OK. So I've been thinking about building a stompbox recently. (Distortion, fuzz, or overdrive.)

I have no prior experience with doing this sort of thing at all. Don't know how to solder or anything.

So I've got five questions:

1) Which kind of distortion sound is easiest to get a quality sound out of, distortion, fuzz, or overdrive?
2) how easy is it to make your own stompbox if you've got no experience?
3) how good do you need to be with machinery in order to do it?
4) how much does it cost to get all the components together?
5) what kind of stuff do you need to make one?

thanks to anyone who could answer.

There are several really good companies that make great kits. You should start with a kit if you've never done it before.

Many here have rolled their own effects from kits and from scratch.

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/index1.html

Here's one but there another I can't find the link to right now.

Paging Ben Adrian.

it's not rocket science, really. might wanna get your soldering abilities up to snuff.

i believe ovipositor has some insight into this as well.

SecondEdition wrote:OK. So I've been thinking about building a stompbox recently. (Distortion, fuzz, or overdrive.)

I have no prior experience with doing this sort of thing at all. Don't know how to solder or anything.

So I've got five questions:

1) Which kind of distortion sound is easiest to get a quality sound out of, distortion, fuzz, or overdrive?
2) how easy is it to make your own stompbox if you've got no experience?
3) how good do you need to be with machinery in order to do it?
4) how much does it cost to get all the components together?
5) what kind of stuff do you need to make one?

thanks to anyone who could answer.

2ndEd, I think I had found your answer a few days ago, actually. Hope this helps.

1) Thi fuzz circuit is simple, 2 transistors, 3 resistors, 2 caps, 2 pots and you're done.
2) You could find problems: reading schematics, selecting the right components, installing components.
3) All you need is being able to do the soldering thing
4) Sometimes more than the original pedal
5) The soldering iron, the iron, the board to install the components, wire, a simple multimeter....

Kerbalised

I made a Fuzzface - The FAIZFACE. It's super fuzzy... Actually it died recently - I think, probably because of my crap soldering. I need to find some time to fix it.

I had no experience. It was really fun to do. I'm thinking of doing another one - obviously I need to work on my soldering first.

Which kind of distortion sound is easiest to get a quality sound out of, distortion, fuzz, or overdrive?
I made a Fuzz stomp box – probably not the simplest pedal to make. But if you go with a kit the instructions are good. BYOC has a good forum and their tech support is meant to be quite good. I didn’t have to use them.

how easy is it to make your own stompbox if you've got no experience?
I had no experience. All up it took me a day to get the guts figured out, soldered, constructed. I took my time and tried to be as methodical as possible. People with experience could probably do the same work in an hour.

how good do you need to be with machinery in order to do it?
I am crap with machinery. Mine has recently broken of course – I think this is more to do with a couple of crap solder points than anything terminal though. As long as you can follow instructions in a kit downloaded from the internet anyone should be able to do it.

how much does it cost to get all the components together?
I just bought a kit. I’m pretty sure you could get the stuff cheaper by sourcing the parts your self. But if it’s your first go I would just buy a kit.

what kind of stuff do you need to make one?
Soldering iron. Solder. Wire cutters. Little pair of electrical pliers. A friend lent me his tester thing to make sure the circuit was working at each step. And a block of wood to stop you from burning your desk with the soldering iron. Oh, a couple of beers to drink in celebration once you plug it in and it works.

B_M_L wrote:
what kind of stuff do you need to make one?
Soldering iron. Solder. Wire cutters. Little pair of electrical pliers. A friend lent me his tester thing to make sure the circuit was working at each step. And a block of wood to stop you from burning your desk with the soldering iron. Oh, a couple of beers to drink in celebration once you plug it in and it works.

Quick question: What type of solder did you use? Are there different types?

well - see that's actually a a proper tech question... I don't think I can answer that.

I went to the shop and said - I need some solder, this is what I'm doing blah blah. And the guy put the appropriate solder in my hand.

Sorry.


If it's any help. I can recommend Budvar as your drink on completion of the project. I am quite well qualified to answer that.

B_M_L wrote::oops:

well - see that's actually a a proper tech question... I don't think I can answer that.

I went to the shop and said - I need some solder, this is what I'm doing blah blah. And the guy put the appropriate solder in my hand.

Sorry.


If it's any help. I can recommend Budvar as your drink on completion of the project. I am quite well qualified to answer that.

I'll take that tip, then!