I've done a number of rudimentary electronic work on my previous builds. I now want to take an upcoming build to the next level, and I need some advice, as I may be flying a bit too close to the sun.
Basically, I've found a number of resources online for building your own effects pedal circuits -- distortion, flange, etc. I really want to build a Fuzz pedal most of all. But it got me thinking: is there someway I could design a guitar build with a basic pedal circuit built-in? And then, as if that wasn't daunting enough, what about a couple of circuits?
Any thoughts?
Tags:
I don't see why not. I've put in a home-built preamp, and I don't see there being that much difference. Couple of things I hit that you need to think about, though. You want to be careful where and how you mount the battery. You don't want to have it start buzzing and you need access to it. Also, you probably want some kind of switch to turn the effect on and off.
-Frank
You bet, Frank, those two have been on my mind; most of the diagrams I've seen include switches instead of push-buttons. They also include LED indicator lights, which would be helpful.
The biggest question on my mind is figuring out how to connect the pedal circuit into the pickup wiring...
Hi Scotty,
An easy way is to use double pole double throw switches DP/DT with on/on - either a toggle type like this one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Toggle-Switch-DPDT-on-on-/140367178963?p...
or as a push pull pot so the switch remains hidden until you pull the volume or tone knob up
http://www.axesrus.com/axeElectronicsPots.htm
you then can wire it like this
if the effect runs off a 9v battery the cheapest I have found for a battery box you can fit to the box is from a US seller
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUNLOP-BATTERY-DOOR-CRY-BABY-VOLUME-WAHS-ECB2...
For the switches if you do an ebay search you will find the best price for the USA (search "DP DT on/on switch" - I have tried a few different sellers in the uk and all seem to be of a similar quality so now tend to go for the cheapest.)
David
My pleasure Scotty,
If you want to add a LED it is really easy - again I do not know of a USA supplier but I list this for reference
http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/optos.html
You just wire the LED between the 9v supply to the effect circuit and the earth like this
You need to add the resistor or the LED will burn out and different size and colours may need a different resistor value that you can work out from here
http://led.linear1.org/1led.wiz and the specs given from the LED data - the last time I did one the lowest value I had was 1000 (instead of 390) and it works just fine. To mount the LED you can get clever little mounts as shown on the link or I found they fit well in a humbucker surround where the height adjustment screws would normally go.
Regards,
David
So let's say I'm installing this on-board. Instead of wiring the pickup circuit to an output jack, does that just get wired to where the input jack would go on the fuzz circuit? And if so, would the pickup circuit work at all if the 9v battery goes dead?
You need some sort of switch so you can have the pickup circuit go to either the fuzz effect (and then the jack socket output) or to bypass the fuzz and go direct to the output socket as per normal. If you don't you will always have the fuzz effect on. Also unless you have the bypass option when the 9v battery dies you lose the output - with bypass you will still have the normal pickup sounds to play with.
The Double pole double throw type switch as shown above will do this (and also sort out the on/off for the power supply).
What fuzz circuit are you thinking of Scotty?
It's better to 'true bypass' the fuzz circuit, for that alone you need a double pole double throw (dpdt or 2pdt), if you also want to switch the power with the same switch you need a 3pdt.
A Fuzz Face circuit is one of the simplest, but probably has so much gain and low end it will feedback like hell. Maybe a one transistor Bazz Fuzz is a better option or an Electra distortion/Trotsky drive/Lovepedal COT or COT50 (they are more or less the same). Come to think of it: a Fuzzrite is also a good option, because it has very little bass.
I was going to start with FBW's simple build, then maybe go to their Mosrite clone:
http://www.fuzzboxworld.bigcartel.com/product/beginner-fuzz-pedal-b...
David Lloyd said:
What fuzz circuit are you thinking of Scotty?
The last thing I wired up was a delay effect off this guy http://shop.ebay.co.uk/diyeffector/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562 - you get the PCB and instructions then buy the components yourself - he has a couple of PCBs for a fuzz pedal (I haven't tried one but the delay pcb was good). At the end of the day I am sure I could have picked up a second hand pedal off ebay for less money - still not as much fun :O)
If you want a ready made multiple effects small sized unit check out the Korg Pandora PX3 - I bought one off ebay for £32 last year and they come up for sale on ebay quite frequently http://cgi.ebay.com/BLUE-KORG-TONE-WORKS-PANDORA-PX3-MULTI-EFFECT-P... (they are excellent and cheap as they are now on the version 5) and they are small enough to fit inside a box if you wanted
Dimensions(W x D x H): 4.7” x 3.0” x 1.1” (119.5 mm x 75.7 mm x 26.9 mm)
that was my original plan but like it too much to use it in only one guitar. There is no way you could build anything this good for the price.
David
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