Pedal builders - where do you buy your electronics?

gdculley · September 2023

Hi all,

I've recently started building a few pedals on Vero board and wondered where you guys are buying your electronic components? I've been using CPC but have to say they have really become pretty poor. I received an order this week, completely missing ten line items even though their delivery note implied they were shipped! So I think it's time to look elsewhere...

Cheers,
Graham

springhead · September 2023

Rapid are good. Banzai if it’s something unusual/specific you can’t get elsewhere. I did quite a few orders from Small Bear in NY for really niche items, eg matched ge transistors, Univibe LDR’s.

gdculley · September 2023

Excellent, they look good, I will try rapid next I think. Many thanks!

euan · September 2023

Tayda are good too and offer UV enclosure printing.

gdculley · September 2023

Thanks @euan that looks pretty interesting. Have you used their UV printing services at all? Would be interested to see some examples. Cheers.

equalsql · September 2023

I like Bitsbox. They do some pedal kits as well as components .
https://www.bitsboxuk.com/

Sporky · September 2023

I mostly used Rapid, with some parts from RS. I'm not sure I can remember where I bought footswitches.

Danny1969 · September 2023

Rapid have a whole stompbox section now

https://www.rapidonline.com/audio-components/stomp-boxes

For electronic components I use CPC .. they do mess up occasionally ... especially with small quantity and physically small parts. But if you buy in multiples of at least 10 then it's cheaper and less of an issue.

I also recycle a lot of components like opamps, transistors, resistors and caps from scrap electronics. I built a tube screamer clone once out of nothing more than a broken computer speaker and a phone charger.

For top quality more exotic components keep your eye on Ebay for things like "job lot electronics" ... some people don't really know what they have. I once brought over 2K's worth of new Neutrik connectors for £38

gdculley · September 2023

Thank you all for your suggestions, there are quite a few there I will definitely try!

Yorkie · September 2023

As others have said, Bits Box is great. And FuzzDog has a good selection of the basics, and some components are cheaper and better than those at Bits Box, e.g. foot switches. Both send their stuff by 1st class, so in general you'll be getting your things in less than 24h.

Sporky · September 2023

Banzai used to be brilliant for knobs. I've still got - at a guess - a hundred or so.

SteveF · October 2023

I'd echo the recommendations above - another shout for Tayda for some stuff. I don't tend to use them for ICs and the like but for bulk buying common resistors, pots and switches etc they are pretty good and fairly cheap. Their Hammond style powder coated enclosures are also perfectly good and well priced. I have used their UV printing once and it came out well. The only 'issue' was my own - I had not rounded the corners on my design, so it crept over the edge at the corner.

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/7f407a8758558efef0507d1c9b4a227be605a073e76515a7e4

gdculley · October 2023

That looks really nice! Thanks for sharing. :-)

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Pedal builders - where do you buy your electronics?

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