DIY effects?

[janusmusic]

Any one build them? Just curious. If so which ones have you liked.? Just built a Bazz Fuss and it is really simple and sounds really cool. Fuzz's out really well and does a cool synth like trailer if you hold out notes.
low part count fit it in an altoids container.
links with mods here:
http://home-wrecker.com/bazz.html
just seeing who else out there have built a few etc. etc.
take care,
brian

[lightning_electronics]

i build my own effects pedals and love it.

i really, really like www.generalguitargadgets.com for projects with an already made PCB. all of jt sleep's stuff is fantastically put together. the man is in high regard from me, that's for sure.

i also like how www.tonepad.com puts things together; a lot of good info, though i didn't like how (at least the big muff's) PCBs don't have any design consideration for fasteners, i.e. screws.

if you want to get crazy, check out www.4mspedals.com; be forewarned, they're insane. amazing, but insane.

[janusmusic]

cool thanks! I've gotten a lot of great info from the diy stompbox forum.
http://www.elixant.com/~stompbox/smfforum/
Just got some 1290b's so I can stop with the altoids containers. Going to try an easyface next.
http://generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/easyface.gif
The bazz fuss is great on bass but on guitar it's a bit to woofy for me.
take care,
brian

[lightning_electronics]

cool thanks! I've gotten a lot of great info from the diy stompbox forum.
http://www.elixant.com/~stompbox/smfforum/
Just got some 1290b's so I can stop with the altoids containers. Going to try an easyface next.
http://generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/easyface.gif
The bazz fuss is great on bass but on guitar it's a bit to woofy for me.
take care,
brian

perhaps a circuit modification can be made on the bass fuzz for less woofiness; do you have a schematic? if so, and if it isn't too complex, you could put some sort of tuning circuit in there, complete with switch. perhaps it's too complex to worry about, but it would be a fun project!

[janusmusic]

yeah maybe I'l try tweaking it the schematic is in my first post. want to add a gain pot but trying to figure out how.

[lightning_electronics]

yeah maybe I'l try tweaking it the schematic is in my first post. want to add a gain pot but trying to figure out how.

oh, there it is right there! if it was a snake, it would've bit me.

i've seen a few gain control options, mostly it deals with altering the cathode circuitry with a potentiometer to raise or lower cathode (thus, bias) resistance. it can get more complicated from there, with capacitors added into the circuit.

i think i've also seen controls that alter the rail voltage to the gain stage(s), but that would seem to make a dying battery effect rather than controlling how much gain (thus, distortion) there is.

i suppose you could put a potentiometer somewhere in the circuit that would limit the input AC voltage (signal) into a gain stage, but if the gain stage is till set up for distortion specifically, it probably won't get the right sort of "feel".

my favorite device is the sparkle drive by voodoo labs; it has a control that allows you to blend the distorted signal and the un-adultered signal. best gain/distortion control i've ever used.