LukeFRC Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 anyone here make their own PCBs? This may have been asked before but search didn't turn up anything. I want to make something but don't know how hard it will turn out to be, I know maplin sells a starter kit for photo etching.... and a lazer printer will apparently do the same job.... but it's a fair outlay... (oh and something to drill the holes with) for a one off and something so simple - is it worth doing or is perf board a second best option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 mind you perf board isn't fun to make at all (vero I like). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DolganoFF Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 There are fab houses that will happily etch your board for you but it costs money... Check your local electronics hackerspaces, they may help you to etch yours on their equipement and generally bootstrap your electronics projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nessy Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 If it's a one off, stripboard would probably be the way to go, PCBs are nice, but unless you're making lots it's probably not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) I was even working out if point to point would be feasible! Edited November 15, 2013 by LukeFRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 If it's a one off, stripboard it. If it's a simple build (fuzz or boost), turret board it Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DolganoFF Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1384497998' post='2277323'] I was even working out if point to point would be feasible! [/quote] I've already seen simpler pedals done this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Another Bass BB Pre, this was requested with a plain enclosure. Pretty happy with the neatness of the insides: [IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/1zqv90y.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/3010hat.jpg[/IMG] Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Anyone seen this yet? Circuit Scribe lets you draw circuits instantly! This is a rollerball pen filled with specially formulated conductive ink that dries instantly. We also have numerous circuitry components available that make this a great prototyping and STEM education tool. We currently have a kickstarter campaign for this product! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/electroninks/circuit-scribe-draw-circuits-instantly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Finished this the other night - Sadowsky preamp clone with added Mid control. [attachment=149026:2013-11-23 10.22.08.jpg] [attachment=149025:2013-11-23 10.21.47.jpg]. Doesn't look like much at the moment, but it sounds lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 Couple more Bass BB Pre's . Guts are the same as previous, no need for another pic haha: [IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2niz1hy.jpg[/IMG] Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 those bb's look grand si. I have been getting big gas to play 1 of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 [quote name='DolganoFF' timestamp='1384020281' post='2272039'] Thanks! There are others in the works (passive "drive" and passive mid-freq cut) [/quote] Passive drive? A feedback looped pair of germanium diodes to ground? 1N34? I'm very intrigued… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DolganoFF Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Just a pair of diodes put across the output back-to back, with 3 position switch alternating between germanium, shottky and zener types and another switch inactivating one diode of each pair (making the limiter asymmetric). As simple as it gets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1383726527' post='2268099'] Pictures please (I shouldn't need to ask ) [/quote] [URL=http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/paul_510/media/2013-12-05155255-1_zpseedcae04.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd471/paul_510/2013-12-05155255-1_zpseedcae04.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It's now switchable between the modded (bass friendly input capacitor, tone control and clean blend control) valve caster, and a Tonepad Small Clone clone that I didn't have a box for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Radioactive megaboost [IMG]http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/rh15951/IMG_1410_zps672f5fa7.jpg[/IMG] Built into a small plastic enclosure (8 x 6 x 4cm) I've been meaning to use for a while, 9V PSU only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I'm thinking about starting building my own pedals in the new year. I've seen a BYOC bass overdrive http://buildyourownclone.com/bassfx/bassoverdrive.html and I'm wondering if anyone here has built one of these? The You Tube demo sounds ok. I love the blend feature, that's a must for me. Or, any suggestions for anything similar? Bearing in mind, this is my first attempt. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='ratman' timestamp='1386586010' post='2301677'] I'm thinking about starting building my own pedals in the new year. I've seen a BYOC bass overdrive [url="http://buildyourownclone.com/bassfx/bassoverdrive.html"]http://buildyourownc...soverdrive.html[/url] and I'm wondering if anyone here has built one of these? The You Tube demo sounds ok. I love the blend feature, that's a must for me. Or, any suggestions for anything similar? Bearing in mind, this is my first attempt. Cheers. [/quote] I believe that kit is essentially an Xotic BB Pre with a blend feature (I've never felt the need for a Blend with that circuit). 5 knobs worth of offboard wiring could be enough to put you off for life haha. As such, I'd suggest starting with something like a clean boost or a Fuzz Face, just to get you into the swing of it, only 1 or 2 knobs worth of wiring (sometimes even on-board pots mmmmmmm). Having said that, if you're literally just talking about a one-off because you want a bass drive......go for it, patience are a must though Good luck Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Yup; offboard wiring (pots and switches and sockets etc...) is a bit of an aquired skill. It can end up like knitting with spaghetti if you're not careful. That said it shouldn't put you off having a go. If something goes wrong then it's not dealung with dangeroys amounts of voltage and yoy'll learn a new skill that can be used to mend a bass or replace bits of it as and when the need arises - can save you a few quid by not having to pay a tech to do that sort of stuff for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 (edited) I'm not daunted by the wiring on this. I have already rewired a couple of my own basses, and although I'm new to building pedals, I like to think I'm technically minded enough to cope ok. Hopefully it won't be a one off thing either but I'll take it one project at a time. Thanks for the supportive replies - I'll let you know how it goes. Edited December 9, 2013 by ratman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG Flatline Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='ratman' timestamp='1386591514' post='2301779'] I'm not daunted by the wiring on this. I have already rewired a couple of my own basses, and although I'm new to building pedals, I like to think I'm technically minded enough to cope ok. Hopefully it won't be a one off thing either but I'll take it one project at a time. Thanks for the suppiortive replies - I'll let you know how it goes. [/quote] Excellent! Always good to get more builders on here, there's been some great pedals in this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='ratman' timestamp='1386591514' post='2301779'] I'm not daunted by the wiring on this. I have already rewired a couple of my own basses, and although I'm new to building pedals, I like to think I'm technically minded enough to cope ok. Hopefully it won't be a one off thing either but I'll take it one project at a time. Thanks for the supportive replies - I'll let you know how it goes. [/quote] Get to it! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1386601772' post='2302011'] Get to it! Si [/quote] Lol, give me a chance! I've got to find my soldering iron, probably chuck it out and get a decent one, and buy a kit. Anyhow, this is going to be a January project. I'll have a lot of free time as the gig front is looking mighty lean at the moment. A couple of questions - I've been reading about solder. Is it possible to get hold of pure lead solder in the UK, as it melts at lower temps. I've read that it's banned now. Or am I stuck with lead/tin solder? And, is it worth getting sockets for IC's and transistors so I don't fry them with higher soldering temps if I have to use tin/lead solder. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I've done a lot of reading today and they're the two main questions that have cropped up so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I"m actually a bit hazy as to what the deal is with lead solder. I don't think it's illegal to use broadly speaking, however I don't believe it can be used in commercially available produce?! Maybe someone can clarify. Luckily my dad is an electronics engineer of some 40 years............so I have various supplies of decent components/tools to hand . I always socket ICs, usually socket Transistors, and sometimes socket Diodes. If you want to be super careful/experimental, socket everything you can manage Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 One of the advantages of socketing is being able to easily mod the pedal. And I'd rather fit sockets than fry parts. Sounds like a no brainer to me. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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