Where do I begin?

gear-happy · Post by **gear-happy** » 04 Dec 2010, 22:08

Hey Everyone,
I'm new here. I've been looking around the site and can't find an appropriate place to post this so forgive me if I'm in the wrong area.

I am seriously interested in learning how to build my own stomp boxes from scratch and need some guidance on where to begin. I have limited knowledge on electronics. I bought the book "Electronics projects for musicians" and found myself lost. I can't read a schematic. But with a little direction I am a motivated learner and experimenter.
I have done some basic guitar pick-up installations and re-soldered a few things, added a kill switch to a few passive guitars.
I have trouble with the technical explanations and think I'd do better with learning this stuff from the outside in /step by step and "here is why this works the way it does"...ie Layman's terms.

I am wondering if I should buy a kit, hit the books / web or what. I tried reading "cook your own distortion" @
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/ric ... index.html
Got a little lost about half way thru.

If anyone can point me to the start of the road I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!

Nocentelli · Post by **Nocentelli** » 04 Dec 2010, 23:46

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... S/album21/

IvIark · Post by **IvIark** » 05 Dec 2010, 00:33

Brian Wampler's books are really good for someone starting out, check out:
http://www.indy-guitarist.com/inc/sdetail/100

A great guide on what the components are doing in a simple circuit can be found on the Beavis site here:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/HIW/hiw1.gif

And this should be a good read for you too:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/buildstuff/

gear-happy · Post by **gear-happy** » 07 Dec 2010, 16:24

Hey, Thanks for the replies!
These links where super helpful. I think I am ready to get going.
Any recommendations on a first kit to build?
Am I getting in over my head if I try to build this first:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/reverb.html

Thanks again!