Total Beginner

[Mordred]

Hello,
When it comes to this stuff, I am a complete beginner. I know that I have alot to learn and have always found the best way to learn is to do.

I want to build myself a Tube Screamer - I haven't decided to go for the TS-9 or the TS-808 yet.

I have found Schematics for the Tube Screamer, but as I'm a beginner, I can't hake heads or tails of it.
What I'm looking for is a list of the parts I need, and if any of you good people out there have built one of these beasts, any pictures (ideally step by step) and the build instructions.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to mess up the first one (or two or 3) that I build, but it's all part of the learning process.  :roll:

Any help/advice that you guys can give a beginner is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Allan

[petemoore]

I perfed mine.
 There is probably a veroboard layout for a TS type build. Check Layouts Gallery^.
 Use a socket for the opamp,...maybe something else liekt the diodes.
 I get resistors in the #'s like 500 or so at a time.
 Caps you want 16v rating or higher, larger V rated caps are larger physically...No Sonic Difference. Follow the Farad [uf] values shown or mod them.

[brett]

Hi.
The tubescreamer is more complex than most distortions.  However, if you are keen, check out the information at //www.tonepad.com.  Another good site is general guitar gadgets.

For most people, a booster is a very useful project (almost indispensible if you've got a valve amp).  The one described here in the forum is excellent, and will build your skills a lot.

have fun with whatever you do.

[Gavin Taylor]

HI,
 You can find all the parts you need at http://www.smallbearelec.com/home.html[urlhttp://www.mouser.com/ As mentioned above I'd say general guitar gadgets would be the place to start if you don't read schematics well.They have layouts  that are very easy to follow.Just remember every answer raises two more questions, so be patient.Good luck with the project

[vanhansen]

You can also start out light and build the Tube Reamer from Runoffgroove (http://www.runoffgroove.com/).  It has the schemtic and a perf board layout picture.  It's a nice sounding overdrive.

[smashinator]

Another alternative, which involved holding off for a week or two (but not too long), is to go to Radio Shack and get their 101 electronics projects kit.   I can't remember the exact name, but it's got a handy breadboard in the middle of it that I still use.

Anyway, the projects teach you what stuff is, how to work with each component, and how to read schematics.  

After a month of playing with that thing, I built a couple of effects on the breadboard, and then dove in and built my first fuzz face which worked the first time I plugged it in.  

I found breadboarding the effects really helped me figure out what stuff does and how it goes together.  All of my projects since have been very successful.

Oh, after buying that kit, don't ever buy anything from Radio Shack again.  

Good luck!

[Mordred]

Thanks for that.

I had a listen to the Tumereamer. I quite liked the sound of that, and the instructions look pretty much idiot proof .... Lets see how much I can %^&* it up  :oops: The only other thing I'd like to see for that would be a spec sheet of the components. I think I'll just print the image and hit my local Maplins.  :roll:

I had a quick scout through http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/ as well. Looks like I have a bit of searching and reading ahead of me.

Would like to have a look in Radio Shack, but it's be a bit of a trek for me being stuck in Scotland   lol
We have simalar shops here, Maplins is probably the closest thing to Radio Shack - http://www.maplin.co.uk/  **if you want to have a look**  

No doubt I'll get stuck and be back looking for help  
Thanks for your help

A

[smashinator]

Would like to have a look in Radio Shack, but it's be a bit of a trek for me being stuck in Scotland   lol
We have simalar shops here, Maplins is probably the closest thing to Radio Shack - http://www.maplin.co.uk/  **if you want to have a look**  

This kit is pretty much what I was talking about.  Having the breadboard built in RULES.  http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=27417&doy=7m6

[Mordred]

Excelent.

I'll see about investing one, if it's as good as you say, then I should be on up and running sooner that I expected.

Now I just have to find a way to justify it to her
:twisted:

Cheers

[smallbearelec]

I will drop you a private e-message with a spreadsheet list of parts for the TS. Even if you don't order from my stock, may help you to find local equivalents at Maplin, etc.

[Mordred]

Hey.

Thanks for the list.
I'm happy to order the parts from yourself, if you can ship to the UK.

A complete kit is really the type of thing I'm looking for.... being a complete novice when it comes to all things DIY in the stompbox realm.

If you can send me a link where I can send the payment, and if you prefer CC payment or would accept Paypal or some other online payment, I'll get it sent off to you.

Thanks for that

[nelson]

I am in Glasgow too and can vouch for Smallbear great service and really cheap given the exchange rate. Other places I order from apart from ratlin include


http://www.rshelectronics.co.uk/

http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/


http://farnell.co.uk/

few other places I cant remember off the top of my head.

I get my stompswitches from Aron's store on this page as they are the cheapest I have found anywhere.  

Good Luck with your first project.

[jmusser]

The thing no one asked is "what DO you know"? Can you read a schematic, can you read component values, can you solder? There is a gob of FAQs on this forum, and GEO, that will be very helpful, no matter what level of beginner you are. Whatever level of beginner you are, you can still build a pedal, it just takes longer. Welcome aboard!

[Mordred]

Thanks for the links Nelson, I'll have a look through them when I get a moment .... Work is totally chaotic at the moment. :shock:

In answer to your questions J
1> Can you read a schematic?
   - No, but I am starting to learn. I just need to work out what all the symbols are.
2> Can you read component values?
   - No
3> Can you solder?
   - Yes. One of the few things I can do.

As I said, I'm a total beginner, and I have always found that I learn better when doing the practical side of the exercise.
I'll have a look at the DIY and GEO faq's.

Hopefully I won't be as busy in work over the next few days and I can get a bit of reading done.


Thanks again
Allan

[jmusser]

Mordred if you look over on the General Guitar Gadgets site under "Cross Reference", and then go to "Schematics", you can go to the bottom of the page, and look at my EZ Build Schematics. I made them up for people trying to learn to read schematics. For example, there is a "Simple Octave Up" circuit there (great circuit btw), and it shows how the actual components are joined together. If you go up the page a little bit, you will see a standard schematic I drew of the SOU. It will show you how the schematic symbols correspond with the physical components. In the "Links" section on Aron's site, you will find tutorials on reading resistor color codes, and capacitor values. The resistor color codes are straight forward, but the capacitors take a lot of getting used to, and there are a lot of different markings. Pretty soon though, you'll get used to thinking that a capacitor with a "104" designation means .1 microfarad (uf).

[fureybass]

I'm a noob also, and I've found the layouts at www.home-wrecker.com (be mindful of the dash) to be very easy. They also do a good job of describing the sound oo the effect and mods you can make to the circuit. Once you look at the layout, especially on perf, you can match it up to the schematic and things start to make a bit more sense.

They have a companion site www.runoffgroove.com

Think smaller for your first project. I started with a bass fuzz, which is a six component fuzz and next I'm going to go through the first project tutorial here to build the booster.