Recommend me a good beginner DIY stompbox

[ParkAvenger]

Hello everyone! I've recently become interested in the DIY scene, and now I'm wondering where to start.

First off, let me say that I'm not going to do the little boost pedal project you guys have here. I'm sure that I can do a little better than that, despite this being my first try. So I'd like for you guys to recommend a good pedal project for me. It must be fairly simple (with good documentation - no parts confusion for me on my first try) and it must be interesting. Example of not interesting: Simple octave up. Strikes me as a waste of a perfectly good metal box. In other words, simple but practical (sound-wise).


To avoid me ending up with a DIY that I already have in a commercial form, here's what I already have in my fledgling effects line:

Morley Classic Wah
Danelectro French Toast - picks up RF if it's not in the middle of a chain, but sounds great.
Arion Tubulator - basically a Tube Screamer, except it's $10-20. Great pedal.

Yeah, that's all. Looking to grab a DOD Envelope Filter soon though, and a Bespeco vol-pedal.

[calculating_infinity]

Hey welcome to the boards.  I must say that the beginner build is the best bet as far as good documentation.  Step by step pictorial is great!  Also Dragonfly has a One knob Fuzz pictorial in his gallery.  A lot of people say the beginner boost is underrated because it is labeled as a "beginner project".  I have yet to build it but it is on my to build very soon list.  Theres tons of simple interesting builds.  Green Ringer is a simple octave up.  There is a recent post labeled "weird pedals" if you search for it, it has recommendations of many "unique" sounding pedals.  Slacker's slacktave looks and sounds promising as well!  Theres a bunch just look around!    Have fun.

[fixr1984]

Mosfet boost. It can be found in the gallery. Great sounding pedal, use mine all the time.

[petemoore]

  +1...I spend a minute thinking how to phrase boost advantages.

[aron]

>I'm sure that I can do a little better than that, despite this being my first try.

You might be correct, but by bypassing a proven design for your first try, you open yourself up to all sorts of potential problems. There's a reason why most of us started out "easy". Unless you have prior experience doing this, then I would suggest something simple like the beginner project or a ready to build board from somewhere like http://generalguitargadgets.com/.

I suggest you read the What to do if it doesn't work thread so you can see what you might be getting into.

What an interesting first post.

[newbie builder]

I'm giving you exactly the response you don't want- build the beginner project. I felt the same way as you do when I began DIY- I came across this forum but held up my nose to thought of doing something for "beginners" (even though I was  one...and in large part still am a beginner). Recently, however, after 17 or so builds, I had some free time and the parts to put together the beginner boost- I love it. It's one of my favorite boosts- just is the right mix of bass/treble/gain etc (for me at least). It is labeled as the beginner project not because it is inferior to other projects (if anything, it seems like Aron would have chosen an exceptionally good project since this is many people's first venture into effects building!) in its sonic capabilities, but because Aron took the time to make a GREAT set of detailed instructions that let un-experienced DIYers (beginners if you will...) build a nice and useful sounding boost. Plus, a boost is something you don't have covered in your current rig (in mine at least I have a few separate od/dist/boosts/fuzzes). I find it funny that you describe the NPN boost perfectly- a very useful and pedal with great documentation (without the need to buy an expensive PCB) and something that (I find at least) to be interesting- yet don't want to build one...then again, as I previously mentioned, I began the same way. Good luck with your DIY ventures, just remember that we all have to be beginners some time....in my case I'll probably always be a "newbie builder," hence the name...but I'm o.k. with that because I've still learned lots from all the amazing people on this board and built some great sounding pedals in the process, and I plan on continuing to do so for a long time to come.

[mattpocket]

I was the same as you when I started... I didnt want to build a boost... for the most part I was told they were pretty useless with solid state amps (which was all I had back then)... I'd had some electronics experience before having completed a year long electronics course at college so I already knew how veroboard worked and how to solder and the basic understanding of electronics theory... I dont know where you stand on that front...

But what I will say is that if a project looks simple, its a lot harder than you think, just because it doesnt have many parts doesnt mean you wont have any problems... believe me!

If I'd had no experience of this, I'd at least build the boost... you dont have to put it in the box if you dont feel happy with it... But you'll learn a lot from that project and all the documentation that might save you from running into problems with the next project you do and having to ask questions that you'd already know the answers to...

However, I didnt build the boost... and I still havent, I am four or five projects down the line but I bet if I built the beginner project I'd learn a lot from it... In fact, I am going to build it for my next project!

Matt

[Processaurus]

Whichever project you settle on, see if you can make friends with a local electronics geek (student, parent's friend, friend's parent, etc.) to show you how to solder, maybe help debug your first project when it doesn't work right off the bat.  Let them know how excited you are about electronics and they'll enjoy helping you out.

For something a beginner could get right, right off the bat, try a true bypass box loop box.  You'd make friends with stompswitches, wiring, jacks, LEDs, and be able to turn all your pedals on or off with one stomp.  It'd work as an A/B switch too.

[shadowmaster]

Whichever project you settle on, see if you can make friends with a local electronics geek (student, parent's friend, friend's parent, etc.) to show you how to solder, maybe help debug your first project when it doesn't work right off the bat.  Let them know how excited you are about electronics and they'll enjoy helping you out.

For something a beginner could get right, right off the bat, try a true bypass box loop box.  You'd make friends with stompswitches, wiring, jacks, LEDs, and be able to turn all your pedals on or off with one stomp.  It'd work as an A/B switch too.

+1

Before I got into guitar FX DIY, I did have a good background in electronics and I do neat soldering. I thought building my own effects would seem to be pretty easy. Boy, I was wrong. The offboard wiring almost made me quit. Nice suggestion Processaurus.

[aron]

>The offboard wiring almost made me quit.

I hate offboard wiring. If I was any good at it, I'd design a PCB with no offboard wiring like some others have done.

[bean]

The Smash Drive would make a great starter project. Low parts, easy build, sounds awesome, and can be easily modified!

[Red2112]

Hi,

I thought as you did at first. I didn't even have access to the forum before I even started my first project (mosfet screamer) and aim a newbie. So what happend? Well my first project didn't work, well almost cuz the volume pot did but not the gain. Now its parked and I will get back to it when I have more experience.

I did allot of reading here before I started the mosfet screamer, so I could say I did try hard, but you now what? Aim doing the beginners boost project now for two reasons, first, a boost is always handy and second, I listen to the pro's! Just my two cents...

Good luck!


Mike

[oldrocker]

Actually now that everyone is talking about that beginners boost I think I'll try building it.  I still only have a SS amp but I have been wanting a boost pedal for quite some time.  As for the new builder, my first build was a buffer or active pickup board for my guitar.  It worked the first time (pretty much a boost) so I got brave and went right into the Big Muff PI.  After having so many problems and errors I realize now what a mistake that was.  I was using it for 3 months thinking is was a weak piece of crap fuzz box.  Then after a few more builds and reading the beginners project and (What to do if it doesn't work).  I found I had that circuit totally hosed the whole time.  I found where I messed up and fixed it and WHAM the BMP rocks like the original I had back in the '70's.  I had a little electronic knowledge when I started and have built over 50 pedals and other devices but I still consider myself a newbie.  
One thing I'd like to mention before you even start.  Build yourself an audio probe and learn how to use it.  It will save your life when debugging a circuit.  And of course get a good digital meter.
P.S. Believe it or not the hardest debugs I ever had was the simplest ones.  The Green Ringer and the MXR Noise Gate.  I almost gave up on both but I triumphed in the end.  Now if I can figure out the feedback circuit I'm trying to add to my Un-Univibed Easyvibe I'll be doing great.  I'm turning into a plain phase shifter. Agh!!  It's driving me crazy.

[newbie builder]

Believe it or not the hardest debugs I ever had was the simplest ones.  The Green Ringer

So I'm not alone! The only time I've really had a tough debug (HOURS and hours...rebuilt the ENTIRE circuit 2 times on perf and 2 times on vero) was with the Green Ringer...turned out I had red a multiplier band wrong on a resistor and that was the problem all along...changed it out and it worked perfectly!

[ParkAvenger]

Wow, looks like I'll be doing the beginner boost then. You all make very good points.

[mueller]

You could always build the BYOC envelope filter kit.  http://www.buildyourownclone.com/envelope.html

It's well documented and comes with everything you need, component-wise.

[QSQCaito]

Well, I'd like to stand up for boosters Don't underestimate them!! I love my stratoblaster.. which (maybe accidentally, not using j201) gives me a veryy nice distorsion I love to play my blues.

More parts doesn't make an effect sound better. It's beginner, as said.. for all the documentation it has, and has an easy debugging.

Well.. as they usually say, don't judge a book by its cover. The same with the beginner project.

Go ahead for it You'll love it and see all the combinations and new options that these lil thing can do.

Enjoy

DAC

[ParkAvenger]

You could always build the BYOC envelope filter kit.  http://www.buildyourownclone.com/envelope.html

It's well documented and comes with everything you need, component-wise.

Interestingly, that's more expensive than the actual DOD Envelope Filter (currently on sale at Musicians Friend for $40. I'm just gonna pick that up, not only is it cheaper, but no debug 

I'm putting together an order on Mouser for the boost project right now. It's wonderfully cheap! Just a couple of questions: should I try to find PCB on Mouser or just go to Radio Shack? And also, what specific type of pot do I need? Mouser has several categories under Potentiometer...

Thanks to all for the advice and help. 

[calculating_infinity]

You could always build the BYOC envelope filter kit.  http://www.buildyourownclone.com/envelope.html

It's well documented and comes with everything you need, component-wise.

Interestingly, that's more expensive than the actual DOD Envelope Filter (currently on sale at Musicians Friend for $40. I'm just gonna pick that up, not only is it cheaper, but no debug 

I'm putting together an order on Mouser for the boost project right now. It's wonderfully cheap! Just a couple of questions: should I try to find PCB on Mouser or just go to Radio Shack? And also, what specific type of pot do I need? Mouser has several categories under Potentiometer...

Thanks to all for the advice and help. 

You can get the perfboard from mouser, digikey, smallbear, ratshack, etc.  Ratshack for "I WANT IT NOW" situations.  Mouser will be overwhelming if you are new to their system.  It's always good to have a hardcopy of their catalog while trying to figure out your order.  You will need to check datasheets quite often as well.  Just read the beginner project and it says it requires a 5k linear pot.  I'm pretty sure its a gain pot.  Can anyone confirm that a reverse 5k Audio be best in this situation?

[mars_bringer_of_war]

Actually now that everyone is talking about that beginners boost I think I'll try building it.  I still only have a SS amp but I have been wanting a boost pedal for quite some time.  

Keep the SS faith, brother.
Not to hijack the thread, but I'm proud to have an all-solid state rig, even some digital gadgetry in there to boot.

Getting back to the topic, and tying it into my solid state militancy, I agree with the booster. The cool thing is that a booster will work with tube or solid state, but may need to be tweaked for one or the other, thus adding to the learning curve.