Made my own pedal...

[craggin]

For kicks, I decided to check out "Build Your Own Clone" and venture into building my own pedal. My first project was to tackle a delay pedal as I've never been happy with any digital delays, and I don't want to lay out the cash for an analog one. The B.Y.O.C. site has great instructions and you can build your own quite easily. I emailed the owner (Keith) a few times asking about different values for different components and decided on what I wanted. Anyway, the pedal is digital, but has that really warm roll off that the old tape echos had...it's also true bypass. I kind of messed up the graphic as it moved slightly...but oh well, it sounds killer. Here she is...the Kopy Kat Echo...

[jimbax]

SHHHHWEEEET! I'll take one!....how much?

[Dirrty Craig]

Thats awesome, I was thinking of doing something like that too. whats that web address again?

[craggin]

Thanks fellas!!!

DirtyCraig, the address is www.buildyourownclone.com

They have a bunch of different pedals...I'm not sure which one I want to build next, the phaser or the chorus.

Jimbax...LOL. The kit cost me $75 plus a few bucks for paint. It took me about 2 hours to put it together as I was constantly interrupted by my 6month old son LOL!! The graphic took me about 30 minutes to come up with on Photoshop, cause I'm an idiot. I bought a few sheets of that ink-jet, water soak decal paper. All you do is print out the graphic (one you're sure of the size) on the paper, then hit it with a coat or two of clear coat or the graphic will smear when you wet it.


I don't run too many effects so I didn't splurge for the delay with the fx loop mod...but that looks really cool. The one thing I'll say is that for the next one, I'm going to buy a magnifying glass...the identifying markers on the components are really tiny. Having a soldering iron with a sharp tip really helps as you want to be as precise as possible. Other than that, it is pretty fool proof. (If I can do it, anyone can.)

My goal is to have a 100% true bypass board, this is probably the most feasible way I can go about it. I really dig the mojo of having a true bypass pedal that I built on my board...and the components are really nice...it would be really expensive to buy a pedal of equal quality.

My buddy built a fuzz clone, painted it with that hammertone paint, and then hit it with a hammer...it looks really vintage and cool. I may do that next.

So fellas...what do you think, should I do the chorus or phaser...I'll let you all decide for me!!!

[DonaldDemon]

That's awesome craggin! I like the look you went for with the knobs and decal. Very boutique looking!

I have been thinking about building pedals and designing them for a while so I can make some side cash and sell them, maube even quit my job and work for myself someday! I have a long way to go and have yet to even begin but I got a real cool book form ebay called "Electronic Projects for Musicians" that has some great stuff in it. I just need to teach myself some electronics theory first!

So I did some trial mods on a DS-1 someone gave me to change the harsh character of the pedal and smooth out the sound but I killed the pedal! It doesn't work at all now! Good thing it was free, I have to try and save it though.

Next project, I was out on disability for a few weeks for a knee injury so I decided to completely mod my old disfunctional Dunlop crybaby GCB-95. I spent about a week sanding it down, painting it, detailing, and clearcoating. I used regular acryllic paints and alot of clearcoat and it looks awesome. I wish I had a camera so I could post a pic but no can do. After that I modded it for true bypass, did some pcb vocal mods, and changed the pot. Well, the bypass works great but when the pedal is engaged... nada! It sounds like the pot never moves out of the bass frequency. I don't know if I am screwing stuff up or if I am getting bad parts though I'm sure its probably me! Oh well, I guess I have a long ways to go!

Maybe I will try a kit first.....

[craggin]

Donalddemon,

The first thing I'd do would be to check all the solder joints (I'm sure you already did that, though). What pot did you change it to? Did you try changing the leads? What value resistor did you use for the vocal mod (or did you install a trim pot)?

Don't get me wrong, I'm no electrical engineer...I couldn't read a schematic if my life depended on it...I just did a ton of research and asked Keith at BYOC about a billion questions. I'm not happy with a few aspects of my wah pedal (I have the Dunlop fasel) and just ordered a few parts to mod it.

[Dirrty Craig]

craggin' are the directions step by step, or do they just give you a schematic? I'm a retard with electronics, but i can read and can use a soldering iron, could I do this?

[Hacksaw]

NICE JOB! came out great!!

+1 vote Phaser! and after that.. if ya get the pedals all lined out, go build a 5 watt Class A amp.. a 12ax7 with a 6v6. very cool. crank it up and get cool driven sounds at lower levels. sometimes reffered as a studio recording amp.

[Hacksaw]

dirrtycraig said:

craggin' are the directions step by step, or do they just give you a schematic? I'm a retard with electronics, but i can read and can use a soldering iron, could I do this?

They have great instructions with part install pictures to help. very classy.

Like they said,, get ya some reading glasses or ?? parts are small! and a 25 to 30 watt soldering iron with a "pencil tip". and you should be good to go!

[craggin]

DirtyCraig...brother, I couldn't read a schematic if my son's life depended on it...I need step by step instructions WITH pictures...lol..B.Y.O.C. does that for you. If you get that pencil tip soldering iron that Hacksaw mentioned...I'd bet you could do it easily. I have an adjustable iron that goes from 15 to 45 watts...I used the 20 watt setting and it worked like a champ. I had one mistake...like a moron, I installed the op amp backwards. To those who know about circuits (Hacksaw is probably crying from laughing so hard by now), removing an 8 pin component from a PCB board is a MAJOR pain in the a$$. I did it, and decided to put an 8 pin socket in first...that way I can swap op amps if need be, and it won't be soldered directly to the board. (Okay Hacksaw...stop laughing now.)

All you need is a steady hand and good lighting. My biggest tip would be to read the instructions on the B.Y.O.C. site for several pedals and get the feel for what goes where. If you can, check out some DIY pedal forums to get a background on what components do what. I found that the stuff sold through B.Y.O.C. is actually pretty sweet stuff...as good or better than you'll find in most boutique pedals.


Hacksaw, if I do the amp route...wanna help a brother out??? Oh, and I ordered the phaser today...I should get it by the end of next week or so.

[Hacksaw]

Craggin, you have done the same thing anyone would do.. put it in backwards.. LOL yes I have dont it... yes I laughed.. brought back that memory of putting something in wrong... its human!! OK.. craggin, and others guys wanting to try this.. get ya a Solder Sucker for 5 or 6 bucks.. ( maybe higher nowsince I havent bought one in a few years. they work great on helping remove those chips and sockets.

I am going to order a phaser too. I think I will get the phaser complete model. something I dont have and would like!

Sure I would be happy to help you on a amp. those little 5 watt ( 3 to 6 depending on output tube) are based of a fender Champ, ( not the princeton as I misposted the model) 5F1 is a kit model number everyone reffers to, from early 60's. its about the same as what Eric clapton used at times. stomp box in front and 12" speaker.. I have heard tones like satch on the internet from them things.

edit:
weberspeakerscom.secure.powweb.com/store/kit_r.htm is a place to get a kit with a few options that is included. and a decent price. ( this one is 1950's base) same deal as the 60's models as well.. there are many kit companies to choose from as you probably already know.
For sound clip. www.victoriaamp.com/model518.htm
a little history will show a lot of musicians to this day still use the champ. amazing for being built in the 50's