station. Jesus, this is going to be a disaster
btw;
this thread has been an absolute saviour
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:23 pm
by drew
i built my first pedal about a month ago, i made a woolly mammoth clone cause i figured a fuzz would be a good first build , i love how it sounds
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:00 pm
by Empires
To be fair... the guy has posted an illustration of the guts of the thing.
Doesn't look too hard
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:08 pm
by aen
Doog wrote:I reeeeally want to get into making a few pedals, even if just to have some wonkified version of a existing box on my pedalboard in mysterious chrome box form.
Buildaz: any recommendations for first builds? Fuzz Face doable? Don't really need another booster.
THREE BOOSTERS IN A ROW! I;ve never doen a fuzz face, but it looks easy enough. From there is an easy jump to Big muff?
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:10 pm
by Mike
Doog wrote:I reeeeally want to get into making a few pedals, even if just to have some wonkified version of a existing box on my pedalboard in mysterious chrome box form.
Buildaz: any recommendations for first builds? Fuzz Face doable? Don't really need another booster.
FuzzFace is doable but a "real" one uses positive ground and pnp Ge transistors which means it can't be daisy chained with other "normal" pedals. You could make an npn regular approximation if you wanted. Would be happy to talk you through it.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:46 pm
by benecol
Empires wrote:To be fair... the guy has posted an illustration of the guts of the thing.
Doesn't look too hard
Beavis is a cool cat, there are some lovely bits and bobs on his site.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:55 pm
by Empires
benecol wrote:Empires wrote:To be fair... the guy has posted an illustration of the guts of the thing.
Doesn't look too hard
Beavis is a cool cat, there are some lovely bits and bobs on his site.
I know, I've had a nosey around...
His Four Knob Rat looks like a project I will attempt in the future (if my first foray doesn't kill me, or anyone else)
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:37 pm
by aen
benecol wrote:Empires wrote:To be fair... the guy has posted an illustration of the guts of the thing.
Doesn't look too hard
Beavis is a cool cat, there are some lovely bits and bobs on his site.
Oh, for sure, his site is great! It just seems like if you're going to be experimenting and building, whipping up your own prototyping suite would be easier than most of your projects. As far as Beavis' parts/labor, I'd say thats a hell of a deal, shit would take all night!
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:47 pm
by r40f
don't misrepresent the price - the price includes the box but also comes with a ton of components to make about 15 different pedals that he provides complete instructions for.
i didn't buy it but it was easy to build a box based on the instructions and info on his site. he gives all the instructions on there for free.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:48 pm
by Mages
Doog wrote:I reeeeally want to get into making a few pedals, even if just to have some wonkified version of a existing box on my pedalboard in mysterious chrome box form.
Buildaz: any recommendations for first builds? Fuzz Face doable? Don't really need another booster.
fuzz faces are pretty simple. cool article on the face:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/f ... fffram.htm
I'm thinking about building a Woolly Mammoth. It's like a fuzz face with more things adjustable.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:53 pm
by Mike
mage wrote:Doog wrote:I reeeeally want to get into making a few pedals, even if just to have some wonkified version of a existing box on my pedalboard in mysterious chrome box form.
Buildaz: any recommendations for first builds? Fuzz Face doable? Don't really need another booster.
fuzz faces are pretty simple. cool article on the face:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/f ... fffram.htm
I'm thinking about building a Woolly Mammoth. It's like a fuzz face with more things adjustable.
Not really. It's a two Si transistor npn Fuzz. It doesn't really sound anything like a Fuzzface.
