Toasted Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 So, this weekend I'm going to be making two fuzz pedals. One will be for myself and one for my good tone-friend / FX-nutter Jaffrey. I thought you all might like to see how I do it, where I mess up, and where I cover myself in glory. Also, probably where I hideously run over schedule. I've had this circuit on the breadboard a few times over the last little while and I really like it. First up: Here's the parts, which I sourced from no less than 3 countries. I've chosen super-premium components, IMO the best that my money could buy. I'm using: Hammond / Eddystone aluminium cast enclosure 100% full, mechanical, star-ground, true bypass w/ EHX switch I'm making my own PCB's on 2oz Copper board w/ Extra Wide Traces (0.03", 0.05" ground) Metal Film Resistors Wima caps Xicon mojo-components Alpha Pots Neutrik Open-Frame Jacks German made 2.1mm 9V Jack Green superbright LEDs Mil spec solid core, low impedance wire 22 SWG solder. If anyone has any suggestions for how to improve this spec I'd be geniunely interested to hear. Here's the bits: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 What sorta time scale you think your gonna need per pedal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted February 22, 2008 Author Share Posted February 22, 2008 I'm making 2 pedals this weekend if all goes to plan (I hope it does!). I'm interested in seeing how it goes... the circuit really does sound great to my ears and I'm looking for Jaff's input too. The only problems I see is the circuit board etching. It's not something that I have too much experience at, and something I'm looking forawrd to learning about more. My motto always has been: Learn by doing! I generally find that once I've got the circuit and construction nailed by making two prototypes then it takes me about 2 hours to make one pedal (depending on the finish). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Mario_Bass Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 would you be so kind as to make sound samples when you are done? sounds quite expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Circuit board etching is fun I remember doing it...erk, nearly 5 years ago at secondary school. Be careful with the acid btw, it stains like no other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 keep us updated. i really want to try to make my own pedal when finances allow. What finish are you going for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 sounds cool i'm going to try this myself on monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 here's an update: I've been struggling to fit what I want into the small enclosure in the layout I want. I'm going to have to spend significant time today / this weekend redesigning the circuit board, and I'm going to have a go at direct mounting the pots. At the moment it's 1.6" x 1.3"... I'm thinking about putting it on it's side in the enclosure like Zvex / Catalinbread do. The control layout is going to be: Stomp switch for on/off Mini toggle for active/passive basses Volume, Tone, Gate pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 I tried to make a pedal one, but it didn't work, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 u haz spring braek in leedz ? lol. srsly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_citizenbass Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 did it happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 what does the active/passive switch is it the same as one on an amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 I spent all last night re-drawing the PCB to be vertical rather than horizontal, and also direct-mounting the pots to the PCB [i]a la[/i] Zvex / Catalinbread / MI Audio. I'm really happy with how that worked out, infact I like this revised layout significantly better than I like my original layout. The more I draw them the more I find circuit boards are an iterative process, and also that it's really about getting your components lined up in the correct order before drawing traces. I'm obviously not teaching my granny to suck eggs, but evertime I do another PCB I'm more happy with it than the last. This is the first "vertical" board that I've designed - I'm going to rework my other circuits to be like that. The benefit of having the PCB on its side is that it leaves alot more room in the enclosure for the other components. I've also revised my control layout to not need a microswitch to change between active and passive basses. This fuzz will now work with either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOD2 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Although I've not done it for ages, I can remember the satisfaction of deisgning (simple) PCBs and optimising them. Your right about it being an iterative process. It takes a while to get into the right mindset for doing PCBs so your first attempt might not be the best. If you do it again soon after, you're already thinking the right way it and the design benefits from this. I remember designing a whole mixing desk (for myself !) while on a work placement at a big electronics company. I was going to build it mainly from knock-off components lying around but, sadly, it never got past the design stage. Good fun though - especially the thought of getting it all for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimmyC Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Any updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted February 29, 2008 Author Share Posted February 29, 2008 I just drilled the first enclosure, I'm etching the PCBs on Sunday: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 As someone who can just about solder 2 wires together, I have nothing but admiration !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 So how'd the etching go Toast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 2, 2008 Author Share Posted March 2, 2008 I'm afraid I had a bit too much of a party last night and today I have lacked the inclination and this fine motor skills to etch the PCBs. Looks like my project's going back another week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 make any progress on this this weekend Toasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 Not this weekend, but I did do a little project on a DOD250 that I'm going to write up when I get home from work and post here. I think you'll like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 [quote name='Toasted' post='154357' date='Mar 10 2008, 08:52 AM']Not this weekend, but I did do a little project on a DOD250 that I'm going to write up when I get home from work and post here. I think you'll like it [/quote] Whassat then? Modded mine for true bypass with LED, 2.1mm dc plug and changed the first cap for more bass. Sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Well, it's been a month, any progress Toasty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted April 13, 2008 Author Share Posted April 13, 2008 I put that one hold for now. It'll resume really soon. I did build something this weekend, it's a no-knob BYOC ESV Fuzz with some Jack Orman / Beavis Audio mods: Check out the LED function @ [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XiSQoMgBTk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XiSQoMgBTk[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 That is very very cool. No contols on top i like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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