Breadboard

[petemoore]

Would have been a good investment for an introduction to building.
 Perhaps there are many like me who didn't want to have something sitting around the house [breadboard] for ~60$ that might not get used.
 Had I known then how this E stuff would have such an influence, I would also have known a breadboard would Definitely have been the way to go.
 But i Didnt know and made the transistion tfrom ziptied hanging garden ckts to perfboard with useful sockets, bulding most every type of Fuzz and Booster...boxing some, and others were scavved or 'borrowed from, other yet are perfed and ready with the four connections...alligatorclipping the battery, Gnd, and the in and out wires I just twist on the tips of the plugs.
 I decided to limit it to my choice of two boosters and two fuzzes at a time in the interests of simplicity, reliability and noise...three boosters can be cool, a Dist with a nice gain knob can nicely Double as the Third booster. Anymore than that I've found it gets hard to remem the setteings.
 Phase and modulation/echo can be done on perf but it starts getting tough and rediculous. They do what they do [Fuzzes are highly variable] and I'm discovering that getting and setting them to do the neat tricks is more troublesome [parts, nodes, and tweek wise] less reliable, and very desirable...even moreso after having built #ous FF and Tonebender types [some of the best fuzzes Ive ever heard played] BMP, Dist+ types X6, Rat, Schreddy, TS9, Sonic, SiliFace, Obsidian, shall I go on ... The Rocket FFTFuzz, Bazz, DOD OD250, Mockman etc etc  and just very recently the Mutant Tonebender [indeed and duty].
 An boosters, Ge types, Si types Jfet, mosfet, opAmp [just did an MXR MicroAmp....I like at unity and beyond...
 You, a newb [like I was] wanna get a ckt going...and dunno what it's gonna do...get  a breadboard.    ...That was a period.
 Or get a chunk-O perf, and use sockets for the prime targets: Input caps, transistors and Opamps, even that collector resistor got  a socket [Ge's and mosfet's?] ...I just used a pot [with wires hangin off and stuck in the socket] to find the 'tight' value 1/2v..whatever.., measure and crimp a fixed resistor of 'like'value in thar. Then get a breadboard...
  Just liek with beginning  Music, this electronics thing has me thrilled with info, and filled me with the need of trying to discern between understaning and being baffled.  
 In my Exp., closing in on 'it' is where the revelations are to be had.
                 Thanks for reading, writing, and being you !!!!
                                Oh ... That's Great

[petemoore]

I dont alligator clip battieries. I use clips liek everybody else!!!

[Bluesgeetar]

The reason I haven't bought a Breadboard is cause I can't seem to find anywhere any articles or tutorials on how to use a breadboard and how to use a breadboard to it's fullest potential.  It seems that most articlea around here and other places are written for folks with at least 1 to 2 years of electronic experience.  There is almost nothing for us Newbs.  Need an in depth article on bread boards for newbies like me.

[Andy]

I'm a newbie and I'll admit that a breadboard is another beast in itself but it's pretty straight forward.  You just look at your schematic and connect the dots together.
http://www.iguanalabs.com/breadboard.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=breadboard+how+to

try out these links to give you a boost.  

Don't be discouraged.  Failure is what makes you a success!! :wink:

[gez]

Bluesgeetar.  There are PLENTY of builds out there where you can get stuck in with relatively little experience.  The key is not to set your sights too high.  The first builds I ever did were simple boosters and a breadboard was a MUST!  Unless you experiment with things like changing cap values and those 'dumb' ideas you'll come up with, or just those 'I wonder if' thoughts that cross your mind, you'll never progress beyond the 'painting by numbers' stage.  

You'll learn a LOT quicker with a board, and if you're serious about building effects then it only takes a little reading (boring but essential) to get you started on the way to designing your first simple circuits.

I bought a breadboard on day one and, although daunting, with a little (careful) experimenting I soon got the gist of how they work (don't be put off - you can always ask questions here if you get stuck).

[nightingale]

question~
was it you that gave me the suggested mods to the gus's ritefuzz circuit?, or was it brian wenz? anyway, it makes for a killer octave device!
best,
~ryanS

[gez]

was it you that gave me the suggested mods to the gus's ritefuzz circuit?, or was it brian wenz? anyway, it makes for a killer octave device!

Must have been Brian, not unless my memory is going (what's left of it!).

All the best

[Jered]

I agree with Gez, a breadboard is a must. IMHO your really hindering your ability to learn what components do and don't do, if your not using a breadboard. Soldering parts in and out of circuits takes time and stresses components, sockets are fine but eventually fail in one way or another. Breadboards are as simple as inserting the leads and your done. Most elec. supply stores will have breadboards for our purposes for $10-$20, elec. surplus stores often have them for under $10 Breadboards are worth every penny. I've got five and rarely is one of them empty.
   Jered

[PB Wilson]

Did anyone check out the first Google link in Andy's message? Tortilla-Boards! Economical, edible and may fit into a vintage Fuzz Face or Joe Gagan's NVN frying pan pedals without modification. I wonder if there is a different sound if you use corn vs. wheat? :wink: