Best bang-for-buck project for a beginner?

[-GFX-]

I'm impatiently waiting for some parts to arrive to build a very basic FX order switcher pedal but I've been reading around and feel a bit like a kid in a sweet shop!
There seem to be so many enticing projects out there.

I've been looking at things like the EQD Arrows and the EHX LPB-1 circuits and how effective they are and yet how (relatively) simple to DIY.

Another, more complex one I saw was the Shin Dumbloid. A bit more involved but a big saving on the original on which the schematics are based.

There seem to be a lot of Fuzz circuits around, and I'm not a massive fan of fuzz as an effect on the whole, but other than fuzz what you recommend?

Thanks.

[Fancy Lime]

DOD 250 overdrive! Very simple, sounds great and can be modded and extended in a myriad ways, which is as educational as it is fun.

Schematic here (with asymmetric clipping mod):
http://beavisaudio.com/schematics/DOD-250-Overdrive-Schematic.htm

Stripboard layout (with original symmetric clipping):
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/11/dod-overdrive-preamp-250.html?m=1

Sounds great with red LEDs instead of silicon diodes as well. The opamp can be almost any single opamp.

There is a layout for dual opamps as well, which should work well with almost any standard dual opamp, like a TL072:
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2013/06/dod-overdrive-preamp-250-reissue.html?m=0

I see you have less than ten posts, so I can still say: welcome to the forum!

Cheers,
Andy

[Steben]

I'm in for a classic treble booster. Simple, modable and it gives a basic lesson in a bjt stage.

[Elijah-Baley]

Bazz Fuss.
Maybe the less parts circuit ever. It's easy to use and maybe nice to play even if you don't like fuzz.
Try to watch some demo or test it on breadboard if you have one (I advise to get one, in case).

[idy]

The arrows looks good. I have never felt the love for LPB; its not completely neutral but doesn't really add character either. Arrows seems to be a bit of a treble booster, (or bass cutter) and that is often helpful.

I love MOSFET boosters, and they often have an actual gain control instead of a volume control. If you don't know, the LPB/Rangemaster/Arrows all boost the signal by a fixed amount (so tend to clip maybe) then let you turn it down at the end. A gain control actually allows you to get a clean sound and then boost.

http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm

[davent]

If you're using  a tube amp, a clean boost such as an amz mosfet booster or zvex SHO.

[-GFX-]

DOD 250 overdrive! Very simple, sounds great and can be modded and extended in a myriad ways, which is as educational as it is fun.

Schematic here (with asymmetric clipping mod):
http://beavisaudio.com/schematics/DOD-250-Overdrive-Schematic.htm

Stripboard layout (with original symmetric clipping):
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/11/dod-overdrive-preamp-250.html?m=1

Sounds great with red LEDs instead of silicon diodes as well. The opamp can be almost any single opamp.

There is a layout for dual opamps as well, which should work well with almost any standard dual opamp, like a TL072:
http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2013/06/dod-overdrive-preamp-250-reissue.html?m=0

I see you have less than ten posts, so I can still say: welcome to the forum!

Cheers,
Andy

Thanks - that looks like a good shout. Straight to the top of the list!

I'm in for a classic treble booster. Simple, modable and it gives a basic lesson in a bjt stage.

Any recommendations?

Bazz Fuss.
Maybe the less parts circuit ever. It's easy to use and maybe nice to play even if you don't like fuzz.
Try to watch some demo or test it on breadboard if you have one (I advise to get one, in case).

I've got a beringher SF300 and I  just don't think I'm a fan of fuzz....

The arrows looks good. I have never felt the love for LPB; its not completely neutral but doesn't really add character either. Arrows seems to be a bit of a treble booster, (or bass cutter) and that is often helpful.

I love MOSFET boosters, and they often have an actual gain control instead of a volume control. If you don't know, the LPB/Rangemaster/Arrows all boost the signal by a fixed amount (so tend to clip maybe) then let you turn it down at the end. A gain control actually allows you to get a clean sound and then boost.

http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm

What fascinates me is that the circuit seems so simple, and the original pedal is pretty expensive. FOr a beginner, it seems as though for not much outlay in parts and time, you can make yourself something identical to a pretty pricey item

If you're using  a tube amp, a clean boost such as an amz mosfet booster or zvex SHO.

I've just got a Fender GT40, no tubes unfortunately.

[Mark Hammer]

For beginners, I always recommend a simple passive dual loop selector.  It's easy to make, no obscure parts to find or measure/adjust, little to burn out or accidentally fry, and will be useful for a very long time, even if your tastes change and you get bored with distortions, or win the lottery and decide that building is cutting into your pedal shopping time.  Also a good introductory exercise in planning out hole location.

[Fancy Lime]

One thing about the SF300 is that it is a clone of the Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, which itself is a modded clone of the old Shin-Ei/Univox Super Fuzz. These are all octave fuzzes with intense tone shaping and VERY different from "simple" fuzzes like the fuzz face or bazz fuss. That we even call both of these categories "fuzz" may not be very useful, given how different they are. All that is a long winded way of saying: if you don't like the SF300, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't like the bazz fuss. It might, or it might not. I'd recommend giving the Bass Fuss a shot, just because it's super simple and fun.

Almost as simple and more in the overdrive category is the Electra:
http://beavisaudio.com/schematics/Electra-Distortion-Schematic.htm

Loads of fun to be had here as well, for example by stacking two of them. And even in it's simplest version, the Electra just sounds great with some setups.

Andy

[Locrian99]

I'd recommend getting a breadboard and try  to build a couple simple effects using it.   Will help get into following a schematic and following the signal path which will be immensely helpful as you go.   Beavis audio has some projects though there's several that didn't get put back in correctly when the page got brought back up.   As you mentioned the ehx lpb-1 is great and easy to breadboard as a first.   Somewhat like mark hammers recommendation you can then build a test box you can hook your breadboard up to, or any circuits you build to test in the future you are going to want one.  And make yourself an audio probe!