PCB vs. Perfboard

[Grizz]

Will they both stand the test of time? Would you feel good if you sold a perfboard built Fx to someone?

SCott

[Mark Hammer]

Will they both stand the test of time?

Yes.

Would you feel good if you sold a perfboard built Fx to someone?

SCott

I have and I did.

Thing to keep in mind about perfed pedals is:

a) The overall depth of the board, including the soldered leads on the "copper" side, can be greater and run risk of shorting out against things in smaller (1590B) enclosures.  Be careful with that.

b) Things tend to wiggle more on perfed circuits.  Make a point of stabilizing anything that could conceivably wiggle too much and fracture.  What I have done, for instance, is apply a dab of hot melt glue to the base of any connecting wires coming from the board for strain relief and stabilization.

[theehman]

I've sold several one-off, custom effects on perf and have no problem with doing so as long as I feel the circuit was assembled correctly and solidly.
Some early EH Big Muffs were done on perf as were some early EH Pulse Modulators.  I believe some of the Landgraff stuff was/is done on perf.

[GREEN FUZ]

Plenty of the Boutiquers do. Use perfboard that is. Two that spring to mind off the top of my head are Llandgraff and Zvex (veroboard). To my mind there is nothing wrong with any of the systems (horses for courses). A pedal is as good as it`s built, not what it`s built on. Plus you get that 'reassuringly' handcrafted quality from perf.

[soulsonic]

PERFBOARD 4EVAR!!!!!!!!!!! 

[petemoore]

  I like to buy it in the large size, then cut say 12 or 15 rows across, build something...from the left.
  Then when that's all good maybe put something more to the right or clip off at the end of what I have.
  Can't be beat IME when I want a booster here, a buffer there, another dirt-circuit or whatever else..I've pretty much built everything on perfboard, even some phasers and comb filters.
  Not that I don't love the few PCB's I have...

[jayp5150]

The last couple of builds I've done, I've become addicted to vero. Still working on my layout skills, though.

As far as perf goes, though--like everyone else said--as long as it's built well, you're good. I've built a few pedals for friends on perf, with no issues.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The early Frostwave boxes were done on stripboard. Never had any trouble at all. It's too time consuming for mass production, though.

[oldrocker]

I usually perf everything I build for myself.  The last three or so builds were etched.  I built a Shacktave for someone else recently so I used PCB.  (Photos below)  It came out great and sounded nice to me but it had too much distortion for what he wanted.  I'm still waiting to get the pedal back though.  I think if I build another pedal for someone I'll just perfboard it.  That way I won't waste my etchant.

[bumblebee]

I usually perf everything I build for myself.  The last three or so builds were etched.  I built a Shacktave for someone else recently so I used PCB.  (Photos below)  It came out great and sounded nice to me but it had too much distortion for what he wanted.  I'm still waiting to get the pedal back though.  I think if I build another pedal for someone I'll just perfboard it.  That way I won't waste my etchant.

i hand draw mine too.lol

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Curiously enough, I just had a guy bring around one of the first pedals I sold, a stripboard filter, from 1996.
Was still fine, except for the input jack having come loose.
Apart from severe physical damage, none of those 200 or so units ever developed a fault.

[gutsofgold]

I have a quick perfboard question. I've seen people call board with solder-ringed holes on the bottom perfboard and also call boards with just holes in it (no solder rings) perfboard.

What exactly is perf!?

[Meanderthal]

Perfin's good enough for me. My perf builds have held up well, none have fallen apart due to perf method being 'rickety' or 'weak'. Yes, a PCB is easier, less chance for human error during the build, but provided you solder right it ain't gonna up and fall apart. PCBs look prettier too. But, nothing beats the potential of a hunk o perf. It's like a blank canvas.

Terminology- (as I understand it)

"boards with just holes in it (no solder rings)" -   perfboard.

"board with solder-ringed holes on the bottom" -   pad-per-hole.

Both are commonly referred to as perfboard.