First attempt at building.

[Bipolar Joe]

I'm new to electronics, and I've read as many books on the subject as I can get my hands on, but I can't grasp certain aspects, mainly the schematic. No matter how much I read on it, I can't understand them. I figured that the best way to learn would be to build a pedal based off a schematic. If any one could offer any help or tips at all, I'd be very much grateful. Thanks .

The pedal I'm wanting to build is this one :



So it's known, I'm not asking for a step by step tutorial on how to build this pedal or any thing, I just need help to understand how to read schematics. Thanks again.

[fixr1984]

Are you looking at making your own layout for a board? Are you looking at making this on strip or perf?
You could just use the board layout that GGG gives you with the project. If you are looking at making
your own layout you could compare the layout that GGG gives you to the schematic and see how things
are connected and get a better feel for the way things go.

P.S.  for others that will reply the circuit is the Sonic Distortion at GGG.

[smallbearelec]

This is Waaay too complicated for a first build! Too many stages, too many parts, and you get lost in the sauce. You should find a well-documented ONE-stage boost. The Tweak-O in my projects section will do, or Aron's basic boost is also good. Get the physical parts in your hands, and study the relationship between the connections to the component, the schematic symbols, and the physical connections that the layout drawings show. Others here can help you as you come up with specific questions. The schem should then start making some more sense.

Regards
Steve Daniels
smallbearelec.com

[Bipolar Joe]

Sorry, but what's GGG? I looked, and the only one I could find was Golden Gate Graphics.

I'm looking to make this on perf, preferably, as I'm told that it's cheaper.
Thanks for the quick replies.

[smallbearelec]

GeneralGuitargadgets.com is an excellent resource. If you try this project on perfboard (which I do sell), I can practically guarantee that it won't work. There are just too many connections in it to get wrong for a first build. If you really want to build it for project #1, pay J D Sleep for a ready-to-solder PC Board; you will exponentially increase your chances of getting a working pedal. That said, you Should at some point learn to hand wire on perfboard, as that will force you to learn the relationships I spoke about earlier. But I recommend that that build be a single, simple stage. You might also consider building on a solderless breadboard before committing to hard solder. That is a superb way to get the relationship between physical connections and the logical relationships that a schematic shows. I am out of stock of solderless breadboards right now, but Radio Shack sells a pretty decent one.

[fixr1984]

Sorry GGG is General Guitar Gadgets
Thats where I found the schematic you have shown. I would have to agree with Steve on this one
you should find an easier project for your first build. The beginer project is highly recomened and well as
being a good sounding pedal. Here

[smnm]

You might also want to try this photo tutorial on building a simple fuzz on strip-board (aka vero-board or just vero) - the paint by numbers approach.
http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album21

You don't need to understand the schematic 100% to build this way, but as soon as you make a mistake (and you will) it helps to have the schematic.
Also comparing the layout to the schematic (at http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/schematics/oneknobfuzz.gif) is helpful

Aaron sells stripboard and some other pedal building stuff in the store http://www.diystompboxes.com/cart/ - (btw perfboard is different to stripboard - I see it's on backorder from Small Bear at the mo - you could order direct from Steve)