First Build - Finished

[ubersam]

I just finished boxing up my first project last night. It is a TS808/9 (with higher gain) with switchable Diodes and Caps options, and an NPN Booster in one box. The booster circuit is placed after the TS and can be used as a standalone booster with the TS on bypass.

The Guts
I added a level control on the booster. The booster adds treble to the signal. At higher gain/tone settings on the TS, the results could be too trebly. So, I added a tone control (treble cut/low pass) to the booster. The pic above is before the addition. Getting all this into the box was perhaps the hardest part of this project.

The finished box, sitting on top of the Road King
I decided to etch the box using the techniques I learned from here. I wasted a whole sheet of PNP before getting an acceptable (to me) transfer. Apparently, as evidenced by the pock marks, the cover was not perfect. I did try to cover up the areas where the PNP did not stick. I guess I missed quite a few  I was initially disappointed but the imperfections seem to work well with the kanji character, giving it an antique look.

[jrc4558]

Holy f^%!$...
Is this your FIRST build?
Boy some people are good...

[Tamir]

Tell me you are kidding.

[davebungo]

 I like the etching, it looks like an old beaten up pro job.

[Mark Hammer]

I could have sworn I saw that when they had footage from the space station. 

Nice job, though.  As a "first build" its excellent.  I'm more impressed with the fact that something that complex, using a combination of perfed and PCB modules was able to function than I am with the finish (which is nice too, but comes in at 2nd lace in my eyes).

I suspect you walk away from this thiking "The etching and planning may be hard, but damn its the cost of all those pots, knobs and toggles that'll break you!"

[343 Salty Beans]

That is one helluva first build. Props to you...

my first build was a Rat for my guitarist (it's a good idea to build something for someone ELSE first, when you're me) that's turning out to be a huge pain in the tookus for him. Oscillates all over the place, even when you're not playing.

But I digress. Point is, good freaking work. 

[ubersam]

Thanks.

Not counting the momentary contact/normally open footswitch and 1/4 jack I boxed up to use for tap-tempo, this is my first DIY FX pedal build. I have modded a couple of JH wahs and a TS9.

Yeah, all the pots and switches cost more than box, pcb and components put together.

I was wondering how I am going to recreate the imperfections of the finish. Then it occured to me, just don't learn how to transfer PNP perfectly