Need help choosing a breadboard

[Ben Lyman]

So many out there and I don't know anything about the manufacturers or what is best for just trying out and tuning simple OD/dist/fuzz circuits. I do hope to someday be able to build a compressor and analog delay but that's way in the future. I can't really see myself going beyond those circuits because they are the only effects I have ever liked using... well maybe a wah wah, too.
I also think it would be nice to have some kind of set up with a bunch of different pots lined up for plugging in and out of different parts of the board but I don't know if that exists or just something I'd have to make myself.
Anyway, I want something durable, from a company that is known for decent quality, with as many features as you guys think necessary for my use, but hopefully under $50.
Thanks!

[FUZZZZzzzz]

I've been using simple boards for ten years, but I've always wanted to try something like the beavisboard, a complete set-up for easy breadboarding.

https://fuzzbeardpedals.wordpress.com/non-fuzz-builds/building-a-beavis-board/

Someone on the forum did a thread on something similar as well.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=95970.0

My experience with cheaper breadboards is that the connections get all wobbly and fall out eventually. So, I would not buy the cheapest of the cheapest.

[Ben Lyman]

Thanks FUZZZZzzzz
I already have the cheapest of cheap which is why I need a good one. 
I see some have those little twisty connector doo-dads for hooking up power or something so I think I'd like to get one of those. 
Any suggestions on a good brand name to look into?

[smallbearelec]

Ben--

Build an IdeaBoard:

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/IdeaBoxAndBoard/IdeaBox.htm

Regards
SD

[FUZZZZzzzz]

That looks really nice!

Ben--

Build an IdeaBoard:

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/IdeaBoxAndBoard/IdeaBox.htm

Regards
SD

[smallbearelec]

That looks really nice!

Thanx! Not all of my ins-bear-ations work out, but this one did. The pot brackets sell steadily, so I know that a fair number of people have gone this route.

[Ben Lyman]

That is so cool Steve but I have to admit how intimidated I am by the thought of trying to build it!
I just want to start with a good quality breadboard that I can use for years to come as I add onto it.
My current $3 board is a bit sketchy and unreliable, sorta falling apart 

[PRR]

> admit how intimidated I am by the thought of trying to build it!

That's just some Bear who has done it for years and been frustrated by parts and pots flopping around. Pretty soon you WILL grab a scrap of tin and boff pot-holes, nail protoboard and holy tin to a scrap of wood. Then your power supply gets loose and you need a bigger board. Looking at Steve's present plan may save you some grief even if you don't do the while magilla now.

But what you maybe want FIRST is a GOOD protoboard. Unfortunately the cheap drives-out the good. SmallBear is most likely to USE the stuff he sells, so I'd trust anything in his stock-list.

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/breadboards-and-accessories-1/

> Build an IdeaBoard:

Why is there no link to Store from this product page? Someone could land there and have no idea where to get the goods. This page begs for a second link to the bredbord page I gave above.

[Kipper4]

Just so you know some of use are using taydas 9mm pots for breadboarding.
Just snip off the lugs for fixing to the pcb and the little plastic corner lugs so the pot bottom sits well on the breadboard.
I bought a selection and several common values A100k B100k A50k etc
Dead Astros idea I believe.
before this came up i soldered capacitor legs to trimmer pots.

I also built a small power supply filter circuit with a voltage divider so i have a permanant Vbias hotmelted it to the edge of the breadboard  and wired up all the rails with appropriate coloured wiring. Red +9,  Green Gnd, Orange for Vbias
incorperating a 2.1mm dc jack again hotmelted to the power supply circuit board
(my breadboard is the type with the banana plug terminals)
I also use this single inline sockets sometimes too.
For connecting wires I use Cat5. sometimes they go bad from bending.
Theres also a permanant off board gnd wire for use with my test rig.

Test rig
a 3"x3" piece of bent 2mm thick steel with a dc jack. input and output 1/4" jacks.
slots in the face of the upright for attaching pots (not something ive used yet but its nice to have it. A 3pdt wired like tonepads no5 offboard wiring (circiut input to ground when bypassed)
this steel test rig is screwed to the top of my homemade signal generator.
The signal generator has two switchable circuits RG Keens quick and dirty signal generator and SamHays Mini signal generator too.
its really handy to just plug the sig gen into the test rig so I dont end up fannying around trying to play the guitar strings while biasing transistors with trimmers on the collector etc

[Ben Lyman]

Thanks guys, I think I like this one for $18, though I have seen more expensive ones out there and I really want something with well made sockets, so... I dunno 

[Kipper4]

Sorry about the additional edits.

[Ben Lyman]

No prob Kipper, it's great reading. Thanks!

[smallbearelec]

I have to admit how intimidated I am by the thought of trying to build it!

Ben--

I did not do it as I did to intimidate; it is meant to suggest ideas. If the thought of drilling Lucite scares you, start with a piece of wood as Paul R suggests. If you don't want to screw down the brackets, use epoxy glue. You Can make something that will serve you well. That said, the breadboard shown in your other post is perfectly suitable; both that and the individual strips that I used for the IdeaBoard are by Wisher (Taiwan). The only better-quality items I've seen are U.S.-made by 3M, and those are waaay more $$. I have sold a lot of the Wishboards with no complaints.

[garcho]

I think this company makes great products; they make a great breadboard for sure. And good solder proto boards, especially for transferring from the breadboard to solder. Don't know anything about them personally, though. Of course, buying Small Bear's wares is never a bad idea!

[Ben Lyman]

Steve-
It's all good, I know how you meant it, your one of the nicest & most helpful dudes I've ever met on the web! Your idea board is actually what spawned my current funky testing set up.

garcho-
Thanks, I'm still undecided but in the end I am most likely to add one to my next Small Bear order.

Most people get a good laugh out of my workbench so here's a 30 second vid for y'all, I hope it puts a smile on your face... or at least doesn't make you cringe.