Post-Lockdown pedal building

idiotwind · February 2023

Keefy said:

Been wiring this up today - @idiotwind I feel your pain now, as despite my best efforts the inside of the case is like a bird's nest. I've connected up one side of the board but I'm too frazzled to continue tonight. Also had to order some more solder!

Yep, the board itself wasn't too bad, just had to be methodical. But wiring up... leads everywhere, flipping things around, losing track of which way you were looking at things. I remember when I thought I'd finished, trying to then get the board down into the box and a joint snapped on the rotary switch. I had to desolder some of the other wires off the board to be able to angle it so I could get to it in order to fix it.

Keefy · February 2023

idiotwind said:

Keefy said:

Been wiring this up today - @idiotwind I feel your pain now, as despite my best efforts the inside of the case is like a bird's nest. I've connected up one side of the board but I'm too frazzled to continue tonight. Also had to order some more solder!

Yep, the board itself wasn't too bad, just had to be methodical. But wiring up... leads everywhere, flipping things around, losing track of which way you were looking at things. I remember when I thought I'd finished, trying to then get the board down into the box and a joint snapped on the rotary switch. I had to desolder some of the other wires off the board to be able to angle it so I could get to it in order to fix it.

I kind of wish I'd ordered a PCB from 1776 Effects when I had the chance! But then I kind of don't, this way is much more DIY.

Keefy · February 2023

IT LIVES!

I finished wiring the board this evening, then checked for continuity and that there were no shorts between the header pins. Popped in the TL072 - 9V and 5V present in the correct places, and both bypass and dry signal pass through as expected. Popped a PT2399 in the delay 2 position and we have echo. Tried another one in the same spot and that was good too, so installed them both and had some fun playing - loads of fun!

I've set up the tape speed switch roughly and it's most impressive when used with a longer delay and the repeats set high - proper spaceship launch fun. I'll probably go back and tweak that for quicker response if I can.

All was well until I tried to coax the board into position and fit the base plate. Every time I did so I was getting intermittent squelchy oscillation. I thought lead dress was to blame for a while but then I realised it was one of the delay chips. I tried another one from the pack and it was fine.

So here you have it, my first delay pedal build, the most complicated pedal I've ever attempted, and though I say it myself, my best-looking to date. And yes I totally stole the idea for the decal from the J Rockett Clockwork.

Cookiemonster · February 2023

Keefy said:

IT LIVES!

I finished wiring the board this evening, then checked for continuity and that there were no shorts between the header pins. Popped in the TL072 - 9V and 5V present in the correct places, and both bypass and dry signal pass through as expected. Popped a PT2399 in the delay 2 position and we have echo. Tried another one in the same spot and that was good too, so installed them both and had some fun playing - loads of fun!

I've set up the tape speed switch roughly and it's most impressive when used with a longer delay and the repeats set high - proper spaceship launch fun. I'll probably go back and tweak that for quicker response if I can.

All was well until I tried to coax the board into position and fit the base plate. Every time I did so I was getting intermittent squelchy oscillation. I thought lead dress was to blame for a while but then I realised it was one of the delay chips. I tried another one from the pack and it was fine.

So here you have it, my first delay pedal build, the most complicated pedal I've ever attempted, and though I say it myself, my best-looking to date. And yes I totally stole the idea for the decal from the J Rockett Clockwork.

Keefy, everything about this looks very cool. I really like the design.

I have gone the other way and made my first 1590a, built on vero. It’s a modded meathead.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOS3uktqyP/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Cookiemonster · February 2023

roberty · February 2023

Wow @Keefy that is epic. Really impressive work

@Cookiemonster I sort of swore off those mini builds. It's nice when they're done though

I have had a less successful night, having boxed up my Vox Repeater. It is working on battery power but not DC so I'll have to do some debugging

I want it for the odd recording effect which is why I wired it for battery power. Don't normally bother but there's no way it's going on a pedal board

Keefy · February 2023

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

roberty · February 2023

It's a nightmare honestly

This is the one I did. A SHO. Sold it to someone on here who was looking for one. He was happy with it. Haven't heard back from him so I assume it's still doing the thing

Cookiemonster · February 2023

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

I think it’s just the angle. But it is close. The box was a pre drilled one I picked up on reverb. With all sorts of bits and pieces. Must have been a pedal company that has decided to not trade. I have some lovely looking fuzz face pcbs that came with it. But no instructions and oddly four electrolytic caps that I’m not quite sure I can figure out.

Keefy · February 2023

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

I think it’s just the angle. But it is close. The box was a pre drilled one I picked up on reverb. With all sorts of bits and pieces. Must have been a pedal company that has decided to not trade. I have some lovely looking fuzz face pcbs that came with it. But no instructions and oddly four electrolytic caps that I’m not quite sure I can figure out.

Are those caps bipolar?

Cookiemonster · February 2023

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

I think it’s just the angle. But it is close. The box was a pre drilled one I picked up on reverb. With all sorts of bits and pieces. Must have been a pedal company that has decided to not trade. I have some lovely looking fuzz face pcbs that came with it. But no instructions and oddly four electrolytic caps that I’m not quite sure I can figure out.

Are those caps bipolar?

They look it yes. Not quite sure and can not find a build guide. In fact if anyone wants one I can post. I have a few. And maybe someone can work it out

Keefy · February 2023

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

I think it’s just the angle. But it is close. The box was a pre drilled one I picked up on reverb. With all sorts of bits and pieces. Must have been a pedal company that has decided to not trade. I have some lovely looking fuzz face pcbs that came with it. But no instructions and oddly four electrolytic caps that I’m not quite sure I can figure out.

Are those caps bipolar?

They look it yes. Not quite sure and can not find a build guide. In fact if anyone wants one I can post. I have a few. And maybe someone can work it out

Maybe post some photos?

Cookiemonster · February 2023

@roberty that 1590a looks good. Nice and neat. Mine is so compact I can’t even see the vero board, once everything is in. I probably should just made a one knob fuzz, with an input cap switch. But really into the nasty spitty fuzz sound at the moment. I actually like this more than the fuzz factory and it can be quite similar on some settings, just not with the squeals of the fuzz factory, which. I never use

Cookiemonster · February 2023

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

Cookiemonster said:

Not even much room for the LED next to the foot switch!

I think it’s just the angle. But it is close. The box was a pre drilled one I picked up on reverb. With all sorts of bits and pieces. Must have been a pedal company that has decided to not trade. I have some lovely looking fuzz face pcbs that came with it. But no instructions and oddly four electrolytic caps that I’m not quite sure I can figure out.

Are those caps bipolar?

They look it yes. Not quite sure and can not find a build guide. In fact if anyone wants one I can post. I have a few. And maybe someone can work it out

Maybe post some photos?

Yes I will tomorrow.

Also came with some transistors, which I assume are for the fuzz face

roberty · February 2023

Cookiemonster said:

@roberty that 1590a looks good. Nice and neat. Mine is so compact I can’t even see the vero board, once everything is in. I probably should just made a one knob fuzz, with an input cap switch. But really into the nasty spitty fuzz sound at the moment. I actually like this more than the fuzz factory and it can be quite similar on some settings, just not with the squeals of the fuzz factory, which. I never use

That's cool. A friend of mine wants me to build her a one knob fuzz so maybe this could be a candidate. What values did you change from the meathead?

Fuzz Factory is a bit much for me as well

Cookiemonster · March 2023

roberty said:

Cookiemonster said:

@roberty that 1590a looks good. Nice and neat. Mine is so compact I can’t even see the vero board, once everything is in. I probably should just made a one knob fuzz, with an input cap switch. But really into the nasty spitty fuzz sound at the moment. I actually like this more than the fuzz factory and it can be quite similar on some settings, just not with the squeals of the fuzz factory, which. I never use

That's cool. A friend of mine wants me to build her a one knob fuzz so maybe this could be a candidate. What values did you change from the meathead?

Fuzz Factory is a bit much for me as well

I went with the dark layout, but then changed the cap to be between the standard version and the dark. Added a bias pot, which is 20k, but I think 10k might have been better. If I was building it again, I probably would have used a trim pot to set to where it gates, but the way this one is set up, it means you can go from a distortion style fuzz with little to no resistance, to a standard meathead, through to a really gated fuzz.

I played around with transistors but except for one combination, which made it into an insane fuzz with some octave up. Most of the combinations sounded similar, so I think I settled on the standard transistors. I did trying a dying battery mod as well, but preferred the bias.

I think a pre gain pot would be good, as the volume on say 8 on the guitar makes it a very different sound, it’s brighter and sounds great. No room on this build, but the meathead deluxe might be a future build. Or perhaps a standard layout into some form of EQ.

I used vinyl for the old movie poster. It did curl up a bit so sprayed some clear coat. I had also added some sparkly paint before I added the graphic.

Cookiemonster · March 2023

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOUJ8HNaJM/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

hopefully I will get better at applying decals.

Cirrus · March 2023

it's not *really* applicable to the thread, but I'm waiting for the bits to arrive to make a couple of clones of old Microphones - Neuman U87i, which are jfet based circuits with a tiny output transformer. I've sourced the PCBs from someone in the US, and will be housing them in a couple of cheap chinese mic bodies I picked up on Reverb.

Am hoping that my experience making pedals will make it not *too* tricky.

roberty · March 2023

@Cookiemonster thanks for the detail great info

I've got a breadboard sat in the drawer unused I should experiment on that

@Cirrus that's awesome I've semi looked into that before. Best of luck!

roberty · March 2023

Redid the graphics on this over the weekend. I think it may be a little too bold now which cheapens the overall look, but it's nice and clear which was my priority. Something to keep in mind for future creations. I used a photo of some actual frog spawn for the background

Keefy · March 2023

roberty said:

Redid the graphics on this over the weekend. I think it may be a little too bold now which cheapens the overall look, but it's nice and clear which was my priority. Something to keep in mind for future creations. I used a photo of some actual frog spawn for the background

Oh come on, that's not very original!

Seriously though, nice work Rob.

roberty · March 2023

Keefy said:

roberty said:

Redid the graphics on this over the weekend. I think it may be a little too bold now which cheapens the overall look, but it's nice and clear which was my priority. Something to keep in mind for future creations. I used a photo of some actual frog spawn for the background

Oh come on, that's not very original!

Lol I just wanted it to look a bit slimy. The sliminess doesn't really come out in black and white but it's nice and randomised

SteveF · March 2023

Finally got around to faultfinding this and getting it sorted. Daft mistake when wiring it up in a hurry the first time and soldered the wrong lug on the power socket.

Anyway no graphics yet as it was a bit of a test but here’s a Klon and a King of Tone (or prince of tone, I guess) in one box with an order switch.

roberty · March 2023

Looks great @SteveF, all the overdrive a sane person could ever need, Bluesbreaker reissue be damned

SteveF · March 2023

Thanks @roberty Im pretty sure I did it with the high gain mod on the KOT side too so it’s got a bit more naughtiness in there.

It was quite a challenge to fit it all on there when I was designing the board. Any more and I might have had to go to SMD for a few components and I haven’t had the courage to try that yet! Future project is a Rat and a Shredmaster dual pedal. Why? Because.

roberty · March 2023

Boxed this Vox Repeater up. Fuzz Dog kit, nice and easy. I think it'll be good for production bits and pieces, will help give parts a unique voice. I've wired it up for battery to make it easier to plonk into a signal chain.

Not my tidiest work but good enough for rock n roll. I've covered it in rude words because I am essentially a child

SteveF · March 2023

Looks great - great graphics as always

roberty · March 2023

Thanks @SteveF. Got a few things to get through first but my goal is to design a PCB this year. I think for my first one I'll do a passive pickup sim since there are very few components. I'd love to eventually be able to design something like yours. I have ideas

SteveF · March 2023

I would recommend the free version of Autodesk Eagle when you do - I have found it (fairly) intuitive to use and I can always help if you get stuck then. There are also libraries easily available online (e.g. Madbeanpedals) for most of the commonly used parts which saves hunting. The free version is easily sufficient as it lets you do 2 layer boards big enough for most pedal enclosures. I can't see me ever needing more than I have out of the free version. You can also download a job file from JLC PCB which tells it exactly what files to export when you are done and their design rules (minimum trace clearances etc).

There's also a decent video series which demos creation of a PCB in Eagle from schematic to production somewhere (again I think it's on mad bean pedals forum somewhere) - which is based around an older version of Eagle but is still really useful.

roberty · April 2023

Finally got around to putting this together. Haven't had a proper play but it did sound good into my audio interface. I'm sure it'll be as good a tone bender style fuzz as any

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Post-Lockdown pedal building

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