Any tips in Cloning a boutique pedal? (PCB circuitry)

[hopkinWFG]

Dear DIY stompboxers out there,

Hi and i am new here have just found this wonderful site here and i would like to know how does one would do to do a clone out?
i had done the possible tracing of the wires connected outside of the PCBs... but i still have a tough time figuring out on how to deal with the PCB electronic circuit path to indidivual electronic component?

i had known that there are two sides paths on the printed PCB.. much as the PCB is small and many of the components are being squeezed together making harder to see the circuit path hiding below undereath the component.. as i have thought of desoldering each component out to see the PCB printed circuit which is going to be a big risk ... or would i have to take and measure out the contiunity of the path which leads to? or would any one who had experienced out cloning pedals may wanted to share his or her experience?

thank you and hope to hear from you soon. 

[petemoore]

  Might wanna check out a recent RG thread about circuit tracing.
  Something about photo one side then the other, and then he found a program that fliptoreverse and sizes the inverse side to the first side:
  Sounds wierd but reportedly gives what you're wanting, all the connections from the 2-sides-traced PCB  shown-through in 2 dimensions [IIRC}Didn't plan to test it so I just kind of glanced over it, seems like it was within the last few weeks or month that the process was developed, became known, and was posted here, Thanks RG !

[Philippe]

If this is a first-time project/effort, why not simply consider a RTS PCB (if available) of the effect you are attempting to clone?

[culturejam]

Something about photo one side then the other, and then he found a program that fliptoreverse and sizes the inverse side to the first side:

This is what I do. I take a photo of both sides of the board at approximately the same distance. Then I pull them in to photoshop, put both images in a single file on different layers, lower the opacity of the top layer, and then "flip horizontal" the bottom layer. This lines up the traces and allows you to "see through" the PCB.

Alternatively, you can hold the PCB up to a strong light light source and photograph it. That's not as effective as the above method, but it works in a pinch.

[hopkinWFG]

i know it seems too ambitious for me as a beginner to undertake a big task like this thinking of cloning a distortion pedal out.. well just to be straight i am trying to do it with my beloved distortion pedal from tone freak "severe" ... seems small and had opened up to expose the circuit. well it seems easy with few components and a IC chip on it...as i had experience with electronics stuff but i didnt wanna "bull" as i have forgotten most of the electronic components and symbols... i have drawn out a very lame components layout in block diagram and i have yet to know the circuit being connected before i could conclude my final drawing... i was thinking if anyone who had  tried out cloning this particular pedal and would like to share its circuit design?

i'll try to post some pics which i am not familiar with regarding the components..... please bear with me guys thanks  


the problem with me tracing the circuit was if i had to use my DMM to do it is going to consume lots of time and it may not be exact and accurate too than to physically see the printed circuit of both sides of the PCB.... but yet most of the components are covering up the printed circuit and is hard for me to see under light reflecting from the other side of the board.

Does anyone here strongly agree with me to slowly desolder each component carefully and putting it back once my task completed? i may risk to harm the PCB terminals for each mounted component cause each time when i desolder i may have the chance of desoldering the terminal (the copper colored ring which u solder on ) out too from the PCB.

[petemoore]

  Does anyone here strongly agree with me to slowly desolder each component carefully and putting it back once my task completed?
  Suggest:
  Wouldn't make a practice of it.
  Seen 'em broke this way, works now is always worth something more.
  Increased accuracy of clone product might be more accurate when the original is original to tune to.
  Finding the other ways to do it might help the practice, and would be more elegant.
  Perhaps once the jigsaw starts to look a little like a picture, all the values can measured. 

[hopkinWFG]

https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526batch_id%253DaHlUa3NWeWEwVW14dnc9PQ


Hope the image i tied to attached could be read thru or least be documented here as point of sharing...
Have done the surface tracing and hope it is the exact path circuit.. have yet to do trace the back portion.. but so far if any experts here would have any claims or comments on my badly drawn/eleborated "block Diagram" of the Severe distortion pedal by tone freak.. any portion of the circuit which i traced and if you guys have a clue of whats going on kindly comment please