pedal enclosure build

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Friday Apr 03, 2009

So I built these pedals like a year and a half ago, and am getting tired of staring at these metal boxes so I'm finally designing the enclosures.

I picked up some spraypaint at Bickels on the cheap.

Armstrong Twin

Envelope Filter

Does anyone have any clever ideas for names?

Also does anyone know if there's an easy way to mark our some lines for the controls in photoshop?

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tuesday Apr 07, 2009

How about the "Ben-Wah"

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Apr 07, 2009

If that's a sheep on the graphics, how about baa-wah

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Apr 07, 2009

Just make the name say what it does

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Apr 07, 2009

Oh and you really should be using illustrator or something like it. Then you'll only be fighting with the printer's resolution instead of the dpi you set in photoshop.

PS. The way I've always done graduations for making guage faces is the rotate command. Just divide the sweep in degrees by the number of graduations you want. Most pots are 270 degrees I believe. Then draw a line and copy it, rotating each one.

Might not be the fastest way, but its the only way I know.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Mitch,
you said that these were bought as a kit, but were they prewired, or did you have to solder and assemble them yourself?

I'd love to know more about how to mod pedals and tweak the EQ section and cap values for the EQ sweep and such, but I dont want to practice on my personal stuff, so I'd like to look into purchasing one of the kits like you did, so that I can do it from the ground up and get an idea on how to do some of this stuff.

Are there other companies that offer similar kits?
Whats your opinion on the two that you have?

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Very rarely will a kit describe what each part does in the whole. I have not put together a BYOC kit yet, so I can't speak for them. But from the PDFs available its more "do it this way".

Even the one I'm most interested in, the 5 knob compressor, it gives spares and allows for trying different setups, but doesn't really tell you anything about that.

From what I've found so far, any kit that is made around teaching you, will do that, but might not sound good (because its simplified to teach). Any kit that sounds good, won't teach you a whole lot because its actually a pretty complicated circuit that is quite hard to explain without resorting to a related, though more simple circuit, or assuming you already know all about that simpler one.

Not saying its hopeless, but rather you have a choice to make.

Work your way up through the not so good sounding ones, or copy off those who have and just take the end result home.

Especially with kits and even some mods to retail pedals, someone has already tried everything you're going to try. You can easily find out from them (sometimes with sound clips) what the best changes are going to be for you.

Since way back in the day with the Radio Shack 150-in-1 and 300-in-1 electronic kits/toys, I have not seen a kit go through a quality explaination on how the inner workings actually work.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Yeah I was kinda figuring that much Rob, I guess I was being a little optimistic.
Probably the same in this case as well.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

I'd love to learn how to build a couple types of synth effects (saw lead, etc), but no one since the 80's has even had an interest in that kind of stuff

I'm going to be starting on a Keeley Ultra DS-1 mod as soon as the pedal gets here...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify_Your_Boss_DS_1/

Tons of others on there that are going to be way more helpful than just a kit too..

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Yeah very true.
There's a few areas in sound that havent been "over explored" and leave room for improvement, that being one of them.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Did you buy the Keeley mod seperately?
I'd like to know how this turns out for you, so if you have time, could you please post a follow up on this and give a comparison between stock and modded?

I'd love to try the Keeley mod in my MT-2, but I'm afraid to do it myself.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

In that instructable is links to buy all the parts you need. For enough to do two pedals it was about $34 (but I do carry a discount at digikey).

Doing mods is way easier than it looks. I just take crap loads of notes and/or pictures when I'm removing things so I have a reference in case something goes wrong.

Only one thing worse than pulling the wrong part and thats not knowing what the original part was and where it went

Also you might want to do a bit of searching on "circuit bending" or "bent circuits". You might find that those people go into more detail of the inner workings, since by definition, they are taking one or two parts and 'bending' the values or placement of the parts and seeing what happens.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

Cool, thanks for the tips.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Wednesday Apr 08, 2009

metalchurch wrote:Mitch,
you said that these were bought as a kit, but were they prewired, or did you have to solder and assemble them yourself?

I'd love to know more about how to mod pedals and tweak the EQ section and cap values for the EQ sweep and such, but I dont want to practice on my personal stuff, so I'd like to look into purchasing one of the kits like you did, so that I can do it from the ground up and get an idea on how to do some of this stuff.

Are there other companies that offer similar kits?
Whats your opinion on the two that you have?

They come with a predrilled enclosure, a circuit board (already layed out/traced) and a bunch of caps, and resisters and such.

The envelope filter kit came with additional parts and instructions to make it more bass friendly. So there would be some clues there on some modifications to do. I know one of the distortion/overdrive kits comes with several different diodes to change the character of the distortion. They definately aren't "learn to mod" kits, but it was a learning experience. Taught me to read resistors, and to solder pretty damned well, since you have no choice. I'll have to post some gut shots while I have them pulled apart.

There is a very helpful board on the website, and lots of people have mod suggestions, and would be more than willing to point you in the right direction of stuff you can mod.

The only thing is they really aren't that cheap. One of the OD/Distortion units is the cheapest thing they have, and its like $85 or so. So if you really just wanted modding experience there are probably better options. I know people mod the Ibanez Bad Monkey OD, those are only like $40 I think?

The website is www.buildyourownclone.com

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Saturday Apr 11, 2009

I have finished the Armstrong Twin box.

I got this stuff to make the decals
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S15KDS

Its ink jet sticker paper. Its a little stiffer than is probably necessary, and you really can't seem to get all the bubbles out, the adhesive is also kind of visible. Waterslide decals would probably work better, but I kind of did these on a whim, because I'm sick of looking at bare boxes, and I kind of figure the only one who ever sees them is me, and that's from like 6 feet away.

So, here's the AT.

It turns out I mislabeled the rotary switch, and it should go compressor, ringmod, both. But I never use the ringmod anyway, because it sounds like complete ass.

It turns out the Envelope Filter box is way too dark to see black ink. I tried printing yellow, and that didn't work at all. I looked into ways to print white, and it seems there are some viable options there, but I think I'm just going to end up painting it a lighter color.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Apr 14, 2009

Just when I was watching Bill & Ted's bogus journey again.

Hows this for a name?
statiophonic oxygenetic amplifier graphaphonidelaverbarator

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Tuesday Apr 14, 2009

ha, I don't think I could fit that on there

hicksjd9 · Post by **hicksjd9** » Monday Apr 20, 2009

I think even though a lot of these kits don't explain what does what it's still a worthwhile experience to put them together. They get you familiar with resistors and capacitors and how to measure them with multimeters, etc. I think that's the best way to get started with this stuff. Once you start to build your comfort level with the parts, then it's much easier to start playing with the designs and figure out what does what. Lots of the greats (maybe all) start out modding other brands stuff. It's a learning process. I think it's awesome that you built those pedals, Mitch. Plus the best part is knowing that you made it yourself especially when you are loving what you hear.

I just feel a spiritual connection with my instruments and gear and knowing that I helped to build/put it together makes the bond even stronger.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Monday Apr 20, 2009

hicksjd9 wrote:I just feel a spiritual connection with my instruments and gear and knowing that I helped to build/put it together makes the bond even stronger.

There is something to be said about that.

Its a great feeling.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Monday Apr 20, 2009

it was definitely a learning experience. I think next thing I build will be the wah. I still havn't put the envelope filter back together again, but I have painted it and labeled it.

CMOR · Post by **CMOR** » Monday Apr 20, 2009

I actually have a book with specs for building your own pedals, the Stompbox Cookbook. I've always wanted to build my own but wasn't sure where to begin.

Any idea where I can get enclosures or materials to make them? I have a heavy foot so cheap plastic ones don't stand a chance against me. I bent my Big Muff PI(the green one) chassis just by stomping on it.

Processors are nice and all, but I would rather have seperate pedals.

Steve

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Monday Apr 20, 2009

this is like the third time I've posted this link in this thread, but I got mine from www.buildyourownclone.com

CMOR · Post by **CMOR** » Tuesday Apr 21, 2009

I looked around but couldn't find just enclosures for sale. The rest of the stuff I can get or have. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Apr 21, 2009

I usually get everything for my projects (from music related to robotics) from:

http://www.digikey.com
http://www.mouser.com
http://www.partsexpress.com
http://www.sparkfun.com

I'm certain mouser or digikey will have a box you'll be happy with.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Apr 21, 2009

A bit more information (hard to type all this crap on an ipod touch):

There are actually 'standards' for effects pedals, usually taken from older pedals.

the 125-B (125B) is the largest of the 'single' form factor that I'm aware of.
4.5"x2.5"x1.5"

the 1590-B (1590B, 1290NS) is slightly smaller (roughly the size of the elextro harmonix nano pedals). 4.25"x2.25"x1"

the 1590-BB (1590BB, 1590NS) is the double wide, similar to the MXR M-188 auto-Q, but a little smaller. 4.75"x3.75"x1.25"

There are a ton of other types, but those are usually the cheapest. You shouldn't have to pay more than $20 for one of any of those. Usually you'll find them around $10-12.

You can also find good metal enclosures in RF/Ham radio catalogs. I used a 1590BB to make my own antenna switch years ago.