learning

[1878]

Hello Everyone...

By my own admission, I'm not the greatest pedal builder that's ever graced this forum. In fact, I will actually admit to two of my builds on the pictures forum not getting one solitary comment between them. So, I'm looking to learn a little more... But here lies the problem. Can anyone point me in the general direction of some 'Idiots Guide' type material to get me started ?? I'm a build by numbers builder at the moment and it's started to piss me off that I don't know anything. I can read simple schematics, but I soon get lost when it gets past caps, resistors and transistors.

To put it into context, When I first started learning how to play the guitar, the biggest step was learning the Pentatonic scale coupled with what fret on the low E string to start it on for the correct key.

That's how much of a beginner I am.

Cheers.

[deadastronaut]

hi man...another uk builder wahhheyyyy...

i'd start with the 'diy faq's ...that has plenty of info on stuff. from drilling to transistors etc..............

youtube has plenty of 'lectures' in electronics too..very informative..

good luck . rob.

[LucifersTrip]

Hello Everyone...

By my own admission, I'm not the greatest pedal builder that's ever graced this forum. In fact, I will actually admit to two of my builds on the pictures forum not getting one solitary comment between them. So, I'm looking to learn a little more... But here lies the problem. Can anyone point me in the general direction of some 'Idiots Guide' type material to get me started ?? I'm a build by numbers builder at the moment and it's started to piss me off that I don't know anything. I can read simple schematics, but I soon get lost when it gets past caps, resistors and transistors.

Cheers.

You can build all the classic fuzzes with nothing more than caps, resistors and transistors!  Just like with scales, you got the pentatonic down before moving on to the major...I'd get down a bunch of those fuzzes before moving on...

If you want to use an additional component [an op amp], this 3 component circuit is pretty cool:

http://www.taydaelectronics.com/servlet/the-223/LM386-LM386L-Audio-Power/Detail

It doesn't have to be an amp. You can turn it into a pedal by just going to an out jack instead of the speaker [but put an 8 ohm resistor
across that jack to make up for the lack of speaker]

good luck

[Earthscum]

http://sound.westhost.com/

http://www.play-hookey.com/

And especially Dano's site:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/

I've used these three sites more than any other. Dano has awesome graphics, which illustrate his points VERY well. Westhost is just a gigantic conglomeration of info. Play-Hookey is just awesome. They have it set up so you can pretty much go from how a resistor works to full digital logic systems.

As always, don't forget http://www.geofex.com/, and these boards.

[1878]

Thanks for the replies.

The first pedal I ever built was an Uglyface. I'm ashamed to say I still don't really know what makes it work. So, I'm gonna go back to basics & make a couple of boosters and fuzz type things with the express intention of learning what each bit does. I was also thinking of building a couple of fuzzes but socketing the components then swapping them out to see what affect it has.

I'm also gonna have to learn how to read schematics properly !!

Cheers.

[jkokura]

For reading schems, I recommend compiling cheat sheets of symbols. Especially with Transistors, I get confused about which symbol means what. Get yourself a black word processing sheet and start copying and pasting in schematic symbols and making whatever notes you need.

Also, there's lots of information at Geofex as well. R.G's stuff goes over my head half the time, but I really appreciate having him around here, and his website has taught me lots (mostly how little I really 'know')

Jacob

[frank_p]

Buy books and stick to subjets you want to learn.  Instead of choosing to build an effect, select some *subjects* that are used in the circuit of the effect and read textbooks about that.  Underline and take notes in the book or on some paper (notebooks, loose sheets, etc.).  Try to stick to topics that are at the beginning of the book if you feel too lost, and if it's too difficult: get an other textbook.  Use your pen as much as possible before thinking using the computer.  There is no use for a computer for making simple maths or for taking notes about important concepts to learn.

These are two books suggestion: first cover basic principles excluding semiconductors, the second contain semiconductor concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/Introductory-Circuit-Analysis-Robert-Boylestad/dp/013097417X
http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Principles-Albert-Malvino/dp/0028028333/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284928059&sr=1-1

If you want one simpler book that does not go too deep but makes a good overview (perhaps better for you):
http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Fundamentals-Circuits-Devices-Applications/dp/013219709X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284928372&sr=1-1

Of course there are The Art of electronics and Microelectronic Circuits (Sedra Smith), but if you start and your budjet is low, buy them later.

Read, breadboard, take measures, write/solve and talk with your forumites.

While waiting for books:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

[stringsthings]

The first pedal I ever built was an Uglyface. I'm ashamed to say I still don't really know what makes it work

why do you feel ashamed?

[PRR]

> fuzz type things with the express intention of learning what each bit does

First learn what an AMPLIFIER is. I don't mean the whole box; a Fender or a Crate is a lot of simple stages. Learn how ONE amplifier stage (generally, one transistor AND supporting parts) does.

Most fuzzes are ABUSED amplifiers. Get past understanding how amplifiers are "supposed" to work (output looks just like input only bigger) and move on to what happens when the output is TOO BIG.

> ashamed to say I still don't really know

Nobody is BORN knowing this stuff. No shame in that.

Back when calculators were >$100, there was a $50 kit. I built it. It nearly worked right. While I know how to bang two bits and light an LED, the greater complexity of low-cost arithmetic calculations still escapes me. And I'm not ashamed.... I let others figure it out for me.

I don't understand how a cellphone works, except in a 1980s artist-impression kind of way. And while I'm a like-to-know kind of guy, I feel no shame in just using the silly thing without knowing all the technical protocols and propagation factors.

I do know some about amplifiers. And I can't say I deserve any pride for that. If I'd learned financial derivatives and pyramids, I might have more money and fewer too-worn shirts, which might be some kind of pride.

[boog]

being one who hasn't learned as much as they should've by now i would give a massive thumbs up to read as much as possible. especially before building too much. it seems to be incredibly easy to build a kit, copy a layout, or follow a schematic and get caught up in the massive joy that comes with completing a project without understanding why it works thus spending all yr time building and no time learning. tho one can make the argument for learning through experience.

[1878]

The first pedal I ever built was an Uglyface. I'm ashamed to say I still don't really know what makes it work

why do you feel ashamed?

Maybe this comment has been taken a little out of context, but to answer the queston, it's personal thing in as much that I 'can't give anything back' in a manner of speaking. I also think that if I knew more, I could do more, so my motives aren't completely selfless 

[Mark Hammer]

The first pedal I ever built was an Uglyface. I'm ashamed to say I still don't really know what makes it work

why do you feel ashamed?

Maybe this comment has been taken a little out of context, but to answer the queston, it's personal thing in as much that I 'can't give anything back' in a manner of speaking. I also think that if I knew more, I could do more, so my motives aren't completely selfless 

Your parents will likely take care of you and keep an eye out for you for decades after birth.  It will take several decades after that before you can give anything back to them in the way of support, othe than a smile, a fathers/mothers day card sloppily drawn in crayon, a decent report card, the sight of good friends, and staying out of jail.  Don't sweat it.  The old timers here know its a long-term investment on our part, and that eventually it pays off.  Doesn't have to yield 15% ROI in the first year.

[jkokura]

Wow Mark, I really appreciate that. It's great to find people like you around here, and we appreciate the knowledge you share.

Jacob

[alparent]

The old timers here know its a long-term investment on our part, and that eventually it pays off.  Doesn't have to yield 15% ROI in the first year.

Amen to that!

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

To put it into context, When I first started learning how to play the guitar, the biggest step was learning the Pentatonic scale coupled with what fret on the low E string to start it on for the correct key.

That's how much of a beginner I am.

By that logic, I'm still a beginner after 17 years of playing: I've never learnt a single scale