Building my first kit, tips!

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:07 pm

I'm building my first pedal from a kit this weekend (musikding tonebender clone).
So what are some tips for my first build? I practiced soldering by giving my porta pro headphones a new cable. And what can I say, it was shaky..

And what size should the drill bit for the mounting holes be?

Help appreciated, I don't want to fuck up!

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:22 pm

practice soldering and desoldering... I would recommend tearing apart and old radio...get a helping hands..... and be patient

also socket the transistors.... and if it does not work right away check the tranny pin outs first

EDIT: and be aware that building pedals is addictive! and always prime your enclosures before u paint. if not the paint will chip off very easily

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:51 pm

I would just strip a few wires and practice soldering before trying to do anything like building a pedal kit. Practice tinning a wire and soldering it to another wire or if you have a spare pot or terminal or anything, try soldering a wire to that for practice. It takes a little bit of practice to hone your soldering skills but once you get it it's pretty easy to be consistent every time.

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:53 pm

Thanks! I got some helping hands and all the other stuff I need, so I'm set.

I know how to solder/desolder properly in theory, but I have shaky hands sometimes though, which kind of sucks!
Sockets? Never heard of it before, care to explain?

And yeah, I fear that I will spend too much money/time on this little past time.

I'm only using a decal for this one, so no painting involved this time.

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:57 pm

Billy3000 wrote:I would just strip a few wires and practice soldering before trying to do anything like building a pedal kit. Practice tinning a wire and soldering it to another wire or if you have a spare pot or terminal or anything, try soldering a wire to that for practice. It takes a little bit of practice to hone your soldering skills but once you get it it's pretty easy to be consistent every time.

I've got some experience in stripping wires (don't know from where, I just remember doing it). Thanks for the tip about the wires and pots. I'll solder on some junk before I begin with the kit.

Is it hard to desolder and clean the PCB if I mess up?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:00 pm

drBenway wrote:Thanks! I got some helping hands and all the other stuff I need, so I'm set.

I know how to solder/desolder properly in theory, but I have shaky hands sometimes though, which kind of sucks!
Sockets? Never heard of it before, care to explain?

And yeah, I fear that I will spend too much money/time on this little past time.

I'm only using a decal for this one, so no painting involved this time.

Socket

you solder it in place of the tranny so that u can just insert the tranny legs without soldering it in, its good to do so u do not wack the tranny in soldering and desoldering if you got the pin out wrong

I shake too and sometimes I will place the handle end rested against my shoulder chest area as I work to stop the shaking...its prolly not good as I am sure I am inhaling alot of solder smoke when I am leaned in like this, but whatevas

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:05 pm

Ah, that seems convenient. I doubt my kit have them, but we got some shops that sell electronic parts over here, so I'll check it out. Thanks.

Maybe I'll lay off the coffee and just get on with it. But that would make me tired and unfocused instead

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:13 pm

drBenway wrote: Is it hard to desolder and clean the PCB if I mess up?

no, just be careful to not overheat it and lift the traces, if you do you will find yourself making jumper wires where the tracers should be... I did this on my first pedal I opened up (crybaby mod)..... just heat the solder so it is liquid and then put the wick on top of the solder and then the iron back ontop of the wick....you may have to do this a few times because as the wick gets full u will have to cut off the used section to get a fresh peice on there.

with building pedals the key is PATIENCES

Lucamo · Post by **Lucamo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:40 pm

I am stongly considering this too, and was about the make a thread.

Where did you get the kit if you don't mind me asking?

Is anyone aware of a op-amp or IC Muff kit?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:58 pm

Lucamo wrote: Is anyone aware of a op-amp or IC Muff kit?

not a kit but I know where to get a stripboard layout.... this is actually the project I am getting ready to order parts for currently

78 IC BMP

Lucamo · Post by **Lucamo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:02 pm

That looks complex... FUUUUU

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:16 pm

Lucamo wrote:That looks complex... FUUUUU

lol.....is not really, just think of it as a big puzzle

I personally feel that for a persons first strip board layout they should do Mike's layout for the DAM Meathead or Catalinbread Hyper Pak...They are both very good pedals and easy builds

Lucamo · Post by **Lucamo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:27 pm

Why are my two favourite fuzz complex? I am trying to decide what to buy from BYOC cause I'm pretty sure I'm gonna either have a Fuzz Factory or IC Muff made for me.

We should make a pedal thread.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:29 pm

Lucamo wrote:Why are my two favourite fuzz complex? I am trying to decide what to buy from BYOC cause I'm pretty sure I'm gonna either have a Fuzz Factory or IC Muff made for me.

We should make a pedal thread.

the fuzz factory is super easy...its like 10-15 parts *lolwut*

My first build was the BYOC GE Fuzz Face.... also check out General Guitar Gadget kits...there good as well

Lucamo · Post by **Lucamo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:35 pm

If you can point to me a pre-drilled labelled and fancy package that comes with a back rub and all the parts for a FUZZFACGTORY I WILL BUY IT INSTANTLY

Then order an IC Muff...

BU|T SERIOUSLY WHEREIS!?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:51 pm

you will not find a Fuzz Factory Kit but u can buy a Fuzz Factory PCB from Madbeanpedals.com.... I actually have the PCB for this in my desk drawer waiting to be built as well.... His PCBs are very nice and worth the money if you do not want to jump to doing strip board. The only difference between doing this and a kit is that you have to buy all the parts on your own and drill the box.

My advice to you would be build a kit pedal and maybe a simple strip board one like the Meathead or Hyper Pak and then when u have some experience build the ones your longing for.... Nothing feels better than having an awesome pedal u built urself...plus its way cheaper

the kits I did first were the:
-BYOC GE Fuzz Face
-GGG Phase 45
-GGG Tube Screamer with Keeley mods

Then I moved to PCB's and Stripboard

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 10:33 pm

I have shaky hands too from drinking inhuman amounts of coffee. The key is just go slowly, one wire at a time, and hold your breath while soldering so that you're not inhaling the fumes. I built a 3.5 watt tube amp this summer in a class, shaky hands and all, I had very very little soldering skills before that class too. If I can build an amp with my shaky ass hands and little soldering experience, anybody can build a pedal with the right amount of patience.

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:20 pm

Lucamo wrote:Where did you get the kit if you don't mind me asking?

http://www.musikding.de

Thanks again everyone for all the tips!

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:29 pm

drBenway wrote:
Lucamo wrote:Where did you get the kit if you don't mind me asking?
http://www.musikding.de

Thanks again everyone for all the tips!

they make good kits, very simple to do and no issues if you can nail the soldering.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 12:07 am

Lucamo wrote:If you can point to me a pre-drilled labelled and fancy package that comes with a back rub and all the parts for a FUZZFACGTORY I WILL BUY IT INSTANTLY

Then order an IC Muff...

BU|T SERIOUSLY WHEREIS!?

well I just proved myself wrong..... Fuzz Factory Kit