Show your pedal guts!

[squirrels]

The Doomidrive was built to replace my Black Forest. I was using BC109B in it and while it sounded pretty good it was definitely lacking something. I put some 109Cs in and it was awesome but squealed like crazy. I rebuilt it even tried out the regular Colorsound Overdriver layout with the same problem. Anything higher gain made them squeal. I'm using them in the Doomidrive with no issues EXCEPT it likes to be in front of everything else, which is fine because I think it stacks nicely with my Oracle or Pharaoh behind it. It's essentially a booster anyway, right? Zach if you haven't built it yet, definitely give it a shot.

[Travis]

Zach nah that was before but Psychocali was even better. Real glad we were able to go! Sleep has to be the heaviest band I've ever seen you guys are gonna have a great time Squirrels. Just stay hydrated lol

[rocket88]

Oh I've got one, built it a few years ago, and have to agree with placement. It's a great fuzz.

Lucky bastard I've only been able to see sleep that one time. Every time they have a show here tickets are go in literally 1 sec. The only band I would say I think is heavier is YOB. Not due to fuzz or anything like that, they're just so heavy and earthy. I mean Mike Schmidt does play in Low A tuning. Haha

[M. Spencer]

I still have a handfull of metal can 741s, but since the circuit had a 4558 in there I wanted them to match....because it really matters!

I worked stage security at the last Sleep show in Portland two years ago and my ears are still ringing. Earplugs just didn't cut it! Worth it, I had the best seat in the house.

On your recommendations I will definitely do an Ace Tone FM-2 for all my Sabbath needs.

Tim, I know what you mean. I have at times not posted after JohnK because his pedals make mine look like child's play.  

Squirrels, those look excellent. What do you use for clear coat? Also, let's see some guts!

Here's a DAM Ezekiel I made for a friend.


 

[Travis]

Maurice I can imagine how intense it is to be right in front of the stage when sleep is playing. Were your clothes blowing around from the amps?


That Zeke looks cool. I've been digging the painted boards and those white diodes


To be honest my (original) FM-2 wouldn't be my first choice for Sabbath/Iommi sounds but it has absolutely become my #1 choice for fuzz in a band context.

[Pavlos]

I second M.Spencer with regards to Squirrels showing us his work on the inside as well as the great artwork on the outside......after all it is show you pedal guts

And I know what you mean about JohnK, his pedals look far better than plenty of the so called pro builders out there and can be quite intimidating in many ways, but also like many others in this section, an inspiration for the rest of us to what can be done if you want to really go for it! once I get my first pedal boxed up and working ok, I'll post my own up here as well, just don't expect too much though guys......

[squirrels]

Yeah... the guts are generally a train wreck. I don't think these were too bad though.

[Pavlos]

well I'm just hoping I manage to do a decent enough job of my own wiring that it doesn't resemble a rats nest too much ........and try not to follow JohnK of course!

[M. Spencer]

Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive

[Marbles]

Don't worry Pavlos,  just use big boxes :)
I love A Place To Bury Strangers and think Death By Audio pedals are awesome, but they used big ass boxes with, well, 'non John K' - wiring . And sold them for a lot of $$ :

[trom72]

Mr Spencer and Squirrels,  your builds are really fantastic and inspiring. Thanks to show us what can be done.

[mug]

Now THAT is what a sparkle should look like! Very cool

[M. Spencer]

I look at Travis and John K and some others' builds and think "one day mine will look this good..."

[Pavlos]

Marbles wrote

Don't worry Pavlos,  just use big boxes :)
I love A Place To Bury Strangers and think Death By Audio pedals are awesome, but they used big ass boxes with, well, 'non John K' - wiring . And sold them for a lot of $$ :

Haha, good idea, but I think the strangers will more likely be scared away already! I have some BB and B sized enclosures so shouldn't have too much trouble with most of what I'm planning on building as long as I don't rush too much with the boxing up. I am planning on putting more than one circuit in some of the BB sized enclosures though, couple of contrasting/complimentory fuzz are near the top of the list, as well as doubled up delays (Short/long etc) trem with vibe and I'm sure there will be plenty of other useful pairings as well. Of course the BB are also good for the big/many knob circuits too, so I think I have most bases covered, and if not I'll just have to get me something more suitable :)

M. Spencer wrote

I look at Travis and John K and some others' builds and think "one day mine will look this good..."

They are not human, they are aliens sent among us to show us the way to enlihgtenment lol, I wouldn't worry too much mate, that sparkle drive looks really good, the green has an almost reptillian shimmer, very cool
Got the sparkle drive and and voodoo labs overdrive on my to do list so hopefully they'll be worth the effort :o)

[trom72]

Not humans... one day mine will look as good... good description of my feeling when I look their builds, il also give me the idea of selling my soldering station. But I won't, too much addicted to the building fun

[johnk]

just remember, it's more important that they SOUND good.

[Travis]

Pavlos wrote

They are not human, they are aliens sent among us to show us the way to enlihgtenment lol

Lol I just met Giorgio Tsoukalos from Ancient Aliens yesterday!





My builds aren't perfect but as John K says it's all about the sound (and I think durability counts too!)

[Pavlos]

hey Travis, isn't that a father and son photo?

I fully agree with JohnK and yourself about sounding good being the most important aspect of any build, I'd say closely followed by durability, after all you don't want to have to keep on repairing something that sounds good (POS is another matter though lol) and nothing wrong with having a good sounding build look good as well (According to presonal taste of course) though I think it is more important that the builder is satisfied with the results of their efforts.

Personally, as long as the interior isn't a total mess and I can put my own builds next to comercially produced pedals without feeling totally embarassed then I'll be satisfied. Got my first ones in the process of being boxed up over the next few weeks and even though I'm a tad nervous about how they'll turn out I'm going to post photos anyway, because I'll aim for my next ones to be that little bit better each time........sorry JohnK but that's all your fault for setting such a high standard

[trom72]

My last builds. A triple Wreck with switchable 9V/18V for the main board and clipping option. Multi Delay is made with multiplex Jr and triton delay. Very fun and they work well together to make some strange delay rythm. PSI Fuzz with an AC176, I didn't have AC187 but it work very well.
The last one is made with GuitarPCB board. It's a fuzz, with the toggle you can switch from 2 to 3 trannies, from face to bender. And I choose a mix, Si for face and add a Ge in bender mode.

[johnk]

Zvex Mastotron in a vertical etched 1590B with top jacks and a relayed true bypass: