DIY Stompbox Kits?

matta

Hey Guys,

Furthering the discussion about doing a basic electronics and stompbox building workshop I'm hoping to also stock some of the harder to find parts in a kit for local DIY'ers/builders and just wanted to get your thoughts on what you guys would like to see?

I've just ordered a bunch of harder to find NOS Germanium 1N34A and silicon 1N914's, both ideal candidates for clipping stages in most overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedals... which I've found near impossible to get locally and hope to make them available at fair industry pricing (Mantech have 1N914's for sale at R12 each!!!! I'm aiming to get them in at R4-R5 each!)

I'm also thinking of keeping stock of some of the Electro Harmonix enclosures the smaller 125B/1590B/1590BB clones, which will fit most overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedals and simple 2-3 knobs modulators and delays.

My idea is to have offer a basic core kit with 3PDT switch (also provided by EH), DC jack, audio jacks and 9V battery clip and of course the enclosure. I should be able to beat most of the local sources, with better quality parts and pricing. Hoping the basic kit as above won't exceed R250.00 all in.

These are more for the hardcore DIY'er that want to etch their own boards etc.

But what about the rest of you guys? Would you prefer a kit style with EVERYTHING i.e PCB, all parts/documentation etc? And if so, what pedals would you like to build?

I'm planning on having a simple classic Fuzz pedal (with a few modern twists) as standard that will be used at the workshops, but would you also like a Tube Screamer kit? Maybe a Booster or Effect loop? Need to know your thoughts.

Ultimately I'd be supplying you guys with YOUR needs, so while I have my own ideas, it means jack if they won't fulfill your needs?

Right now DIY is the most economical way of being able to get boutique pedal tones without having to spend that kind of money on a pedal and give you joy knowing you built it yourself.

Cheers

Matt

Heath

the basic DIY kit would be great (enclosure , jacks , 9v clip , 3 dpdt switch and jack for power) , would give the person a good starting point , should they have there own stash of componets

Squonk

Good stuff Matt

A basic Kit would be lekker. Tube Screamer sounds good, Fuzz also cool

[deleted]

Im in, sounds good. Im keen on a fuzz pedal

Heath

i would also go with a decent tube screamer , but are there any leads on a simple EQ pedal would love a kit of one of those

matta

Thanks for the feedback guys ?

The Fuzz kit is a definite as it is simple to build and one of the most classic/recognizable sounds in electric guitar history. I'm thinking about the TS, if I'm going to make it kit it is darn well going to be based on the original TS-808 not the poor TS9 copy... using original 4558 IC's etc.

It is a little more complex and expensive due to the chip and a higher parts count, but def. doable.

The other thought was a simple one knob compressor ala the old Armstrong orange squeezer, by FAR the most popular (and in demand) comp, a bit of a one trick pony, but that pony is legendary.

EQ is def. doable as well, just not sure how popular it would be (well I know we have at least one vote, LOL).

Cheers

Matt

Manfred-Klose

What about a pedal running through a pre amp valve?

Would that be difficult to make?

The tubescreamer also seems like a good idea.

FatBoy

Unfortunately I have no experience of any sort of pedal, so I don't know what I want, but I'd like to try all of the popular ones. I like the idea of dirty blues tone, but I have no idea which pedal would be best suited for that.

CDee

@Matta - Have a look at this thread... Some of the stuff you are after is discussed here. http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/pedal-building/

Ray

I would be very interested in getting kits that require minimum knowledge. i.o.w. I'm not the hardcore type. But you k now, I dont have too much knowledge on these things. So would need some guidance re what to go forr as well.

AlanRatcliffe

Complete kits for me with at least a parts layout. At the very least the PCBs.

These are all fairly simple, classics and in the public domain (AFAIK):

Overdrive - Tube Screamer
Phaser - MXR Phase 90 (or Phase 45)
Compressor - Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
Envelope Filter - DOD Envelope Filter 440
Distortion - ProCo Rat
Fuzz - Fuzz Face or Big Muff

For overdrive, you might want to look at either of the two DOD 250 overdrives, which with a few parts swaps can also be a MXR Distortion Plus or a Ross Distortion.

The Tube screamer can be socketed, allowing for a variety of different chips to be used. There are so many common mods for the TS, that it makes it quite a good one for a workshop.

You could also look at some simple switcher pedals - AB, ABY and a loop switch.

I like the idea of dirty blues tone, but I have no idea which pedal would be best suited for that.

Most commonly a Tube Screamer.

Manfred-Klose

The Tube screamer can be socketed, allowing for a variety of different chips to be used. There are so many common mods for the TS, that it makes it quite a good one for a workshop.

This could be a handy pedal for recording, just switch the chip to get a different sound.

Sean

Yebo, I would also be intersted in the Tube Screamer kit, and I really like the socketed idea for different chips ?

nick

having already aquired all the components (albeit the cheapie components) for building a fuzz pedal, Id be fairly keen on this idea

Garth-S

I would be super keen on a fuzz pedal aswell as a booster pedal of some sort. I have absolutely no experience with this sort of stuff but it'll be great to learn.

CDee

I'd definately look at a Tube Screamer and a RAT...

Squonk

@ Matt

So when can we order our Kits, you got me excited ?

hcolyn

I would definitely be interested in kits with everything in it, tube screamer and fuzz ?

inflames

I'm in for a tube screamer and distortion kit

_-L-_

Alcatrax

You could have kits for varying levels of ability - from a Big Muff for the beginners, up to a Neve 88RS analogue mixing console for the more experienced hobbyist.

Seriously though - a range of tube stompboxes would be cool if there was some way you could be relatively sure that the purchaser would not end up as a pile of ash during the testing phase of the product.

"Hmm, I wonder what happens if I touch this......?"

One request. Please make all pot tag connections solder directly to the circuit board to cut out wear and tear on thin connecting wires (which break easily). Also make provision for an external power suply in addition to batteries.

Good luck!

Peter G