Interesting projects to experiment

[Stabby]

I recently started making some simple effects and I'm really enjoying it. I've built a Fuzz Face and what I probably enjoy most is experimenting with different parts, values, adding parts to make an original pedal which is suited to my personal taste.

Now I'm a key player and the Fuzz sounds a bit too harsh on a Rhodes or Hammond. So I guess I'd like to try a soft distortion/overdrive, but I want to build some other effects as well.

Is there any specific project that allows for a lot of freedom in experimenting for a beginner? I don't even need a specific effect, I just enjoy building one and adjusting them to my taste

[deadastronaut]

welcome. stabby...

as a keyboard player i think a phaser, chorus, delay , would be ideal!..the echo base by slacker is a real nice echo with modulation..very nice...i love mine..great bit of kit..

also take a look in the layouts gallery...lots of different fx to choose from there!...happy hunting!. rob.

[phector2004]

If you're into messing around with circuits, you can stock up on sockets so you can easily swap a 0.1u cap with a 0.047u cap or something without having to mangle (& rebuild) the circuit

Good luck, have fun



p.s. got a Leslie cab? You can try your luck with a "Leslie" pedal to simulate the effect!

[.Mike]

So I guess I'd like to try a soft distortion/overdrive, ...

You could probably have some fun with the simple, overdrive-like Distortion+ type circuit, a breadboard, and some AMZ articles on clipping:

AMZ Saturation Control

More Saturation Controls

Warp Controls

Tone Clippers

Mosfets and Zeners

This article describes what does what.

Mike

[smallbearelec]

Have you already learned to breadboard?

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Breadboarding/BreadboardIntro.htm

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/BreadboardICDist/ICDist.htm

Any of the builds suggested are fine to set up solderless so that you can tweak before you commit.

Regards
SD

[imaradiostar]

I think a phaser sounds fabulous on a rhodes or a wurly. Why not build a phase 90?

jamie

[John Lyons]

Have you already learned to breadboard?

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Breadboarding/BreadboardIntro.htm

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/BreadboardICDist/ICDist.htm

Any of the builds suggested are fine to set up solderless so that you can tweak before you commit.

Regards
SD

+1
This is the way to go to try a lot of circuits with almost zero commitment to solder.

[petemoore]

  Consider the headroom and impedance issues.
  And what's available/not available that you think the system will support well from the functions you'd like it to have.
  Still DIY ?
  Ways around headroom issues:
1  Increase supply voltage
2  Attenuate prior to headroom challenged stage, boost after.
  The two pedals would make nice for keyboard floorbox.
  Treadle-gear assemblages are very difficult to DIY.
  And pots wear out, use LDR's instead for Volume or/and Expression with treadle [or other creative assemblage] light/to/LDR control, use the keyboard volume control to get ATW to 0.0 volume, that puts the range in the sweet zone of the floor volume control [ie between low med high spread out more finely across your travel], between these two, maintaining correct but not over-corrected volumes should be possible.
  At least once the LDR's are set up they'll continue so as to not need set up again like pots would.
  Tremolo gets 100% of it's effect [amplitude modulation = auto volume control] to come through a mono amp.
  Some of the modulation effects [leslie/phase etc.] get greatly increased depth and sound more convincing in stereo.
  Reverb/Echo re-feed..additional signal is mixed/added in, keyboards tend to be 'filling' [ability for strong/wide frequency output]...the amp and speaker get plenty of signal complexity to work with from keyboards. Frequency/amplitude and ''re-feed'' considerations are sometimes beneficial.
  Keyboard output waveshapes, impedances and amplitudes may 'play funny' through distortions.
 
   

[Ronsonic]

Now I'm a key player and the Fuzz sounds a bit too harsh on a Rhodes or Hammond. So I guess I'd like to try a soft distortion/overdrive, but I want to build some other effects as well.

In the dirt box department, let me suggest tweaking a Dist + circuit can get you very, very close to the sound of a wounded Leslie power amp. Some people love that sound, others don't.

As others mentioned a lot of effects design will depend on the levels you run at, most keys are significantly hotter than guitar. Not to the point of complete incompatibility but it can be an issue.