Anybody ever get TIRED of building effects and just want to play....?

[Bucksears]

Thanks for all of the replies, everyone.
I'm not OBSESSED with my tone. I mean, if worse came to worst, I could pick up a new DS-1, do the T-1 LED mod to it and be a bit content for a while. That and a modded GV-2 Guv'nor Plus (which I still really like) was all I used for a while. Then I start thinking, 'Well, for $39 I could buy two cases and a bunch of parts for a couple of better circuits that I might like more than a DS-1 again.'
I guess it's the idea of having/building unique effects (the downside of which is that it eats up my time) vs. buying commercial effects (which is more convenient, but you're buying something that a lot of people have).
DIY effects, in a lot of cases (no pun intended), sound better than a lot of stuff on the market which is why I build them. But the ME-50 is attractive due to the number of programs I can store (as opposed to adjusting my DOD Delay constantly); that and the uni-vibe and rotary are worth the cost alone to me. The Boss DD-20 would be on the floor in front of my amp right now if it weren't for the fact that there are only 4 user programs(??) available.

I think that it's perfectly fine to be picky about your tone; it's yours and it's how you are expressing yourself. That's like telling another painter what colors NOT to paint with and to just paint something. But on the flip side, when it is getting in the way of the creativity it hinders you. It's a catch-22.
It's just a phase I'm going through and I just wanted to know how many others feel (or have felt) this way.
- Buck

[R.G.]

It is absolutely true that every moment you spend building effects is not spent playing guitar. And moments spent doing either one are not spent on other things.

This is going to sound really silly because it's such a cliche, but you have to please yourself.

I found out early that I'll never be a world-class guitarist. I play to make myself happy when it pleases me. I also found out that I could do the math, see the circuits and enclosures in my head and build the stuff. I periodically argue with myself over the wisdom of the choices, but that start fed me and my family for my working adult life.

Cliche time again - it's a journey, not a destination. I know people who were very driven, worked with notable purpose at obtaining their destination, and made it. The universal question they all had when they got there was "OK. Now what?"

If you don't feel like making effects, go play guitar. Or read a book. Or hike. Or import metalworking machinery from China. Or ...write... a book. It goes on and on.

The nice thing is, we have choices.

[troubledtom]

i play w/ a band. when we reherse i play guitar 8 -10 hr's a wk. when we don't it's 3-4 hr's a week.
   the only reason i build devices is to get strange/freaked out sounds. i play acid rock,metal,bastardjazz,noisepunk.
put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!!!!!!
                    yahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, even after 9 hand surgeries , i rock and make devices for people all over the world
             peace,
                - tom

[Gilles C]

Oh, Buck, after reading that last post, it reminded me that I  just forgot to add that also bought a few Boss and Beringer boxes, just to please myself. So in my opinion, you are not the only one that had this kind of feeling in his life...

Gilles

[jmasciswannabe]

I can definitly relate to this. I am 26 and recently married. Started saving for a house looking at kids in a year or so.....just don't have the time to do a live band the RIGHT way. So I have decided to take up home recording. I would say I have spent the last month obsessing over what kind of computer to build and what accessories and programs I need to make my dream studio recording. This came after obsessing over building every effect I wanted but couldn't afford.  (Currently working on one heck of a ross phaser.) Anyway, the whole time I think I have lost sight of the goal. Becoming a better guitar player and a better musician/artist. I work at a guitar store and one of the guys I work with brought this book to work. The link below is the web sight based around it.

http://www.maui.net/~zen_gtr/index.html

It has really changed the way that I approach playing the guitar. Lots of interesting insights...I definitly suggest it if you feel like you are in a rut or have deviated from the path you wish you were on!

[Gilles C]

Don't have anything to add to the thread... but had to thank you for the link to the Zen Guitar.

It makes me want to have fun again with the guitar...

Gilles

[Xlrator]

Hell no! I am at heart a poor and lazy guitarist, and it's much easier to impress my friends with a homebrew pedal than any amount of practice will achieve. 

Same here! I havent really practiced in a while and it seems I only do it now when I finish a box. And it's the same 20 riffs or so. But WOW, I got a whole board of effects !

[RDV]

It's best not to dwell on such things.
Just do what comes natural.

Let it grow, let it grow,
let it blossom, let it flow...

RDV

[nightingale]

Hello,
I have been building for 3yr. I just have to accept that pedal building comes in cycles for me.
I play in a band, so I get lots of playing time by default.

There was a time when DIY pedals would urge me to play more.
I would stay down in my basemant "tone-tasting" fuzz circuits for hours on end.

For the last 8 months or so my pedal board has been slimmed down to an fuzzface->tuner->crybaby-> amp with tons of reverb!

It seems like building pedals has helped me to understand the inner workings of a pedal enough to get my whole tone pallette from one simple FF type circuit with the use of the guitars volume.

On the other hand,
I have to admit that I like having a whole storage box of completed pedals to take with me to the studio.
You never know when you are going to need a little "green ringer" on a track...lol!

It all goes in cycles for me.. pedal DIY, amp building, studio DIY.
I enjoy it..

I could have never done any DIY without this forum..

cosmic regards,
ryanS

[RaceDriver205]

I think a lot of people apply too much weight to the equipment they use, and not enough weight to how they use it. One of me mates for example has a habit of buying and selling his guitar equipment like he's swapping cards, but the thing is - he cant play for nuts. Theres only one way to become a good guitarist and thats to sit down and practice stuff.
I dont really have a favourite 'tone', i think of each pedal in terms of its characteristics (has high gain required for clear tapping, palm mutes well etc). Although some do sound bad (tonepads Boss DS-1 clone, thats just horrid).
I found it good just to sit down and practice major scales up and down, and to get good at making stuff up on the spot. I remember getting bored a while ago with paying the same old simple stuff, but finding the tabs to good music you like and practicing playing it really helps progress your skills.
lol, and i dont get tired of building effects, i just get tired of them not working first time.

[burnt fingers]

I think balance is key to anything. I started building because I wanted to make somethin. Sure I could drop $50 to $00 and buy it but that's not the point.  building is just another outlet as is playing.  I got more into building about six monts ago when I had to bail out on my band.  They wanted fri and sat gigs every weekend and work and family just wouldn't allow that.  It all works in cycles i think.  My wife makes quilts and for six months now she hasn't started a single thing.  but the two  years prior she was cranking them out left and right. I started this because it was another outlet.  When it ceases to be rewarding I suppose I will let it be for a while.  I crunch nunmbers for a living so when I have the opportunity to make something cool, I am thrilled.  I say, hang up the soldering Iron for a while and play some rock and roll.  You'll be back.  They always come back.

Scott