Easy, inexpensive project ideas

[jkokura]

Hey there,

I want to make a few pedals to give away as samples of my work. I'd like to build a few pedals to sell in the local guitar shop, maybe online - I understand there's no money in it, I got that from searching, I'm not looking to start a new business or anything, but I want to keep growing in this hobby. Sooner or later I'm going to be happy with my own pedal needs, and there'll be little 'reason' to build UNLESS I'm building custom work for friends and local musicians.

Anyway, I was thinking a little buffered booster, or a simple fuzz would be great. Something that would cost 25 bucks to make (including the painted enclosure, switch and jack) So I can give it out, or sell them without incurring much cost myself. The proceeds (both in local name and in money) would then go into making more/custom pedals people may want me to make.

So the real question is - what are the legalities of taking a simple fuzz or booster circuit and perfboarding them for sale? Obviously I can't rip off names or businesses, but can I take simple circuit from the online schems and layouts and do this kind of thing, or do I really need to do something from scratch myself?

Jacob

[bancika]

many of \"boutique\" ODs are modded or not modded tube screamers, the same goes for fuzzes. As long as you don't use names who cares

[Philippe]

Anyway, I was thinking a little buffered booster, or a simple fuzz would be great. Something that would cost 25 bucks to make (including the painted enclosure, switch and jack) .
So the real question is - what are the legalities of taking a simple fuzz or booster circuit and perfboarding them for sale? Obviously I can't rip off names or businesses, but can I take simple circuit from the online schems and layouts and do this kind of thing, or do I really need to do something from scratch myself?

Effects building like blues licks or any other creative and/or business venture, tends to follow the standard course of events... 1) someone pioneers it (2) then someone else perfects it and finally, (3) someone further down the road takes it to the bank.

As long as the design is readily available to the public domain, isn't proprietary & one avoids certain tradmark or registered name associations (i.e calling something a Klon Deluxe) you're probably OK. Afterall, this is the nature of the DIY community...to explore, create, perfect (if possible) & share the insights (if that is amenable to the designer).

Twenty-five bucks operating/manufacturing cost(s)? *hmmm* How about something like an A/B box with boost (e.g. mini-booster). These passive devices are very handy for quiet tuning, kill switching, easy to build, & practical...plus the boost will protect against 'tone-sucking' if using longer cords.

[jkokura]

Good to know that I'm not going to be getting sued if I do this thanks for the reassurance guys.

Alrighty, so a killswitch/booster? That's an interesting idea. I was thinking more along the lines of building an easy Fuzz pedal, but what if I built a booster with an opamp buffer in it. If I handed it to a local musician and said to them "throw this in front of the rest of your pedal board and see what it does for your tone"... perhaps they'd be impressed. I think they'd be less impressed with YAFF. Afterall, that kind of pedal is what helped me see the value of building my own stuff. A buddy showed me his homemade buffer pedal and I was amazed. No volume boost on that one, just when it was on things sounded clearer, cleaner, as if the guitar just went through the metaphorical 'carwash.' Add a clean volume booster on it and your cooking with fire. Add in a tuner output, perhaps for version two...

Would it be better to build a buffer into the pedal so it's only on while engaged, or would a buffered input that's before the switch for the booster be better?

I'm going to look at some clean boosters and see what it would be like to add in a buffered input or perhaps one that has a good buffered input already, but keep any other ideas coming - I like this community cause it makes me think of things I hadn't thought of.

[punkin]

Effects building like blues licks or any other creative and/or business venture, tends to follow the standard course of events... 1) someone pioneers it (2) then someone else perfects it and finally, (3) someone further down the road takes it to the bank.

As long as the design is readily available to the public domain, isn't proprietary & one avoids certain tradmark or registered name associations (i.e calling something a Klon Deluxe) you're probably OK. Afterall, this is the nature of the DIY community...to explore, create, perfect (if possible) & share the insights (if that is amenable to the designer).

Twenty-five bucks operating/manufacturing cost(s)? *hmmm* How about something like an A/B box with boost (e.g. mini-booster). These passive devices are very handy for quiet tuning, kill switching, easy to build, & practical...plus the boost will protect against 'tone-sucking' if using longer cords.
[/quote]
I would submit that there's one more step in the life cyle...eventually the device falls to the way side and becomes old and tired...forgotten. Then one day someone "reinvents" or resurrects and calls it a reissued relic with old school vibe and mojo and makes more money :-)

[jkokura]

I think I figured one option out. Simple opamp buffer, into a 3PDT switch controling a mosfet boost with one knob. It can be done, including pre-painted 125B, for little over $26 US on one 15x15 perfboard.

Anymore ideas? An easy inexpensive fuzz or OD?

[newfish]

Op-Amp O/D pedal?

Single Op-Amp does all the grunt with very few supporting components.

Previous comments about Tube Screamer clones, but maybe you could tweak yours (switchable clipping configs for example) to make it just different enough to be more desirable.

[Processaurus]

One way to build for free is to build two of something, it only takes about 1.4 times as long, as lots of time is setting up tools, finding/sourcing parts, and figuring stuff out. Sell the extra one to the highest bidder or worthiest friend.

A great side effect is you can try mods on one and compare it instantly with the unmodded version.

[DUY1337GUITAR]

I kinda feel the same way, I love the DIY world so I thought continuing the hobby by continuously building and selling would be neat.  I have a YouTube channel with a regular traffic where I have videos of how I built my guitar and stompboxes.  Some people would ask me to build them Dr. Boogeys.  So far I shipped out one to a buyer and he's really satisfied.  Instead of me wasting money all the time to build again and again, now I can just receive the money from others and build it for them, and the only benefit I would have is the enjoyment of building.

I think building boosts is a great idea because there would a lot of guitarists who could use them.  For fuzz pedals, I think you should try out the Metal Simplex, I still haven't built one yet but lots of people are saying it rocks. 
I also think you should buy enough to build more than a few, it would save you more money on shipping.  I find that I spend a large portion on shipping rather than electronic components, DOH!

[jkokura]

I was thinking I'd buy enough parts to build 8 pedals - 2 different types, 4 each. 200 bucks total parts plus shipping (ish). From there, I have one of each for myself, two of each to loan/give and use to show off what I do, and then 1 of each to sell (75-100 bucks each). I've lost little or no money, have some friends who have some cool pedals to use and talk about me to other musicians, and a couple people with true bypass "bootick" effects from a small local 'company.' If I sell any of the loaner/promo pedals I now have cash to build and sell more. I also have people who may say things like, "can you make me a Tube Screamer in a smaller box?" or "Can you make me a Big Muff without a battery?" and so on. It's very rewarding I think, and it helps me put a little bit more care and effort into my builds. Making something for someone else gives lots of motivation for getting it right and making it look good.

I'll look into that Fuzz, and I'm trying to find an inexpensive opamp OD like the other fellow mentioned. Keep the ideas coming for inexpensive builds that would work as a good promo.

Jacob

[DUY1337GUITAR]

The forum's favorite Valvecaster would also be cool.  Maybe some guitarists may find it neat to have a real tube in a pedal, and it's so easy to build.  I'd say check out sound samples yourself to get the feel of it first though. 

As for opamp overdrives, I can't think of any, bah.... 

I totally agree with you, building for people makes you want to do a good job and the end result is very rewarding, especially when they thank you.