DIY distortion pedals.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steenamaroo
  • Start date Start date
Yeah man. I have the schematics and was happy to pick up the transistors and transformers, but it turns out I'd need to source loads of other stuff.
All the 1/2watt resistors, pots, heatsinks etc.

It just makes sense to buy the kit, even if just for the PCBs.
I'm not paying for their cab and driver though.

So I think I'll build my own cab (or get a hifi speaker), fit a mains - 9vdc transformer, and make a built in treble booster with gain and a bypass switch.


I've gone back and forth in my head between direct output or built in speaker, or both.
What would you (or jesus, or chuck norris) do?
 
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Personally, I'd just buy the cab and dual-cone speaker from KAT. They've already done the hard yards to get a great sound.

Personalize the build with the built-in treble boost (make it bypassable) and a direct out.

Problem solved. Next?


Edit: these comments come from someone who can solder and work with metal cases, but sucks at wood-work.
 
Alright, I'll go built in speaker with direct out option, but man, they're not getting £90 off an unemployed guy for a chipboard box.
Even if it is genetically identical to Brian May's chipboard box. :p

Perhaps I could pay homage by pulling something out of a skip?
 
Steenamaroo said:
Perhaps I could pay homage by pulling something out of a skip?
Click to expand...

That would be wonderful!

Actually, even if you bought the speaker driver from KAT, you'd probably find something to use for a cabinet at a Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul second-hand store for quid or two.
 
Maybe that's the way to go then. I'll see if I can get reviews or comments about their driver.
Cheers Paul.
 
Haha that's awesome. You should put some cobbler or mashed potatoes in there with the wiring. :D
 
Blow me. :D

I should point out that even the pictured mess was a feat of engineering with a stitched up thumb! :p
 
One for the neatness snobs! :p
It's a little bit better organised.

d.webp
 
I built my little treble booster today.
I'm gona go ahead with the deacy kit at the end of the month and I'll built this treble booster into it.
It's got pots for gain and output volume, so they'll eventually be "preamp gain" and "preamp volume" I guess.
There's a true bypass switch too.

It's in a little cardboard box for safe keeping until I get the other parts on the go.

Still don't have an amp :facepalm:. 15 days waiting = paypal claim.

This booster sounds like ass into a DI straight up, but it's actually pretty cool sounding through an amp sim.
Really it's far too hot to test without a guitar amp, but I guess that's the point.

Anyway....Here it is.

Screen Shot 2019-04-04 at 17.09.54.webp
 
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Good start!

How are you planning to power the whole project ie treble boost + deacy?
 
Treble booster needs +9 and deacy needs -9 so I have a MAX1044 in the post.

I'm gona mount it on the free space in the pictured board.

I was thinking about dismantling a 9v wall wart and mounting the transformer internally.
That way I could just have a mains kettle socket on the back of the cabinet.
Whatcha think?
 
I think that if you're messing around with mains power it opens up a bunch of safety and legal issues that are way beyond the norm for DIY stompbox type stuff. Unless you know for sure that you know how to make it safe and comply with the regulations for such things in your area, it's much better to use a wallwart built by someone who does.
 
Thanks for the advice (sincerely) but it's all good.
I've racked up a good few preamps with mains supplies.

I may be a relative beginner, but I know how/when to be safe.
 
I guess it's just a good idea to have that warning in there. In case somebody stumbles across this thread and thinks "I can do that too!" and then takes their My First Soldering Iron and gets themselves kilt. :)
 
Did you consider simply using a regulated 9V DC wall wart and not worry about mains wiring at all? I guess grounding could be an issue?
 
Steenamaroo said:
Thanks for the advice (sincerely) but it's all good.
I've racked up a good few preamps with mains supplies.

I may be a relative beginner, but I know how/when to be safe.
Click to expand...

Ok, but what you may NOT know is that the the transformers in most wall rats are dire things! They can be both mechanically and electrically noisy. Being encased in plastic solves the "rattles" and keeping them a mtr or so away from high gain cicuits avoids the hum.
If you are going to fit internal mains traffs don't be cheap (WTGR!) use a decently rated toroid.

But I agree totally with the suggestion of an external supply. SMPSU technology is now very mature and reliable if you go for a good quality device (expect to pay about 1$us per watt).
There is also the benefit of an earth free supply which solves many earth loop issues.

Had I the time (and energy!) to get back into building such gubbinsess I would standardize on 12 volt SMPSUs and use DC-DC converters internally for other supply rails......'Bout time "The Industry" did the bloody same!

Dave.
 
PRHunt said:
Did you consider simply using a regulated 9V DC wall wart and not worry about mains wiring at all? I guess grounding could be an issue?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info ecc. I'll either get a decent transformer or just fit socket for 9vdc and keep the mains out of it as Paul suggested.

I just like having IEC on everything cos it's handy. I have a 20way power supply in the studio withe IEC outs.
 
Yes, SMPS seems to be getting better. JLM Audio uses (selected) SMPS in several of their projects. Most of the circuit boards provide a final layer of smoothing with a simple RC filter.
 
Out of interest guys, how bad can a low quality psu be?

I mean, not for serious pro audio applications but for a 1 watt guitar amp? Is it going to make a difference, remembering that the original design runs on batteries alone.

I'm kinda thinking this is a glorified stomp box and they're all run off whatever 9v adapter the guitarist had kicking around.

I'm not challenging anyone; I'm keen to know.

I used JLM psus in the past...Three of them I think. I couldn't be happier with them and their support, but I'm not planning to spend that kind of money on this project.
 
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