Easy First Time Kits?

[comfortstarr]

The last soldering I did was 17 years ago. The only schematic I can read is the one that shows me how to hook up my DVD player. But, I think it'd be fun to do one of these projects (my mind harkens back 28 years to the heathkit shortwave radio my dad and I built... 'scuse me, I'm tearin' up).

So what/where is a good place to start? I'd like something that comes with rock solid instructions, all the parts, etc. Something simple (obviously), maybe a pedal of some sort. But I'd also like it to be vaguely useful when I'm done. Has anyone had any experience with those PAIA kits? They have several pedals.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

[soundguy]

build a fuzz face on perf board, lay it out just like the schematic is drawn. low investment, crazy satisfaction. best first prohject ever. I still use the first fuzz face I built which was the first project I ever tried.

dave

[nacho459]

Fender Champ's are really cool and pretty inexpensive.
You can get the schematic here. https://schematicheavencom.secure.powwe ... _schem.pdf
the layout here https://schematicheavencom.secure.powwe ... layout.pdf
and all the parts at http://www.tubesandmore.com

As far as recording gear the GSSL is as easy buying the PCB, ordering parts off a parts list, and stuffing the board. All the info for it is over at http://www.groupdiy.com

[Cletus]

What about the SCA stuff? I've really been wanting to build some of these but only have soldered cable. I think it would be really satisfying to know that you are using some pre's that you built yourself and that sound awesome too. Has anybody out there endeavored to do this as their first project?

[inverseroom]

www.paia.com

Complete instructions, comes with all wire, there's even a lesson on soldering in the instruction manuals!

[SeventhCircle]

What about the SCA stuff? ... Has anybody out there endeavored to do this as their first project?

Lots of people with very little experience have built them successfully, but I don't think any mic preamp is a good project for an absolute beginner. To get a little practice soldering, try a kit from Canakits or Velleman first. I'd suggest building a signal generator and low-powered audio amp you can use for testing and troubleshooting. You can get both for under $30. Once you've had some success with those and gained a little confidence, a mic preamp should be no problem.

[travelingsales]

Fender Champ's are really cool and pretty inexpensive.
You can get the schematic here.

I am new to electronics DIY, and I don't want to be a spoilsport, but personally, I decided against starting with a tube project because of the very high voltages involved. From what I understand if you ground it wrong, or touch the wrong parts with your multimeter while trying to debug, you are at risk of a pretty bad shock.

I figured I would start with pedals, maybe move to something a bit harder but still solid-state (like a mic pre), and THEN move on to a tube amp. The whole reason I started this electronics DIY thing was that I was frustrated not being able to mod my own guitar amp, however, the risk/reward ratio just seems kind of skewed (for me anyway) until I can read schematics a bit better.

Mark

[soundguy]

the irony of course is that tube amps are really easy to build.

get a good education on whats going on with the power supply before you build one, really the best practice is building a few solid state things to get your trouble shooting skills up and a general familiarity with building. Once you do that and learn a bt about high voltage supplies, building a tube amp will be easy peasy. I think thats a really smart track to go down.

dave

[nacho459]

the irony of course is that tube amps are really easy to build.

The other thing with small tube amps are that it is really easy to understand what is going on. Sure you can follow the instructions and stuff a PCB, but with a small tube amp like a Champ every piece is a crucial building block, and once you understand how a Champ works you will understand the basics for how every amp works.

[comfortstarr]

I think I'll go with a Paia pedal, maybe the sustainer. This has been very helpful--so don't stop, if you have additional advice.

As to the champ, that's really intriguing. Where are the plans/kits? (yes, I'd need that level of handholding I'm sure).

Thanks

[nacho459]

As to the champ, that's really intriguing. Where are the plans/kits? (yes, I'd need that level of handholding I'm sure).

You can buy a complete kit from Mojotone.com with cabinet and speaker for like $600


But if you just want to build the amp itself you can find all the parts for under $200.

I posted the link to the schematic and the layout above. Print those out first. then you just need to read the schematic and buy the parts. Again, I think http://www.tubesandmore.com has everything.

If you really want to build one and don't want to buy a kit, I can help you gather a parts list and understand the schematic. Just PM me.

[soundguy]

parts connection sells prefab turret board CHEAP which is way easier to use than the tag board like is shown in that picture. Its not a wide as you'd ideally want it, but its totally cool, I recently built a princeton-ish amp with it.

dave

[moosapotamus]

Here's a few more cool, easy to build kits...

http://www.gibsonteched.com/ctc62390.html

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/

~ Charlie