Homemade stomp box

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Urza9814

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Hey, I'm attempting to build a stomp box for my guitar, based on an internet schmatic, but I am getting quite confused. First, there are four triangles pointing down that lead nowhere, but have wires going to them with resistors and batteries and stuff on them. Do they all connect to the output? That's what I am currently trying. Also, how do I actually attach it to the guitar? I have cut and stripped a 3' patch cable, but it is 2 wires, and the stomp box has one input, one output...so which wires bypass is? I am currently trying white on the cable from the guitar to input, black from output to the amp. Right now, I can get the guitar to go through, but the effect does not work.

Here is the schematic I am using:
http://www.christianmusicweb.com/schematics/eh_boosters.jpg (screaming bird/tree)
 
Those arrows point to hell...which is where you are going if you dont repent and stop playing Satans music...or they could be chasis ground...its difficult to say. :)
 
They can't be ground...you can't ground the negative end of a battery...or it's pointless...as are the resistors and stuff...right?
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Those arrows point to hell...which is where you are going if you dont repent and stop playing Satans music...or they could be chasis ground...its difficult to say. :)
Click to expand...

He's basically right, they are "signal" ground. All those points should be connected together (and may also be connected to the chassis).

As for bypass, there is none in the schematics you have. They are just a single in/out circuit - as basic as you're going to get. Cable from your guitar to the input jack, cable from the output jack to the amp.

I do have a question, though - if you didn't know what the ground indication was on the schematic, how did you determine what pins the emitter, collector and base were on the transistors ? Maybe there are more issues than just not connecting the grounds ...

Oh, and at least one side of a battery must be referenced to signal ground - all depends whether you want a positive or negative source for your circuit.
This circuit uses a positive supply voltage, so the negative lead is referenced to ground. Difference of potential for current flow and all that ...

Mike
 
Aight...thanks...here's my question though...you say there is no bypass...but the guitar cord has 2 wires, this has 1. Do I just connect them together?
 
In the guitar cord, both wires are required for signal flow. I'm not sure what you mean by "...but the guitar cord has 2 wires, this has 1."

One wire is connected to the tip of the connector (or plug), and may be known as the "hot", while the other is connected to the ring (or the shaft/barrel) of the plug (and is the ground or return connection).

Now, I can't tell you what the white and black wires in your cable are connected to without looking at the connector, sorry. You can make an assumption, or you can open the jack and look (if it is a screw off type).

Ultimately, you need two cables (each consisting of two wires) - one in from your guitar to the stomp box and one out of the stomp box to the amp. Of those cables, one wire connects to the input (or output), and the other connects to signal ground (all those triangles in your schematic).

Just FYI, a bypass circuit will involve the installation of a switch that allows you to control the direction of current flow - either through or around the circuitry. It can be simple, but there is currently none in your schematic.

Hope that clarifies ... I can always take some pictures - or can you take some of your example ?

M
 
by 'the guitar cord has 2 wires' I mean there's a wire, then white insulation, then more wire, then black insulation. I tried connecting one to signal ground, one to the input/outputs, but then I don't get any sound. The only way I'm getting anything to go through to the amp is by bypassing one, but the effect still doesn't work. Is there a tutorial for this somewhere I could look at???
 
OK, I did that screwdriver thing...and now I am totally confused. Every connection caused a buzz, except the one side of the capacitor at the input (the side connecting to the input wire)...so I disconnected that side, and then when I touched it, it buzzed...connect it again, and it doesn't...
I also tried shifting the pot...I didn't know you could do that before...lol...I'm new to everything here except resistors...but anyways, that didn't help either.
 
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