PCB mounted components debate

[joelap]

Would you consider it to be taboo?  If you opened up a "boutique" pedal (or any non-mass produced pedal for that matter) and saw the jacks, pots, and switches were PCB mounted, would that be a "turn off" so to speak?  What about if the components being mounded were switchcraft jacks, and high quality switches?  Reason I am asking is it usually takes me an hour to an hour and a half to wire up a box, between cutting wires, stripping wires, feeding them into the holes, soldering to the board, soldering to the offboard component in question, and then redoing some wires to have a better fit in the enclosure... I have access to a place that will make me PCBs in low quantities, and if I can get them cut to the dimensions of my enclosure, then it would save me a TON of time in the build process.

Do you guys consider it taboo, or of poor quality to mount the components, even if they are high quality components?

[Rafa]

Thats a good idea I thought about sometime ago but the pedal I was building had 6 pots so the PCB was too small
The problem is that we should re-design the PCB as there isnt space for the pots and jacks.
Maybe just wiring is easier.
Cheers
Rafa

[markm]

Are you a Boutique builder 

[Pushtone]

Are you a Boutique builder 

I doubt it. A Boutique builder worth his salt would be all over this already.




What debate? PCB mounted jacks/switches/leds etc saves time in the building process.
But you spend the time upfront, designing the PCB.


I started this thread
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=43322.0
asking what is the most tedious part of building and what do you do to make it easier?

The overwhelming response was the off board wiring phase of building and thats exactly what joelap is inquiring about.
This is by no means a new question. Try the search button. There is lots of info.





But I will help you hit the ground running by turning you on to this
by fellow forumite soggybag, who sadly doesn't post as often as he used to.

A link to soggybag's project layouts using his most excellent PCB
http://webdevils.com/stompbox/static.php?page=layouts

Here is the PCB soggybag hidden in this thread
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47109.0
make sure you scroll down to soggy's post.

He's offering up what you want on a silver tray. 
We miss you soggy 







Right about now the question is asked...
"How do you get the jacks in the holes in the box?"

Answer...
Furrell nut jacks.

[markm]

Are you a Boutique builder 

I doubt it. A Boutique builder worth his salt would be all over this already.

Well, maybe a "cottage boutiquer"? 

[Pushtone]

Are you a Boutique builder 

I doubt it. A Boutique builder worth his salt would be all over this already.

Well, maybe a "cottage boutiquer"? 

Bingo.

I get the urge too. But building anything more than two of one pedal seems like WORK!




On the other hand...
I've though I could recruit the little old ladies who collect bottles in the back lane to build pedals for me.
I could churn out 20 a week with that crew and use all my time to SELL SELL SELL.
It's the start of an empire that could eclipse brands like SONY, PANASONIC, and SAMSUNG.
Champagne lunches and executive dinners will be my lot as I woo retailers across the globe.
It's just so darn easy to make a fortune making stompboxes. How could I not do it?
Within a year I would have a 40 foot booth at NAMM and be rolling in the money!
I'll sign Pat Metheeny and Eric Johnson as endorser's. I'll have R&D sessions with Les and Bradshaw.
In the end I'll sell the brand to an international conglomerate and retire in Fiji.




Do I really have to put a sarcastic smiley face?

[markm]

Do I really have to put a sarcastic smiley face?

No!!
But I'll add one of these 
.....ahhhh hell, here's another!! 

[joelap]

Are you a Boutique builder 

If Boutique counts as building a few pedals for friends!  No way, I dont have the time/knowledge/patience to ever be a "boutique pedal builder", I'm just curious after seeing the insides a pedal that was being charged I'd say just shy of boutique price.  Handbuilt, but had PCB mounted components, even though they were high quality.  Wondering what your thoughts were, if you'd pass them up because they were PCB mounted.  I thought that would be kind of silly, but I'm sure people would see the inside of the pedal and say "PCB mounted=low quality"

Thansk for those links, I remember seeing that page once. 

[markm]

Well,
I'm VERY old school so to me, Jacks and Pots etc. are "off-board" components and should stay that way.
I just don't like the way it looks but, some do and some it doesn't matter at all.
If you're just building for friends and you can get the boards for a song + it makes your life easier, just do it.
Building for friends is like fixing cars for relatives.....

[Pushtone]

"PCB mounted=low quality"

I don't get that when I look at a gut shot with PCB mounted parts.



I'm more along the lines of;

PCB mounted=mass produced (to some degree)
Off-board Pot/jack=hand built/small prototype runs

I think both are viable ways of building diy pedals.
Although chassis mounted jacks/pots are more durable to being stepped on and easier to replace.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The commercial Frostwave pedals all have PCB mounted pots.
1. It's more reliable.
2. Less crosstalk & interference pickup.
3. Better control of stray capacitance.

And the main reason....... my assembler said she'd quit unless the pots went on the board. (true.)

Seriously though, if you open up any $20,000 piece of scientific equipment..... the pots are on the board. (Though, these days, pots are as rare as hen's teeth.)