My first pedal build!

[Diocide]

So after much hmmming and haaaawing, I have finally taken my first step to pedal creation.

I picked up a GGG Tremolo pedal (because I don't currently own a trem pedal, and want one). I install all my own pickups and am generally a mechanically inclined person (I was/am a plumber) so hopefully this isn't too big a leap. Luckily I have a great resource (besides you guys) in that I know a custom amp and pedal builder, who is not only one of the coolest people I've met, he's also one of the smartest. His name is Nick and his company name is Dunwich Amps.

I'm going to be making my own enclosure using a slide decal and my friends guidance. I bought myself a new soldering station, as I've only owned rat shack pencil irons up to this point.

Hopefully this is just the beginning. I hope to get to the point where I can actually start making stuff on my own, but for now, this will be a lot of fun.

So the iron and pedal guts are on the way, and I'll hopefully be ordering the enclosure from PPP within the week. I'll post updates as they occur. Stay tuned!

[Zozobra]

Nick is good people so you're in good hands. We should probably entice him over here so he can show everyone up with his uber neat lead dress and layouts

[neilrocks25]

Have fun, it will become an addiction

[Diocide]

Nick is good people so you're in good hands. We should probably entice him over here so he can show everyone up with his uber neat lead dress and layouts

I should send him a link. You were an HCFX Doom Roomer right? I know he's on a couple forums now, mostly TalkBass and ILoveFuzz.

Have fun, it will become an addiction

I'm a fan of addictions that lead to learning and better understanding of our interest. So this one is a welcome one.

[Zozobra]

I was mainly an HCAF'er but I swung over there for the doom chat.

[CrunchBerries]

Thread needs pics, get on it broseph!!

[Diocide]

Definitely will be adding photos and whatnot once is starts happening. I hope to try and get it started this weekend.

[Steveijobzz]

If it's your first build and you're NOT getting a pre drilled enclosure (which you should, PPP does great work) you really need to watch out where you're drilling stuff. I've ruined a few enclosures by drilling the holes just a wee bit off.

Other than that, good luck and godspeed. Pedal building is addicting.

[Diocide]

I'm going to discuss it with my buddy who's helping me, but I'm pretty sure he intended to drill it ourselves. He's got a press and has made dozens of pedals, but I'll ask him what he thinks.

Thanks for the heads up though!

[Micter]

A few years back I started with a couple kits. I ended up etching my own boards and made so many pedals it's not even funny. ADDICTING!

[Steveijobzz]

A few years back I started with a couple kits. I ended up etching my own boards and made so many pedals it's not even funny. ADDICTING!

Did you do toner transfer or photosensitive boards? I tried the TT but it never really worked out the way I wanted so I have some presensitized boards waiting to get etched as soon as I buy a new laser printer.

[Diocide]

Got my parts in... I spent the morning going through them and organizing them so as to make the build easier.


I plan to order the enclosure tomorrow, and populate the board during the next week, while I wait for the enclosure.

[neilrocks25]

Got my parts in... I spent the morning going through them and organizing them so as to make the build easier.


I plan to order the enclosure tomorrow, and populate the board during the next week, while I wait for the enclosure.

Nice, I get the rest of the parts for my build tomorrow so lets see who can make a working pedal

[Diocide]

Sounds good! The plan is to populate the board during this week, then once I get my enclosure, I will be doing a water slide decal for the first time... The whole proccess is going to take a couple weeks, because I'm going to be getting walked through the water slide stuff...

[Diocide]

Another toy came in today! I know it's a cheapy, but it's better than what I have now!

[neilrocks25]

Another toy came in today! I know it's a cheapy, but it's better than what I have now!

[Diocide]

Got my board populated last night... Going to add all the wires for the off board stuff today.

[Micter]

A few years back I started with a couple kits. I ended up etching my own boards and made so many pedals it's not even funny. ADDICTING!

Did you do toner transfer or photosensitive boards? I tried the TT but it never really worked out the way I wanted so I have some presensitized boards waiting to get etched as soon as I buy a new laser printer.

Yup, that's what I did and it works great if you watch the etching closely.

[Micter]

IIRC, there is a mod on that circuit where the tremolo effect is bypassed and only the preamp section is left. It's a pretty good clean boost.

[dunwichamps]

We are going to be doing waterslide decals. They are not bad if you work with lighter enclosures (Paul's is white) and if you are doing simple images. Luckily he can probably do color given that he has a white background to work with.

Some examples.







My dad has a bridgeport mill so its pretty easy to drill out the enclosure from a 1:1 scale drill template.

[Dickarms]

spent the better part of a 7 month deployment at sea building BYOC stuff. love it. want to start tweaking my own fuzz designs into my own enclosures. maybe ill get a sex change and take over everyone's facebook news feeds

[Diocide]

Nicks here!

[Diocide]

Finally made some more progress. I went over to Nicks house and drilled out the enclosure and printed out the slide decal.


I'm going to attempt the water slide on my own. If it comes out right, then I'll move on. If I screw it up then I'll have Nick walk me through it next weekend.

[Diocide]

I think I managed to get the water slide decal done on my own.. Looks pretty sweet if you ask me!

[rock flag and eagle]

turned out pretty good, I've never tried the water slide, I've done clear labels which was a pain. You just going to spray clear over it? I know a lot of guys use Enviro Tex, it gives it a really nice glossy finish.