Post-Lockdown pedal building

stickyfiddle · November 2022

bohemianbuoy said:

Anyone got any recommendations for a Bass compressor build that isn't an Orange Squeezer? Preferably Vero. There doesn't seem to be many layouts around, so wondering if anyone has built one and has a recommendation? I've promised my bass player a compressor and would like something a bit more challenging/interesting than the orange squeezer.

No Vero but I'm very happy with my Fuzzdog Engineer's thumb. It's basically a 5-knob Ross/Dyna with Attack/Release/Threshold controls.

Similar to that modded Ross that @roberty posted but with Threshold instead of blend.

roberty · November 2022

stickyfiddle said:

bohemianbuoy said:

Anyone got any recommendations for a Bass compressor build that isn't an Orange Squeezer? Preferably Vero. There doesn't seem to be many layouts around, so wondering if anyone has built one and has a recommendation? I've promised my bass player a compressor and would like something a bit more challenging/interesting than the orange squeezer.

No Vero but I'm very happy with my Fuzzdog Engineer's thumb. It's basically a 5-knob Ross/Dyna with Attack/Release/Threshold controls.

Similar to that modded Ross that @roberty posted but with Threshold instead of blend.

Image: https://hips.hearstapps.com/digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/17/44/1509626301-ross-kemp.jpg?crop=0.626xw:0.463xh;0.152xw,0.00512xh&resize=480:*

bohemianbuoy · November 2022

That's currently number one on the list. Seems like a fun build. - this is in response to the Ross.

Engineer's Thumb intrigues me though.

Thanks guys.

roberty · November 2022

Please put Ross Kemp on it @bohemianbuoy if you decide to do it

bohemianbuoy · November 2022

roberty said:

Please put Ross Kemp on it @bohemianbuoy if you decide to do it

The bass player I'm doing this for actually doesn't look too dissimilar to Ross Kemp!

roberty · November 2022

bohemianbuoy said:

roberty said:

Please put Ross Kemp on it @bohemianbuoy if you decide to do it

The bass player I'm doing this for actually doesn't look too dissimilar to Ross Kemp!

That is a highly appropriate Iook for any bass player

Keefy · November 2022

roberty said:

Please put Ross Kemp on it @bohemianbuoy if you decide to do it

Of course anyone who uses a Kemper should seriously consider this too.

roberty · November 2022

The last month or so has been really busy at work and I've spent my spare time drilling Megadeth rhythm parts and not building. My projects are all on hold for now lol

I am going to order some of those PCBs for the Tonebender with an HM-2 tonestack. If anyone wants one we can combine shipping. It's an original design by a guy in the US on Reddit. I reckon it'll be pure filth

The Peper's Humongous Fuzz is an FZ-2 with an HM-2 tonestack and it sounds glorious. I should bite the bullet and get one really. I think I'll be in NZ over Xmas so maybe I can get one shipped locally while I'm there

roberty · January 2023

Redid this decal design for my Carcosa clone. Not sure how the black edges will look on the finished thing but can give it a go. It'll probably need rejigging to fit properly anyway

UnclePsychosis · January 2023

Finally got my kitchen back after a lot of internal building work so now I can solder of an evening again.

Chase Tone Secret Preamp - built on a pedalpcb board. I have an original and they're so close together (and it's such a subtle pedal anyway) that they're effectively identical. Tayda enclosure as usual.

I was really pleased with the wiring job on this one until I realised that I'd put the PSU connector the wrong way round. So had an absolute ballache taking it out, de soldering and redoing, but I got there in the end.

Rather pleased with it although I might change the knob. On that note, does anyone have a tip for making the pot a bit harder to turn? It's spectacularly easy to change the setting as is.

Keefy · January 2023

UnclePsychosis said:

Finally got my kitchen back after a lot of internal building work so now I can solder of an evening again.

Chase Tone Secret Preamp - built on a pedalpcb board. I have an original and they're so close together (and it's such a subtle pedal anyway) that they're effectively identical. Tayda enclosure as usual.

I was really pleased with the wiring job on this one until I realised that I'd put the PSU connector the wrong way round. So had an absolute ballache taking it out, de soldering and redoing, but I got there in the end.

Rather pleased with it although I might change the knob. On that note, does anyone have a tip for making the pot a bit harder to turn? It's spectacularly easy to change the setting as is.

Nice!

Try fitting a rubber washer under the knob - you can regulate the turning stiffness by how hard you press the knob down while tightening the grub screw.

Kalimna · January 2023

@roberty Apologies if I've missed the how-to in the previous 51 pages of chat

but I wonder if you would mind explaining your decal process? Generating the images, printing, applying and protecting? I am becoming a little bored of simply nitro-spraying with the odd splatter effect or edge-shading! Plus I'd like to label the controls a little more neatly than handwritten with a Posca pen.....

My current builds-in-progress plus pedals-that-didn't-work-and-need re-doing (all veroboard from tagboardeffects or dirtboxlayouts :

in-progress :
TS-808
another Shredmaster
Deep Blue Delay & Red Llama with my 10yr old Isaac
another Naga Viper

to re-do :
Causality4 phaser - no phasing, some controls work, some dont
Klon - some overdrive, but very odd behaviour from dual-gang pot
Madbean Gravity Wave (EQD Sea Machine) - massive veroboard mad chorusy pedal, doesnt work, maybe pernickety 2399's)
EQD Grand Orbiter - another massive vero with temperamental LM13700's. Sortof works a bit.

plans for near-future builds :
Catalinbread Montavillian echo/reverb
Hermida Dover Drive
Wampler Ecstacy and Pinnacle

Oh, and another Modulus amp with Isaac

Adam

roberty · January 2023

@Kalimna sure it's pretty straightforward. I do the graphics on Gimp (free Photoshop sort f thing). You can import the drilling template and use that to get the positioning right. Then I print it onto waterslide decal paper. I sand the enclosure before applying the decal. I got for a swirly sort of pattern as that can look nice in the light. After the decal dries I spray it with clear coat over the course of a day. The finish is quite delicate when done but it looks quite nice

Did this while I was away on holiday, and a few others. I'm still very much in the learning stages but it's fun to do and passes the time

Kalimna · January 2023

Thank you! The clear coat - just clear nitro? Or have you tried a clear resin?

That rat is quite disturbing! Reminded me of one of the Watership Down scenes...... Very nicely done though.

roberty · January 2023

I have a lot of PCBs lol. Some cool stuff in there though. Got a few projects to finish before I get stuck into these

roberty · January 2023

Kalimna said:

Thank you! The clear coat - just clear nitro? Or have you tried a clear resin?

That rat is quite disturbing! Reminded me of one of the Watership Down scenes...... Very nicely done though.

It's not my rat! If I end up doing a batch I'll buy a license for the artwork

The clearcoat is called Hycote Clear Lacquer, I got it from Amazon