Zelix first attempt at pedals

[Zelix]

Being a complete noob to this I’ve been reading tons. I’ve learned a good bit but have a long way to go. Looking for simple projects to get started with. I found this A/B/Y switch that looked ‘doable’

Here’s what I came up with:

 

 

Guts pict.  Looks like octopuses mating on a plate of spaghetti LOL.

My workspace so far. I mainly work on leather in my shop. I’m slowly getting organized.

Thanks for looking.

Z

[Brent]

Dang!  That’s really good for a first attempt.  Waaaaaayy better than my first go LOL.  Honestly just getting it function the first time is a huge accomplishment, but you nailed the looks too.   Well done.  I also really like your workshop, I bet you make some cool stuff in there.

[Steve]

A functioning pedal right out of the gate, that is a great thing! I built my first pedal back in January of 2021 (which BTW did not function right out of the gate) but a little help from a couple of forum members, I had completed my first pedal. And I was addicted!! Three and a half years later I have 83 pedals in my arsenal and getting ready to start number 84. Keep up the good work!!

-=SteveO

[Zelix]

The pedal didn’t work at first. I had a couple wires crossed and burnt out a few LEDs. I just stuck with it until it did work.

I spent a few months just researching before my first attempt. I’ve been reading the links here and checking out all the great build posts. I will soon jump on Southern Fried. It’s rather intimidating. There are a lot of components to mess up. LOL  I will make a few smaller projects first.

I bought a couple of books on pedal building. I’m now trying to make a boost pedal. It’s not working. sigh. I click the button and it allows the sound. I click the button again and nothing. LOL So this is my own private hell I am enduring at the moment. It’s okay. I’m learning so much from trying to get it to work.

 

 

 

[Brent]

Boost pedals are a great first pedal to try and build.

I’ll be honest with you, the fact that you have taken the initiative to use basic tag board and are trying to wire up a circuit shows that you understand electronics far more than most first timers.  In reality the way your’re going about it will teach you the most and make you much better much faster than simply putting together a kit!

Im sure that if you dove in with a premade PCB you would have success!

Also on your build you said you have sound when its bypassed but no sound when your active?  Im not being silly at all, but have you check to make sure your volume/boost potentiometer is not turned all the way down?   I kid you not when I tell you that even to this day, 99%  of pedals I finish I kick on to silence because as habit when I wire pots, I ALWAYS turn them all the way down.  I don’t know why I do this, but I do and it throws be off constantly.

[Zelix]

Brent,

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been researching, reading, and watching all I can about guitar pedals. I’m gaining confidence each time I solder a wire.

I checked the potentiometer first thing. I do the same thing about turning it down all the way. LOL

I’ve got a multi meter and have watched a few videos (so I’m an idiot that dangerous LOL) I’ll tackle it when I get home from work. I’ll exhaust all avenues before I put a thread about it. I find that fixing my own problems make it easier to learn. It also makes is painful so I don’t forget. LOL

 

 

[Playsforfun]

Welcome Zelix, You came to the right place. I’ve been here for 10 years now and it’s been fantastic. A great place to learn. Happiness is a warm soldering iron. Don’t forget to make a nice audio probe and maybe a test rig for your troubleshooting. Troubleshooting can be easy with all the right test toys. I’m glad that I learned vero, but Barry’s boards can’t be beat. And the best build documents going are on his site. Tons to learn, I still can’t figure out half the tone circuits out there. I’m always wishing for variable capacitors to be cheap. Best advice is to check thrice. Happy Building.

 

[Zelix]

I managed to get the boost pedal to work. I went over and tested, prodded, poked, and found out I kept blowing LEDs. I put an extra resistor in and it worked. Gained a lot of experience with this.I really enjoyed the whole veroboard build experience. It makes the lovely PCB here seem doable. I will Challenge the Nostalgi Tone “Singles” 70s British Charlie first. Once I successfully have it working it will be on to the Southern Fried. At the same time I’ll be walking my daughter thru the Zoso build. She’s a big Zep fan. I think she will love it.

I’m ready to tackle Barry’s PCBs now!

Wish me luck.

[mybud]

Luck duly wished. Take it slow, tick off each component on the build list as you go, and enjoy. I’ve also ordered the Southern Fried board and will see how yours develops with great interest.

[Zelix]

Mission Impossible. I’m puttting the boost pedals together using 1590A enclosure. What a pain in the a$$. Why do I hate myself and treat myself to such madness? LOL

Everything was working well until I crammed it into the enclosure. Sigh. LOL

 

 

[mybud]

It took me a fair while to realise there was life beyond 1590Bs and BBs in the shape of 125Bs. Till then, I struggled mightily shoehorning jacks and pots into enclosures that were just too small. Looks like you’ve got this under control, though.

[Zelix]

My biggest problem so far is making wires to long. I’ve been course correcting that. I’m now learning about box capacitors. I have to get some for the boards i bought from here. I see from the builds that everyone is using them mostly on the builds.

 

 

[Barry]

Look for component kits on Amazon, eBay etc with common values. Just make sure they are 5mm lead spread. Don’t buy the green ones. You can buy kits of ceramics as well for the pF values. Same for resistors.

These are all 5mm lead spread.

 

Ceramic pF values:

[Zelix]

thanks for the post, Barry. I have ordered these. (see picture below).  They should arrive soon. I will tackle the single British Charlie. Once I get it up and running I will then work on zoso pedals side by side with my daughter.

 

It’s going to be fun.

 

[Author]

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