Post-Lockdown pedal building

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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Cheers all. I've been a massive Fuzzdog fanboy from day one, and they're still knocking it out of the park. 

    This Lightspeed is interesting. Probably the 4th or 5th TS circuit I've had (Bad Monkey, Surfing Bear, SD-1, Lightspeed off the top of my head) plus trying a shitload of others, and it's really at the top end of those I've tried.

    @Keefy You might struggle to get a battery in the current BMpi kit, by the looks of it. IIRC I did manage it on a previous BMP build from fuzz dog but that was using an older circuitboard. What I can say is the Ram's head is my favourite muff by miles, and the FD version is cracking. I added an extra switch on mine to flatten out the mid-scoop and I wouldn't be without it now. Look forward to seeing yours! 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    edited April 2020
    Cheers all. I've been a massive Fuzzdog fanboy from day one, and they're still knocking it out of the park. 

    This Lightspeed is interesting. Probably the 4th or 5th TS circuit I've had (Bad Monkey, Surfing Bear, SD-1, Lightspeed off the top of my head) plus trying a shitload of others, and it's really at the top end of those I've tried.

    @Keefy You might struggle to get a battery in the current BMpi kit, by the looks of it. IIRC I did manage it on a previous BMP build from fuzz dog but that was using an older circuitboard. What I can say is the Ram's head is my favourite muff by miles, and the FD version is cracking. I added an extra switch on mine to flatten out the mid-scoop and I wouldn't be without it now. Look forward to seeing yours! 
    Yeah don’t think I’ll manage a battery after all. The 1590BB enclosure is quite a bit larger, bigger than I want really. There used to be a standard size ally box slightly larger than the 1590B but I’m not sure you can get them any more (I used them in the 70s and 80s!)

    For finish I am thinking of white paint with hand-drawn text and graphics in violet gel or paint pen.
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  • TTBZTTBZ Frets: 2873
    edited April 2020
    Nice! I like the look of those knobs (  )  on the gold one.

    Tempted to order a new fuzzdogs kit to give me something to do for an evening or two during the lockdown. Just can't decide what - maybe the analog-like echo since I'm not really into my DD3. Is the opto-puss switch a good upgrade from a normal clicky switch?
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    TTBZ said:
    Nice! I like the look of those knobs (  :) )  on the gold one.

    Tempted to order a new fuzzdogs kit to give me something to do for an evening or two during the lockdown. Just can't decide what!
    Yeah, they're probably my favourites. I would guess they came from Banzai as I think that was the last place I got a decent-sized knob-shipment from. 

    Need to get on google and see if there's anything new in pedal knobs I should be aware of :)
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    edited April 2020
    Just found a slightly larger box in the loft, albeit drilled in the wrong places. It is 120mmx 65mm x 39mm, compared to the 1590B's 111mm x 60mm x 31mm. I was thinking I could make a face-plate for it with new holes in the right places, bot then the side jacks are wrong too. Bugger!

    EDIT: That's the 1590B+ - ordering one off EvilBay :)
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  • nick79nick79 Frets: 252
    I built an Acapulco Gold clone from Jedspeds last week, first time i've built a pedal and i really enjoyed it. Amazingly it worked first time! 
    Now i'm deciding what to go for next. This could turn into an addiction...
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    So yesterday the red got fixed :)

    The hammered finish is a bit splotchy and there are a coupe of dust flecks etc, so I think I'll flat it back and give it one more thing coat in a couple of days once this has hardened. But generally it went on very nicely, dried quickly and looks great.

    I actually quite liked the "sanded red" vibe, so was almost tempted to leave it as-is, but the copper is definitely better. I hope it stays this shiny, unlike the previous "chrome" silver I tried that looked *amazing* when fresh but went dull after about a week. This stuff seems to be designed for outdoor furniture (park benches etc) so I'm thinking it should be pretty hard-wearing.

    I might do a whole bunch of rustic copper pedals if this one comes out as I'm hoping.




    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • I love all the builds, very inspiring

    Instagram is Rocknrollismyescape -

    FOR SALE - Catalinbread Echorec, Sonic Blue classic player strat and a Digitech bad monkey

     

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  • Keefy said:
    I've done another today. Fuzzdog's Greer Lightspeed clone. It's very nice - basically a TS with a little less mid-hump.

    Pretty much everything I need. I actually didn't need the solder sucker for this one (woo!) but did use everything else at some point.


    Bill of materials layout. All good. I tend to rely on the multimeter for resistor checks. It's far quicker than referring to colour charts, and I don't build enough to remember codes from memory.


    Worked first time, which is always nice :)



    Internals post-check. Again the daughter board for the switch is very neat, though you have to be careful to keep the ribbon cable out of the way of the jacks. 


    And with knobs in installed. I had to steal one from an old Big Muff build but I don't use that very often so don't mind it having a slightly less posh tone knob. Though I have now realised I've not got any nice knobs left to put on the DRV1981 build  so that's going have to have simple Boss-style ones one it gets to that point. I'm in no hurry to ship that sort of thing halfway around the world in the current circumstances. 

    Just needs some labels now :)


    Nice finishing @stickyfiddle ! Fuzzdog kits do lend themselves to a neat build, but it takes that extra bit of commitment to go the whole hog with the externals.
    Incredible, what a great looking pedal

    Instagram is Rocknrollismyescape -

    FOR SALE - Catalinbread Echorec, Sonic Blue classic player strat and a Digitech bad monkey

     

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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Ta mutely. The Lightspeed circuit sounds really good too - I completely understand why everyone raves!  I really can't take much credit, all you need is a kit, a can of paint, a steady spraying hand and a credit card to buy nice knobs from Banzai :)

    The copper one is coming on too. Sanded back and fresh coats going on nicely this evening. Should be in a state to build the innards by the weekend. I have another knobs order in with Banzai for a shitload of knobs for posting-up some old builds and keeping in stock for future ones. 

    I've also just seen Fuzzdog have some matte powdercoated 1590BB boxes, so I might grab a KOT and/or EQD Sunn Life next - those won't need spraying! 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    Fuzzdog Big Muff Pi board is assembled, but holding off fitting the pots until I can test-fit it into an enclosure. Also pictured:
    1. 1590B box - Project would fit, but not with a battery.
    2. 1590B+ box - Last used for a Silicon Fuzz project. Unfortunately the holes are in all the wrong places. I have ordered another one, which should allow me to fit a battery in too.
    3. Mahoosive project box bought cheaply when Maplin was closing. Probably too tall for a pedal, but might turn it into some kind of load box and/or DI gadget.


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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

    If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

    If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?
    Nah, I like the neat board-mounted pots! Don't worry, the 1590B will find a use some time...
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Keefy said:
    Yeah, you should definitely be able to squeeze a battery in a 1590B+

    If you wanted to use your existing one you might be able to use the current holes if you don't board-mount the pots but connect them on wires instead?
    Nah, I like the neat board-mounted pots! Don't worry, the 1590B will find a use some time...

    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Update on the copper one. Looking much better after last night's extra coats. A little textured, but much more consistent across the top, and texture is the point with this paint, so I'm very happy. I was also able to get rid of all the dust spots etc from the first time round. I'd definitely use this stuff again, and will go in search of more colours for future builds as it's easily the best I've used for pedal stuff. 


    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    Update on the copper one. Looking much better after last night's extra coats. A little textured, but much more consistent across the top, and texture is the point with this paint, so I'm very happy. I was also able to get rid of all the dust spots etc from the first time round. I'd definitely use this stuff again, and will go in search of more colours for future builds as it's easily the best I've used for pedal stuff. 


    Pedal porn in the making!
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    I'm itching to get it built. I'm supposed to be off work on Wednesday so will do it then if I can. Then I'm on hold while I wait for the postie to arrive with fresh knobs and a couple more kits :)
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    Big Muff Pi build - dry test fit of parts in the 1590B+ box. It fits, but it's tight. Probably going to have to lose the plastic input socket (not part of the original kit) and fit a skeletal stereo one instead.


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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26753
    Yeah, that'll work with an open Switchcraft type of socket. Or Fuzzdog actually had some really slim ones in stock if you really need. Tight is good anyway - it means the battery doesn't rattle :D 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    Yeah, that'll work with an open Switchcraft type of socket. Or Fuzzdog actually had some really slim ones in stock if you really need. Tight is good anyway - it means the battery doesn't rattle :D 
     I could have taken 1mm off the battery space and another 1mm from the pot clearance. Coulda woulda shoulda...
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