What is a good beginner's project?

Ok, you got your soldering iron and nothing is going to hold you back, but you have no clue where to start or what to build. There were others before you with the same questions... read them first.
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soulsonic
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Post by soulsonic »

A Lovepedal Eternity is very simple. There are several that are very similar. Any of the "Son-of-Screamer" type ones are very easy to do.
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Post by TheBlackCrayon »

soulsonic wrote:A Lovepedal Eternity is very simple. There are several that are very similar. Any of the "Son-of-Screamer" type ones are very easy to do.
Where could I get the parts to get started, and anything else I'll need.
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Post by soulsonic »

http://www.mouser.com
Mouser should have the overwhelming majority of all the parts you'd need.
For nice powdercoated boxes and 3PDT footswitches, I highly recommend http://www.pedalpartsplus.com
Both those places have excellent service and prices.
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Post by earthtonesaudio »

Another good option for just starting out is using a kit like BYOC or Small Bear Electronics sells.
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Jim1
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Post by Jim1 »

I started with the beginner project at diystompboxes. There aren't many components and there are step by step instructions with pictures on how to perfboard it.

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Post by 95strat »

My first build was a BYOC (build your own clone) fuzz. The great thing about kit projects is that all the parts are included and you don't have to mess with ordering individual parts from mouser or digikey, etc., which can be daunting for a beginners who may not know what parts are needed. Of course you may well beyond that.

You could start with the GGG tube screamer build. It has all the latest mods included in the build and the instructions are easy to follow. And they are on sale! $60 ain't bad for a TS9. http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/ind ... &Itemid=45

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Post by rocklander »

my first build was the supreaux from runoffgroove.com.
I found it pretty simple, but the biasing was a challenge to understand. Emailed the guys there and they were very helpful and quick to respond (this was before I knew FSB existed too) and I had it running like a dream in no time.
one thing I found was that 50K trim pots were easier to set the biasing than 100K. I did the lot with blank copper board and an etch pen and it's still in my current live rig.
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Post by JiM »

First build ... :scratch: it was soon after i realized that "schematic" was the right word to enter in Altavista (no Google back then). I remember AMZ, GGG and Geofex already were interesting places. Btw, there was not much else.

My first real build was a RAT for a friend, stripboard in an ugly plastic case, but switchable clipping : Si diodes or asymetric LEDs (one green, one red) 8). Then a MXR MicroAmp for an active volume pedal. It took me ages to draw a compact layout ! Then i settled with a zoom 505 :slap:
The virus came back several years later with some NoS russian tubes ...

So i'd recommand something with one opamp and two diodes, and not much more : either a Son of Screamer or a Dist+/RAT/etc. depending on your preferred style. And stripboard is the simplest way to build things with just basic tools (no chemicals ...).

If you already want to experiment several things, the Beavis Board is cool and you get everything you need to start your own mad-guitar-scientist lab. http://www.beavisaudio.com/bboard/index.htm
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Post by Cow4prez »

a fuzzface is always fun

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Post by treehugger »

I'm also about to embark upon my first build. I really wanna build this one:

http://www.student.ru.nl/r.kerkhof/MPF.jpg

I was wondering if I can order the parts from any electronics shop, or if there are some of the parts I wanna ordr from a certain place or anything? I also have another question... Middle-bottom, and a little to the right of that, there are some numbers - 1-12. What are these supposed to connect to? I don't see any other numbers hanging around.

Yes, I'm not exactly a hardcore electronics guy :)

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Post by rocklander »

treehugger wrote:I'm also about to embark upon my first build. I really wanna build this one:

http://www.student.ru.nl/r.kerkhof/MPF.jpg

I was wondering if I can order the parts from any electronics shop, or if there are some of the parts I wanna ordr from a certain place or anything? I also have another question... Middle-bottom, and a little to the right of that, there are some numbers - 1-12. What are these supposed to connect to? I don't see any other numbers hanging around.

Yes, I'm not exactly a hardcore electronics guy :)
whoa... I'm sure I'd not attempt that as my first.. I've built about a dozen pedals (some of them even work :o :lol: )and I'm not sure I'd be ready for that one yet...
looks to me like they're the pin numbers on the CD4011AE chip you'll need for this build...
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Post by treehugger »

rocklander wrote:
treehugger wrote:I'm also about to embark upon my first build. I really wanna build this one:

http://www.student.ru.nl/r.kerkhof/MPF.jpg

I was wondering if I can order the parts from any electronics shop, or if there are some of the parts I wanna ordr from a certain place or anything? I also have another question... Middle-bottom, and a little to the right of that, there are some numbers - 1-12. What are these supposed to connect to? I don't see any other numbers hanging around.

Yes, I'm not exactly a hardcore electronics guy :)
whoa... I'm sure I'd not attempt that as my first.. I've built about a dozen pedals (some of them even work :o :lol: )and I'm not sure I'd be ready for that one yet...
looks to me like they're the pin numbers on the CD4011AE chip you'll need for this build...
I take it that's a difficult pedal then :mrgreen:

The thing is.. I've been searching for that pedal OR it's schematics for ages, and finally I found the schematics.. Now I simply have to build it :) Is it the layout-part that's difficult?

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Post by JiM »

treehugger wrote:Middle-bottom, and a little to the right of that, there are some numbers - 1-12. What are these supposed to connect to?
I guess it's for a dual, 5-positions rotary switch. Something a bit like that : http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=117

I would also suggest to begin with something more simple, or at least with a layout available. If you're into EQ, why not try this one ? http://www.runoffgroove.com/mreq.html
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Post by treehugger »

JiM wrote:
treehugger wrote:Middle-bottom, and a little to the right of that, there are some numbers - 1-12. What are these supposed to connect to?
I guess it's for a dual, 5-positions rotary switch. Something a bit like that : http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=117

I would also suggest to begin with something more simple, or at least with a layout available. If you're into EQ, why not try this one ? http://www.runoffgroove.com/mreq.html
I know it's a big bite, but it's the most interesting pedal with me, if it has to take an extra effort that's fine with me :)

I think you're very right about that 5-positions switch. I should be able to make a layout though, although it might be nice if someone here would run it over. What is the "10k Height S-Taper" btw?

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Post by treehugger »

It told me I could no longer edit the other post, so I'll have to make a new one.

First off, let me stress that I don't really understand the schematics.

Let me just post a picture of the maestro mpf-1.

Image

The switching part is the part I'm having the most trouble with. Mainly because I don't really understand how the rotary switches work and the schematics of the pedal.

1. If you compare that to the schematics, do you still think it's a normal dual 5-way switch I need? The one you (JiM) linked is 6-way though, right? :oops:
2. I'm looking for something called 2P5T or maybe DP5T if I want a dual 5-position switch right?
3. I've stumbled upon some switches that are called for example 2P2-3T - and they called it adjustable 2 or 3 position. Does this mean you can lock the switch so you cannot turn it into the 3rd position? Or just so the last position connects to the 2nd position or is inactive (I don't see the point in either). I really want it so the switch can only turn into 5 different positions.
4. My question from the other post remains. What is S-taper?

God, all these newbie questions.

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Post by treehugger »

This would be a dual 5-way rotary switch right?

http://www.surplussales.com/Switches/SWRoMisc-1.html - (SWR) 172246-H1 / (SWR) MXA160064.

And I want the 1/4 inch shaft, yes?

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Post by mojah63 »

I started with a Rangemaster.... Actually it was a RangeBlaster from Fuzz Central...
http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/rangemaster.php
Small bear can hook you up with the Germ transistor and a rotary switch to select
input caps is a great mod..

I still use it today...

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SubCaster tube booster (w/ NoS russian tube, PtP)
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Post by JiM »

treehugger wrote:The switching part is the part I'm having the most trouble with. Mainly because I don't really understand how the rotary switches work and the schematics of the pedal.

1. If you compare that to the schematics, do you still think it's a normal dual 5-way switch I need? The one you (JiM) linked is 6-way though, right? :oops:
Some rotary switches (the ones encloded in plastic, not the open-framed) have a small ring to restrict the number of positions. You can then have 5 positions instead of 6.
They look like that : http://www.futurlec.com//Switches/ROTP1P10.shtml (but this one is not good for you : only one pole !)
Oh, and the numbers are written on these switches ! (sometimes the center (common) contact has a letter instead of a number. For example, i have a 3P4T in hand, it has 12 outer lugs (numbered 1-12) and 3 center lugs (labelled A, B, C). On first position, A is connected to 1, B to 5 and C to 9. On second position, A is connected to 2, B to 6 and C to 10. And so on for the last two positions.
4. My question from the other post remains. What is S-taper?
I guess it's a pot which taper has the shape of a "S" :mrgreen:
Seriously, it's a bit like both log and anti-log. http://www.islproducts.com/images/pots/ ... _Taper.jpg A linear will work, it will just be a bit less progressive at the ends of the rotation.
More info here : http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/p ... tscret.htm
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Erren
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Post by Erren »

Hi i wanna make my first diy but there is a little problems about finding the parts easily beacuse of that i want to buy it as a kit.I can buy with paypal from international web sites.Does any one knows somewhere to buy a kit?

oops i forgot say something what i looking for;

I'm looking for a overdrive which gives sounds like Lovepedal Eternity...

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Post by fingerseverling »

can anyone steer me in the right direction to get started with maybe a fuzz box or something simple for a beginner to start out with. Im new to this I could use all the direction I can get.
Thanks A Ton,
John

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