Newb that would like an opinion

[pbsk8er03]

Ok well i would really like to build my won pedal. I jus think the idea of building ur won is really cool. I would probally first make a copy of some easy pedal. How hard would it be for me to build my own. I have no elctrical knowledgge(my dad has some but very little). So how hard would it be??? Of course i will do some reseach to.

[Peter Snowberg]

Welcome to the forum.

For your first effect, I would advise building a booster from the beginner project forum here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewforum.php?f=6

Aron has done a nice job of supplying pictures, diagrams, sources, step-by-step instructions and lots of help. That will be your best introduction to pedal building and you'll end up with a really useful device too.

Best of luck!
-Peter

[axis]

Hi,
    You can make a first project fairly easy by using a site like General Guitar Gadgets. Pick a simple project without to many parts, order a ready to solder board, and follow the lay-outs JD has on his site for the projects.As you also mentioned do as much research about effects parts and construction to give you an understanding of how the different parts effect the circuit. Most importantly take your time and don't rush things.

[Fret Wire]

In addition to the above good choices, there is Tonepad, who has many begginer projects, and PCB's you can order for them, like GGG does. Also, there is Small Bear Electric, who has beginner's projects, complete kits, and has all the components you need to build them, and everybody else's projects.

http://www.tonepad.com/default.asp

http://www.smallbearelec.com/

[petemoore]

YUPP yUPP..to see you're in here.
 Have a great build.
 Anything I can do, I'll try to be around.
 Greetings  

[jimbob]

My 1st was the dod-250. Gotta start somewhere simpler than the wah- not that the wah is all that hard but..ggg site is a good place to start--or even runoffgroove.com --great ones there to!

[Paul Marossy]

Well, there's always the Fuzz Face... that's pretty simple.
Or something like Joe Davisson's Easy Drive - one transistor and a few other parts.

[Sic]

Joe Davison's Easy Drive... Thats is the way to go imo, if you don't build aron's booster

Joe Davison's site

Easy Drive

Also, read some beginer tutorials online, learn how to read a schematic... even if at first you don't know why its there... just understand what it is and what it does...

good luck bud!

[Phorhas]

I suggest you start with modding.
Get a used pedal like a TS5 or DS-1 or wah, etc... and mod it. it's good way to learn and get your feel with the work.

[javacody]

Ah yes, Phoras gives you good advice. My first was a mod to a TS5. Excellent experience. My next was an Orman mini-booster. Check out the 3 sites above: AMPAGE, GEO, AMZ. They are awesome! Also check out everything on Aron's site.

[TheBigMan]

I started off modding as well (TB'd a wah then modded a TS-5) then built some things like TB boxes, an AB box and a footswitch.

[Paul Marossy]

Oh yes, the AMZ Mini-Booster is another good one. Built that, too. In terms of complexity, it's about the same as building a Fuzz Face.

[smoguzbenjamin]

I'd say modding is harder than building an NPN boost. With modding you kinda have to know what you're doing/changing. I'd say go to the beginner forum and build that. It's what got me started :mrgreen:

[pbsk8er03]

Ok guys i am a pre pre pre newb. :oops:  I have no clue what all those symblos and everything mean on the schematics and i was wondering if sum1 could give me a good site to learn how to read them. Also on Aron's boost pedal it shows how to make the circut board but nothing else. How do u connect the wires and everything??? Also how many knobs does that boost have??? arghhh im so frustrated i dont understand this at all. How would u put the led in??? How do u hook the on off switch up??? im sorry for asking all these questions but i cant find any answers. how do u connect hte wires to all the thing on the circut board???

[Fret Wire]

Does this look like something you could follow? If so, you can buy the entire kit.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Projects/TweakO/TweakO.htm

[Sic]

check out the beginer project aron made in the beginner forum. its a great start... it also gives you some beginner information that i think you would find rather helpful.

[pbsk8er03]

thanx guys. I think im gonna buy the tweak-o kit to try it out as my first pedal. THANX!!!!

[pbsk8er03]

Would it be easier to buy the tweak-o kit or do aron's project??? The only thing i dont get about aron's project is it doesnt show how to wire it.

[Fret Wire]

I never built Aron's project, but many have, and I understand it's a nice booster. And you have the whole forum to help you with the wiring.

I suggested the Tweak-O because it's a paint by numbers type of assembly, easy to build. I figure thats what your looking for, a guided build. I understand it sounds good too. It would cost more, but a successful first build is a nice confidence booster. And you get a lot of satisfaction when it works. If the first one goes pretty trouble free, you'll be itching to make another, or more difficult pedals. Once again you'll have the help of the forum, plus Steve Daniels who will give any help you need. You'll also be buying alot of components from him if you keep building.  

No first build will go perfect btw, no big deal though. There will always be a minor snag or two.

A good tip: when you find a good pedal FAQ (like this site's and GEO), save it in your favorites in a folder marked FAQ's. After a while, you'll have a whole folder of FAQ's so when you run into trouble, you can find them easy. Also, make a folder for specific pedals you like, and save any threads from here, and other sites relevent to the pedal in their respective folders. If you do the Tweak-O, save the PDF file and print it up so you can have it right at your work bench.

[aron]

Would it be easier to buy the tweak-o kit or do aron's project??? The only thing i dont get about aron's project is it doesnt show how to wire it.

It does.

Check out these two pictures from this thread:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/sboxforum/viewtopic.php?t=941



The above picture works in conjunction with this:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/beginner/circswled.jpg

It should be noted that I do not connect the wires directly to the points from the bottom of the board. What I do is locate the next closest hole and place the wires from the TOP of the board and then bend the bare wire to touch the points. Then I solder the wire to the point and to the pad/hole that it enters the bottom of the board from.

In other words, all my wires enter the board from the top, not the bottom.

Of course you need to strip the wire first using your wire stripper, then insert the bare wire into the board from the top.