Post-Lockdown pedal building

Keefy · April 2020

Fuzzdog Big Muff Pi board is assembled, but holding off fitting the pots until I can test-fit it into an enclosure. Also pictured:
1. 1590B box - Project would fit, but not with a battery.
2. 1590B+ box - Last used for a Silicon Fuzz project. Unfortunately the holes are in all the wrong places. I have ordered another one, which should allow me to fit a battery in too.
3. Mahoosive project box bought cheaply when Maplin was closing. Probably too tall for a pedal, but might turn it into some kind of load box and/or DI gadget.

Image: https://i.imgur.com/iZFDTPk.jpg?1

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?

Keefy · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?

Nah, I like the neat board-mounted pots! Don't worry, the 1590B will find a use some time...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Keefy said:

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?

Nah, I like the neat board-mounted pots! Don't worry, the 1590B will find a use some time...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Update on the copper one. Looking much better after last night's extra coats. A little textured, but much more consistent across the top, and texture is the point with this paint, so I'm very happy. I was also able to get rid of all the dust spots etc from the first time round. I'd definitely use this stuff again, and will go in search of more colours for future builds as it's easily the best I've used for pedal stuff.

Keefy · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Update on the copper one. Looking much better after last night's extra coats. A little textured, but much more consistent across the top, and texture is the point with this paint, so I'm very happy. I was also able to get rid of all the dust spots etc from the first time round. I'd definitely use this stuff again, and will go in search of more colours for future builds as it's easily the best I've used for pedal stuff.

Pedal porn in the making!

stickyfiddle · April 2020

I'm itching to get it built. I'm supposed to be off work on Wednesday so will do it then if I can. Then I'm on hold while I wait for the postie to arrive with fresh knobs and a couple more kits

Keefy · April 2020

Big Muff Pi build - dry test fit of parts in the 1590B+ box. It fits, but it's tight. Probably going to have to lose the plastic input socket (not part of the original kit) and fit a skeletal stereo one instead.

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Yeah, that'll work with an open Switchcraft type of socket. Or Fuzzdog actually had some really slim ones in stock if you really need. Tight is good anyway - it means the battery doesn't rattle

Keefy · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, that'll work with an open Switchcraft type of socket. Or Fuzzdog actually had some really slim ones in stock if you really need. Tight is good anyway - it means the battery doesn't rattle

I could have taken 1mm off the battery space and another 1mm from the pot clearance. Coulda woulda shoulda...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Keefy said:

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, that'll work with an open Switchcraft type of socket. Or Fuzzdog actually had some really slim ones in stock if you really need. Tight is good anyway - it means the battery doesn't rattle

I could have taken 1mm off the battery space and another 1mm from the pot clearance. Coulda woulda shoulda...

EVERY one of my builds has something I would have done differently, even with these relative paint-by-numbers* Fuzzdog kits, whether it's finishing or labelling or LED colour or just getting the solder be a bit messy in places. Don't sweat it

(* not intended as an insult, I get no pleasure from vero builds at all...)

My copper build will have to wait for the weekend now as I'm working today after all. I also have some Gundam robot kits to get cracking on when the mood takes me..

LastMantra · April 2020

I've got loads of bits. Could build a whole bunch of stuff. I do mainly stick to drives/fuzz because they're generally simple/small parts count. Everything is packed away at my parents house atm, don't think I'll be able to get to it.

Get yourself a breadboard and start collecting bits n pieces (whenever something electronic breaks down I'm in seeing what I can strip from it!). It means you can really tune them in to your own taste, and your amp/other gear! Taylor made!
Atm I'm playing a germanium muff and a tweaked "rangemaster" (less treble, more thick boost). Sounds good to me!

Keefy · April 2020

LastMantra said:

I've got loads of bits. Could build a whole bunch of stuff. I do mainly stick to drives/fuzz because they're generally simple/small parts count. Everything is packed away at my parents house atm, don't think I'll be able to get to it.

Get yourself a breadboard and start collecting bits n pieces (whenever something electronic breaks down I'm in seeing what I can strip from it!). It means you can really tune them in to your own taste, and your amp/other gear! Taylor made!
Atm I'm playing a germanium muff and a tweaked "rangemaster" (less treble, more thick boost). Sounds good to me!

Good call, I have a little breadboard but haven't done anything with it for ages. And I have some old Ge transistors too! So yeah, treble booster...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Finally...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Getting there...

Keefy · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Getting there...

MCMLXXXI = 1981

Still not a clue...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Board complete waiting for chips & pots

stickyfiddle · April 2020

And done. Knobs pinched from my old Fuzz Face that doesn’t get used much. It’ll get posher ones once they arrive from Germany but that may take a long time.

It’s a clone of the DRV 1981 (basically a posh Rat, the “Hype-R Rat” as Fuzzdog calls it). It sounds good!!

JMP220478 · April 2020

Audio and or video clips gents please ... really interested in how all this fine work sounds

stickyfiddle · April 2020

I’ll see what I can do

rico · April 2020

I finished a Green Citrus (Matamp GT-esque preamp) kit the other day but I didn’t appreciate the spacing of the top three knobs when I ordered the green ones so the treble control has become a set and forget kind of deal for know.

It’s a beast of a pedal.

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Nice!

My Quaverato kit has literally just arrived, so considering that bff or the afternoon’s activities

TTBZ · April 2020

Didn't realise the Hyp-R Rat was a DRV clone - I might have to try that out as I like the sound of it in demos but not paying that much for a fancy Rat, as nice as their enclosure looks.

Has anyone tried any of the Fuzzdogs MIAB pedals and what did you think? I want to mess around with something that does a nice open sounding JCM800 bark! Don't know whether to just go for a Guvnor, Angry Charlie or their Eagle Claw - no idea what that last one is based on but sounds interesting. Maybe something FET based to get a more "amp like" feel?

stickyfiddle · April 2020

TTBZ said:

Didn't realise the Hyp-R Rat was a DRV clone - I might have to try that out as I like the sound of it in demos but not paying that much for a fancy Rat, as nice as their enclosure looks.

Has anyone tried any of the Fuzzdogs MIAB pedals and what did you think? I want to mess around with something that does a nice open sounding JCM800 bark! Don't know whether to just go for a Guvnor, Angry Charlie or their Eagle Claw - no idea what that last one is based on but sounds interesting. Maybe something FET based to get a more "amp like" feel?

Yeah, it’s a nice Rat. A little less aggressive and “chunky” than my early-MIC Rat2 and a lot less aggressive than my Fuzzdog Rat build, but sounds nice in its own right. I am happy not spending 200 notes on one though.

No idea on MIABs I’m afraid, though I’m sure someone else must know. I did have a Guvnor2 a long time ago (possibly my 2nd ever pedal?) which I liked at the time, but it’s hard to remember exactly what it was like.

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Quaverato unpacked. It’s a lovely kit - might take a while as at least 2x the number of parts as a typical dirt

roberty · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

And done. Knobs pinched from my old Fuzz Face that doesn’t get used much. It’ll get posher ones once they arrive from Germany but that may take a long time.

It’s a clone of the DRV 1981 (basically a posh Rat, the “Hype-R Rat” as Fuzzdog calls it). It sounds good!!

That looks great. Painting then makes all the difference

Potentially gonna make an order from https://www.musikding.de/ soon

Did a fuzz dog seven knob swollen pickle and fuzz factory at the start of lockdown but haven't really used them

Going to do a Meathead on Vero today and pop it in my Bazz Fuss. If I ever get out of bed

english_bob · April 2020

stickyfiddle said:

Quaverato unpacked. It’s a lovely kit - might take a while as at least 2x the number of parts as a typical dirt

Interested to see how you get on with this- looks pretty involved but it's very reasonably priced for what you get when you're done. Tempted to pick one up with the MIDI module.

stickyfiddle · April 2020

english_bob said:

stickyfiddle said:

Quaverato unpacked. It’s a lovely kit - might take a while as at least 2x the number of parts as a typical dirt

Interested to see how you get on with this- looks pretty involved but it's very reasonably priced for what you get when you're done. Tempted to pick one up with the MIDI module.

Yeah, it looks a fantastic pedal, and from demos sounds potentially as good as my Walrus Monuments but with even more control - it’s even got dipswitches to control the crossover point between high and low frequencies for the harmonic trem.

The plan at the moment is to have my newly-acquired PT Nano with Jan Ray, Quaverato, Revival Drive Compact and Deco for a super simple rootsy/ country/folky rock board.

roberty · April 2020

Well that seems to have gone smoothly. Will test and box tomorrow probably and spend tonight practicing. Vero is always a bit of a gamble in my experience

stickyfiddle · April 2020

Neat! (What is it?!)

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Post-Lockdown pedal building

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