New to Forum & Pedals

[Colin_D]

Hello!
This is my first post here and I'm new to stompboxes. I decided to clone a TS808 a couple weeks ago. I have it working on a breadboard right now, with no bypass switch. I have a 3PDT footswitch and was thinking of adding a LED for an indicator. Will that affect the tone of the pedal? I don't know where in the circuit to put it for the best results either. I've built several tube amps, so I do have some experience, although none with IC's or transistors and such. Any advice or help is appreciated.

Thanks!

Colin

[petemoore]

Hello!
This is my first post here and I'm new to stompboxes. I decided to clone a TS808 a couple weeks ago.
  welcome ! TS Fan ?
   I have it working on a breadboard right now, with no bypass switch.
Great way to start off !
  I have a 3PDT footswitch and was thinking of adding a LED for an indicator.
  Weren't we all..
  Will that affect the tone of the pedal?
  Not. If you have it set for a huge current draw it might make pop for on/off, and will drain battery somewhat, circuit can't tell the difference as long as the voltage is ~9v.
I don't know where in the circuit to put it for the best results either.
The LED? Put a little 4k7 or so resistor on an LeD leg, put that on the battery and note which pole the resistor touched for lit LED [if no light, reverse the battery poles]
I've built several tube amps, so I do have some experience, although none with IC's or transistors and such. Any advice or help is appreciated.
  See what...links I believe, and link to '      ' and '     ' from FAQ etc. there are some recognizable  articles / titles to pages that do a great job splainin' OA's.
  There are single opamps, and there are dual opamps [dual has 2 amps], and the pinouts are not the same.

[Radamus]

The 3PDT switch is typically used for LED indicators. You have in and out on the middle pin of each side, connecting to either a bypass to the other side or into the effect. The middle prongs are where the LED goes. Only let the LED connect to ground when the effect is engaged. I know there's a diagram somewhere, if anyone can help me out with that.

[darron]

Wecome!

As mentioned, an LED can add some pop, but usually won't. I have a real tube screamer with true bypass and it's good.

Here's my method for 3PDT wiring: http://www.dazatronyx.com/support/true-bypass-technique.pdf

[petemoore]

  The effect circuit and the LED circuit are separate, the only thing they share is the PS.

[Colin_D]

Thanks for the replies! I had never even plugged into a TS808 before now, but I think this will be the first of many projects to come. I really like the sound of it in front of my 18 watt amp!

One more question... is it common/necessary to use shielded cable to carry the signal in these things? It has introduced a little hum into the mix.

[petemoore]

is it common/necessary to use shielded cable to carry the signal in these things? It has introduced a little hum into the mix.
  no...I've added shielding to noisy boxes and that wasn't it. Neat wiring and no 'sensative' wires [like input] crossing wires that emit 'noise'...not that there really are any, I just make sure the signal wires don't really run parallel with...anything much.
  Even less than neat wiring doesn't seem to make much difference, except in really high gain circuits.

[Jered]

  Welcome. Hum is usually a grounding issue. Check out the beginner tutorials, everything you need for successful builds is there, and its very beginner friendly.