Anybody ever try to build stomp boxes?

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64Firebird

64Firebird

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I think I may give it a try. I've been looking around at Schematics on the web for a lot of the classic effect boxes. Looks like it might be fun to try and make a few. Or, I might pull out all my hair.
 
I built a leslie for bass once with a fender 12" in it. I used an old sweing machine motor and the pulleys and belt to drive it. I could only use it once for a about 15 seconds in one song cause I couldnt figure out how to recreate the signal connection for the speaker. I hadn`t seen the inside of a Leslie yet except looking at how the drum was built from the outside. So I just had about 10 ft of wire in it that it would twist and wrap around inside that cab. Id spin it back the other way on the break. Then they came out with a flanger pedal. :)
 
Toki987 said:
I built a leslie for bass once with a fender 12" in it. I used an old sweing machine motor and the pulleys and belt to drive it. I could only use it once for a about 15 seconds in one song cause I couldnt figure out how to recreate the signal connection for the speaker. I hadn`t seen the inside of a Leslie yet except looking at how the drum was built from the outside. So I just had about 10 ft of wire in it that it would twist and wrap around inside that cab. Id spin it back the other way on the break. Then they came out with a flanger pedal. :)
Click to expand...


ROFLMFAO!
 
;) we had 4 4ft black lights laying on the floor in front of us and everybody wore white suits, it looked like
The AL Jolsen Review from Uranus..with green teeth.

Seriously though I`ve never attempted an electronic venture. I was looking at the number of boxes that are availible on a music mag and its astounding, there`s probably a couple hundred on the retail shelves. I wonder how many of them do the same thing though and one can`t tell a sonic difference....
 
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Several years back I bought a book called "Electronic Projects for Musicians" by Craig Anderton. I Set off to make a grip of different boxes. About half of them were functional by the end of it. About half of that half were practical and considered for actual use, and I think one or maybe two of my projects made it to any form of use. I learned alot, I had a gang of fun. But I tell you I spent hundreds of dollars on assorted boxes I tried, capacitors, IC's, resistors and of course all new super solder irons... (I knew any failier was due to my shoddy tools not my ability).
 
There are a bunch of sites for pedal homebrews...

One site where people seem to be able to help is

www.firebottle.com/ampage

I have been thinking about putting together a distortion/driver pedal sometime as well.

I have built a few homebrew tube amps...but no pedals yet.

Good luck!
 
I made a fuzz box a year ago but since it required two 9v batteries and I didn't have any...I still don't know if it works.
 
I used to make my effects about 15-17 years ago, when I was realy poor and could not afford any effects. I have done some fuzz boxes and tone controls. I used that in my band. I made them using available schematics diagrams.

I eventually went to college and got a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. Ironicaly I don't mess with making units now. I just buy them.

You should pursue to make them if you have the interest. they can be real fun. Good luck!
 
wow....i want to make one...i too have no money....where can i find those pretty pictures that show all the parts?

freak
 
Bass,
Let me do some research and get back to you. But you will have to use soldering iron etc. But basically that's all you will need if you buy the parts. Actually you can build a simple fuzz box for under $2.00(yes $2.00). If you add knobs etc...it will still be under $5.00 or $10.00.

Best to start with fuzz boxes and tone controls.
I will get back to you!
 
Thanks amt

I have the iron and solder, i make stained glass lamps and what not, so i have them around my house. wow crazy, if i could make my own box...id be teh h4x0rz....lol sorry if you dont understand that...

freak
 
A lot of you think that I should start with fuzz boxes, but I don't use those much. I was thinking of making a uni vibe or an Octavia. The uni vibe costs about $350.00 new and I just won't spend that much on a stomp box no matter how good it sounds. Here's a link to the info I found. Click Here. It does look pretty complicated though.
 
If you don't have much experience in electronics, you have to start small. It does not matter if you use fuzz boxes or not, that's the only way you can learn.

Start with fuzz boxes and tone controls...then move on to higher level projects.
 
amt7565 said:
If you don't have much experience in electronics, you have to start small. It does not matter if you use fuzz boxes or not, that's the only way you can learn.

Start with fuzz boxes and tone controls...then move on to higher level projects.
Click to expand...

I don't have a lot of experience in electronics, but I do have a lot of experience in solding small parts and I already have a high dollar iron. Maybe you're right though. I'll try the heavy stuff first and if I screw it up I can always go for the easy stuff next time.
 
Hey Firebird, just go for it.

Weather you can afford to buy a store one or not, it's a blast to build and there is a lot of satasfaction when it actually works. My first project was a synthesizer, one module at a time. That was 25 years ago and I still dabble today.

My latest (last week) was to rewire my no name les paul copy. It allowed me to route each pickup out to a different amp through a 1/4" stereo jack. I also put in switches for single coil, and a phasing setup. I even wrote up my own schematic.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bonrox/LPWIRE.JPG

So just go for it and have fun.
 
Well yeah, I've rewired lots of guitars. Done all sorts of screwy things with the pick ups. I've just never done anything with transistors and resisters and capacitors before. Or, not sense high school anyway. Looks like fun though.
 
When I was in high school about 30 years ago, a friend of mine spend a fair amount of time building a "something" box (fuzz maybe?). With much fanfair and anticipation, the entire band gathered together and we plugged it in.... turned on the amp.... I grabbed my guitar.... and all we got was a local radio station....

Oh well... It looked cool!!!
 
I started out with the Craig Anderton book too, and made a couple of pedals from that. I don't use them anymore, but I learned a lot.

A couple years ago I built a very cool fuzz box from a schematic and circuit board layout I found on the net someplace. I still use that box from time to time. If you are into doing it, I would start with a fuzz box because they are pretty simple circuits for a beginner. A Uni-Vibe clone is MUCH more complex.
 
I've been reading thru that uni vibe thing and maybe you guys are right. I'll start with an Octaivia. It looks a lot simpler.
 
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