How to build a guitar pedal - DIY Youtube Tutorial Videos

[chromesphere]

Hey dudes, posted this on 'another' forum, thought it might be of interest to you guys.

I have recently taken on the mammoth task of documenting the complete process of building a guitar pedal in a series of videos for beginners / newcomers to the diy stombox world.  There is alot of information, and it starts at the beginning (etch board) and finishes at offboard wiring.  I'm going to make one more video shortly, some general fault diagnosing tips, as well, to finish off the series.  I could have only dreamed to have this information when i first signed up on diystompboxes.  It's impossible to cover EVERYTHING but I'd hoped to cover a big majority of how to get started and what you need to know.  This info might not be of much use to veterans, but still, if your interested to see my take on the process, check it out! 

Your comments / critisim most welcome and thanks for checking it out
Paul

Channel URL: http://www.youtube.com/user/chromespherecom?feature=mhee

Tutorial - How to etch your own PCB (Part 1 - Print, Transfer, Etch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBq1QKY5beQ&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=9&feature=plcp

Tutorial - How to etch your own PCB (part 2 - cleaning, testing, drilling)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcM6Ll7Og30&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=8&feature=plcp

Tutorial - Reading Electronic Component Values (diy guitar pedals)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Bc0aCz9Nk&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=6&feature=plcp

Tutorial - Diy Guitar Pedals - Soldering the Components
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwF1VHjjIXk&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=5&feature=plcp

Tutorial - DIY Guitar Pedals - Wires and Testing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsYdSPbq6VY&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=4&feature=plcp

Tutorial - DIY Guitar Pedals - Drilling The Enclosure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQyU2byLVZA&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=3&feature=plcp

Tutorial - DIY Guitar Pedals - Finishing the enclosure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPd6tVoGkgQ&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=2&feature=plcp

Tutorial - DIY Guitar Pedals - Offboard Wiring & Completing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6fpwU8RY_0&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=1&feature=plcp 

[.Mike]

Man, that's really generous of you to put together and share. I'm sure it will help a lot of people. I hit the youtube "like" button on all of them, if that matters for anything.

I watched the first one all the way through, since I've never used the etchant you use. No fumes? ...and you can dispose of it down the drain? Do you know if it works well on aluminum?

And the two little tips that might help with transfer trouble are to not touch the transfer image after you print it (your fingerprints do stick to the toner if you look closely), and to sand the edges of the board before transferring (rough-cut edges can be slightly higher than the rest of the board, causing an uneven transfer).

Great job!

Mike

[chromesphere]

Hey Mike,
The time / effort involved in these videos is but a drop in the ocean compared to what people have given to me over the years.  I hope it helps the next generation of pedal builders get a head start!  Thanks for the likes!  I appreciate it.

There arent many fumes from ammonium persulphate, maybe very mild ones.  Its easy to work with and  dispose of, but unfortunately you cant use it on aluminium.  it doesnt etch it well enough or at all.  I havent even tried cause i read it doesnt work...maybe it does?

Thanks for the transfer tip.  Never thought about fingerprints actually.  Well have to remember that for next time.
Paul

[deadastronaut]

@paul: good man!...great stuff on there, i'm sure that'll help lots of people ....cool.

[Keeb]

Great effort.
That would have helped me so much when I was starting out!

[chromesphere]

Thanks Rob / Keeb,
I know what you mean Keeb, all those hours researching, trying to work out the process of buildng a pedal.  Thats why i thought having a series of videos that explains the whole thing start to end would be of value to newcomers to the hobby.  I've uploaded the last video of the series 'troubleshooting'.  i have more ideas for diy pedal videos, but thats it for the build your pedal tutorials, thank god lol

Tutorial - DIY Guitar Pedal fault Diagnosing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnD4-_Fhd90&list=UUGhzS1GbX-yxyBrUJtnUMoA&index=1&feature=plcp

[Keeb]

This should make it's way into the wiki or put in some sticky or something! In a day or two, this will be buried...

Just etching boards was a pain. I first bought UV-gear before I read about the print-iron-thing, and even then it took me some time to find a tutorial that explained it well enough for me to make an attempt (UV didn't work out, PnP-blue is hard to come by in Sweden).
I guess some of the difficulties came from phrasing the questions for optimal google results as well. These videos should be made hard to miss!

[DavenPaget]

This should make it's way into the wiki or put in some sticky or something! In a day or two, this will be buried...

Just etching boards was a pain. I first bought UV-gear before I read about the print-iron-thing, and even then it took me some time to find a tutorial that explained it well enough for me to make an attempt (UV didn't work out, PnP-blue is hard to come by in Sweden).
I guess some of the difficulties came from phrasing the questions for optimal google results as well. These videos should be made hard to miss!

Toner transfer is possible without PnP , in fact ... they are mostly good for through hole only , the needed resolution for SMT isn't there .
UV works best for SMT .

[Keeb]

This should make it's way into the wiki or put in some sticky or something! In a day or two, this will be buried...

Just etching boards was a pain. I first bought UV-gear before I read about the print-iron-thing, and even then it took me some time to find a tutorial that explained it well enough for me to make an attempt (UV didn't work out, PnP-blue is hard to come by in Sweden).
I guess some of the difficulties came from phrasing the questions for optimal google results as well. These videos should be made hard to miss!

Toner transfer is possible without PnP , in fact ... they are mostly good for through hole only , the needed resolution for SMT isn't there .
UV works best for SMT .

Yeah, I just had a hard time getting the exposure time right and also found the development difficult. I decided to go that route because I couldn't find PnP-paper... then I found out about magazine paper and never looked back! The UV-box is now in storage (in mint condition!  )

[chromesphere]

I agree with you both.  UV box -> higher res, magazine paper -> easier.  For what i need, the magazine paper method does the job.

I've renamed the tutorial videos so that they are numbered 1 to 9, so they are easier for noobs to follow.  I figure, if your new to diy stompboxes, you wont know what the process is.  The order should be obvious now.

Like you said keeb, asking the right questions was probably the hardest part.  Thinking back  to when i started, the learning curve.  I'd anticipate if a new comer to diy stompboxing watched my 'crash course' in stompboxing, they'd have a damn good start into the hobby. Anyway, doesnt matter if it gets burried.  If they search in youtube they should find it.  Thanks for the vote of confidence again Keeb, its encouraging

Paul

[mwynwood]

Hi Paul, thanks heaps for these man - they are great!

[rousejeremy]

Great idea Paul.

[chromesphere]

Thanks guys!  They seem to be pretty popular so far, so i'd assume they are useful. I'd be interested to hear an expect builders opinion of them, what they would have included / removed etc.  Theres so much information, id had to try and prioritise.
Paul

[jpbass]

its possible tu buy pcb? and whre

[Jdansti]

Here are a few places:

JMK
http://www.jmkpcbs.com/JMK_PCBs/Store.html

GGG
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=6

Guitar PCB
http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/

1776 Effects
http://1776effects.com/store/

[haveyouseenhim]

Let's not forget chromesphere's shop

http://www.diyguitarpedals.com.au/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

[Jdansti]

+1!

[IsaacMoth]

Nicely done Sir!