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Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Greeny's Vero Build Guide

A number of people have asked me to do a build guide for one of these effects, but I noticed the other day that one of the guys here (timmy) had already done a very nice one which was posted on the Ultimate Guitar forum, so I asked Tim whether we could use it here and he was happy to oblige.  So many thanks for this Tim, it's a great guide and should visually answer a lot of questions some people may have when trying build up these effects.

It may be useful to print this out for cross reference when following the guide:



Daddy, where do baby pedals come from?

Well for me, this is where. My bench. Thought i'd take some photo's of a build and show the world how i build shit.  Here we go!

Start off with this bad boy here. Vero board slab bought from Tayda Electronics.




Once you know what pedal you wanna build you find/make a layout blablahblah. I'm making a Menatone Red Snapper with IvIark's layout.

I cut it down to size and file the edges (cosmetic reasons..)




I then mark out for the trace cuts and drill a hole to start the cut.






I then grab a bigger drill bit and cut the traces by hand.



Then i add the jumpers in.




And boom, we have a board ready for components!

   
Okay so now that we have the board ready, i add components.  
I start with resistors cause they are the shortest in height. I use RN55's cause they are killer.




Then diodes. Used 1n4001's cause i love em.




I then use an IC. This is an old school JRC4558.




Then come the caps. I use Phillips ones for pedals like this for size reasons. Theres also a Silver Mica in there.




Then polarised caps. I LOVE KEMET ONES (the one that looks like a bullet) CAUSE THEY LOOK SIIIICK!




And there we have a populated board!

Now to wire it into an enclosure..
Here's one i prepared earlier!




Fill it with the required parts.





Now for wiring. I start normally with the LED and grounding.




Then input and output jacks.




Then more power/switch wiring..




Looks kinda messy at this stage. but dont panic! I then add the circuit in last!




All done!




Works a treat first time
at

161 comments:

  1. Anonymous25 April 2012 at 19:36

    super clean.

    ReplyDelete
  2. visualdistortion25 April 2012 at 22:19

    What's the plastic things on the pot? It can be my solution of isolation since 3 years!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous25 April 2012 at 22:28

      Pot condoms! They come with pots bought from Tayda.

      Delete
    2. zosotone25 April 2012 at 22:31

      http://www.mammothelectronics.com/mobile/default.aspx#P1557

      Delete
    3. Unknown3 April 2013 at 08:48

      Pot Condoms! I'v never heard them called that, but i do love it. Stealing it for all future use.

      Delete
    4. Unknown3 April 2013 at 09:37


      It's been called that for a while now... :)

      http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1409402

      Delete
    5. Unknown19 March 2016 at 02:08

      So what is the purpose of drilling the extra large holes? Is it for ventilation?

      Delete
    6. Zach19 March 2016 at 04:17

      the larger holes are the cuts in the board and the copper tracks below.

      Delete
  3. J0K3RX26 April 2012 at 07:37

    These are alpha pots and the come with the pot cover... They are also $4.39 for 5 pots and that is about 88 cents per pot.. Minimum order of $10.00 and free shipping on all orders

    http://www.thaishine.com/servlet/the-Potentiometer%E2%80%8Bs-cln-Rotary-Potentiomete%E2%80%8Brs/Categories

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jumbled Opinion20 June 2012 at 22:20

    OK, so I'm curious. Why does it appear that Timmy used 3 different types of 10K resistors on this board?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark20 June 2012 at 23:05

      No idea unless he only had a few of each. It is quite cool having 3 different Dale metal film resistors in the same build at the same value though! :o)

      Delete
  5. Universidad23 July 2012 at 17:36

    Can somebody please tell me if 4u7 means 47 uf or 4.7 uf
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark23 July 2012 at 17:47

      4.7u. The letter always takes the place of the decimal point, such as 2K2(2.2K), 4M7(4.7M), 6N8 (6.8nF) etc

      Delete
  6. louisquinn28 July 2012 at 07:36

    sooo... using that switch wiring configuration, do you have any trouble with switch pops? i now there are millions of answers on forums for this but i've tried everything and i was wondering... do you have any suggestions?
    this problem is really putting me off building .. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark28 July 2012 at 12:27

      No way of wiring the switch will necessarily prevent popping which is normally a result of the actual circuit or the LED. The true bypass method Timmy used here seems to be the conventional true bypass wiring, like this:

      http://www.little-black-box.co.uk/images/uploads/wiring-diagrams/3pdt-wiring.jpg

      Except Timmy used the middle pole for the LED rather than the right hand pole shown in that diagram. I use the method shown in the Offboard Wiring page which grounds the input during bypass which can stop noise bleedthrough that you get with some higher gain circuits.

      If you want to silence popping you will need to add a pulldown resistor between the input wire (PCB side not socket side) and ground which helps in most cases. If you're still getting popping check out Jack's write up on LED popping here:

      http://www.muzique.com/lab/led.htm

      Delete
  7. J17 September 2012 at 23:04

    Hey,

    Quick question - what do you support the circuit board on? I can't see any screws so I'm guessing it's just floating with some foam or something on the back to stop it shorting on the pots etc.?

    Great site by the way!

    J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark18 September 2012 at 00:48

      I don't think timmy used anything with this because those solid core wires keep everything firmly in place, but I always use sticky backed velcro. A couple of small squares on that back of the pots and a strip stuck to the back of the vero.

      Delete
    2. Unknown26 January 2017 at 19:08

      Great idea!

      Delete
  8. J21 September 2012 at 17:29

    Ok, cool. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Otalgia FX18 October 2012 at 10:19

    What wire would you recommend for Builds Mark? I've been using 22awg stranded and then tinning. A lot of other friends are suggesting 24awg pre-bonded - would this fit through the vero board holes? Can you suggest a UK supplier? Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ross21 October 2012 at 20:36

    A potentially useful tool: a razor (also known as hobby) saw. I'm getting tired of the X-acto knife for cutting vero, and this is probably next on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. RobbiePerry23 October 2012 at 16:25

    Where does the battery fit into this enclosure?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark23 October 2012 at 17:02

      If you want a battery you'll have to space it out appropriately. I've never made a pedal for myself and included a battery snap because a daisy chained power supply is so much more convenient to me, giving one less thing to think about. If there was ever a problem with the power that would stop my daisy chain working, then my amp wouldn't be working either.

      Delete
    2. RobbiePerry23 October 2012 at 17:38

      I'm just about to box a Craig Anderton Freq Booster and wondered how I might get all the parts in including a battery after looking at this! Damn it I'll cram it!!

      Delete
    3. IvIark23 October 2012 at 17:53

      Mount the vero upside down and you'll get it in easily

      Delete
  12. vaxire28 October 2012 at 12:18

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MTCA11 November 2012 at 15:18

    Anybody know where to buy that cloth covered wire? I remember seeing it in old Fender amps, and it seems really easy to work with!!

    Also, is that just a diode to ground (fom 3PDT), to prevent shorting it? Schottky? Never done that myself, but i believe I just blew a mosfet (on a millenium circuit), because the wire from my power supply touched the unfinished, grounded enclosure...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mark Tuazon15 November 2012 at 19:47

    Are there any steps in preparing the veroboard? I'm going to start building a Timmy clone, but i've read in some forums how people needed to sand, i think, the copper in order to get better contacts. Is this suggested or completely unnecessary? My board is from Tayda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark15 November 2012 at 21:00

      Others may have different recommendations but I've never prepared a vero in my life and I've never had any problems. Anything that adds an extra step and unnecessary extra time to a build is a big no no for me.

      Delete
    2. Mark Tuazon15 November 2012 at 22:31

      For the Timmy build I've seen them built with a stereo input. Does it matter what we use? I have both mono and stereo jacks but wanted to make it as similar to the original

      Delete
  15. Unknown12 December 2012 at 23:30

    I bought these boards from Tayda:

    http://www.taydaelectronics.com/prototyping-board-120x80mm.html

    I realized that the backside didn't look the same as the strip boards that I see on here. These just have circular copper pads instead of the copper strips all the way across. Are these just for prototyping and will not work inside of a pedal? Should I just go ahead and get some of these instead:

    http://www.taydaelectronics.com/small-stripboard-94x53mm-copper.html

    Thanks so much in advance
    -K

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mirosol13 December 2012 at 05:50

      Those are called perfboards. And they are used in very different manner than the stripboard - So you basically can't use those with these layouts. Check Runoffgroove.com for some perf layouts...
      +m

      Delete
  16. Ed Roper29 December 2012 at 19:00

    Hi there. The veroboard layouts seem easy enough to handle, but I'm having a trouble wrapping my head around the wiring for the external components like pots, power supply, input etc. The layouts dont seem to address it, as far as what pins on pots, connecting to output, etc. I'm a pretty rank beginner, so I was hoping to find some info on pedal builds but this only looks to get me half way. Can you offer some advice on how to figure that out?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dexxyy29 December 2012 at 19:33

      Hi, check out the off board wiring guide in the off board tab at the top of the page.

      Delete
  17. DapperSparrow10 February 2013 at 18:05

    Hey, what are you using for jumpers? I'm just starting to use your diagrams to build (which are FANTASTIC!) But i don't know what you use as jumpers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark10 February 2013 at 18:10

      Use cut off leads from resistors and caps, or zero ohm resistors if you really want to.

      Delete
    2. DapperSparrow10 February 2013 at 18:34

      Thanks :)

      Delete
  18. Anonymous14 February 2013 at 08:14

    Yup, i used cut off leads from resistors and diodes.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Unknown17 February 2013 at 15:46

    lvlark Do you know where to find the cloth hook up wire? I'm new to this and I've bought almost all of the parts from Tayda and Mammoth Electronics but they don't have the cloth hook up. Also I search for it but the come in different Ga and volt rating. I was thinking of going 20Ga. Stranded 600v tolerance. Is that good? or should I go for another gauge? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  20. jon q20 February 2013 at 14:05

    Could you add a picture to this that shows the soldering joints on the underside, I would like to see what is happening down there (I am a newb).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jon q20 February 2013 at 14:10

      Also, when I see the red squares in the layout I am assuming they are there to break the connection within the rows on the veroboard?

      Delete
    2. Tracy's Recipies20 February 2013 at 18:39

      yes the red squares is where you would use a drill bit to break the copper connection

      Delete
    3. Tracy's Recipies20 February 2013 at 18:43

      not mine but
      link to solder side of a strip board
      http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/weekendprojects_stripboard-arrows3big.jpg?w=614&h=461

      Delete
    4. jon q20 February 2013 at 21:14

      that is great. thanks!

      Delete
  21. SimoneSpazioanteprima28 February 2013 at 16:24

    What kind of capacitor is 100pF one? A ceramic disk? Can i use any non polarized cap for this? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nareg3 March 2013 at 21:30

    Are you not supposed to ground the enclosure to make a faraday cage? I haven't seen any discussion about that on here or beavis audio or any other resources.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mirosol3 March 2013 at 22:06

      Basically yes.

      But.

      The open framed jacks used in this tutorial connect the jack sleeves (which are grounded) to the box on both sides.

      If one uses shielded jacks (like in original EHX V8 Black Russian, for example), then it is imperative to ground the box too.
      +m

      Delete
  23. chumbox 14 March 2013 at 23:03

    Hey

    Am I right in thinking Tim has wired the cathode to the sleeve of the input jack with the ground to the power and then has the current limiting resistor normally attached to the anode of the LED running from the +ve of the power jack through pole 5 and 6 of the switch?

    He also seems to have the board and all other grounds going to the sleeve of the output jack. I'm assuming these all ground themselves when the pedal is plugged in because I can't see how they get back to the -ve on the power jack otherwise from the pics?

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Unknown17 April 2013 at 14:33

    I have just but one question about this. Where does the output line go? I looked at all the boards in all of the blogpost but I've never seen them on the veroboards. Are they only attached to the volume pots or is there some output line that is connected to the board itself? Since there was no schematics shown on most of the vero layouts here. Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unknown17 April 2013 at 16:40

    Outputs are either taken from the board or from one of the pots. This is always clearly marked. From board/pot you go to the footswitch and from there out to the tip of the output jack.
    Do you need examples?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Unknown18 April 2013 at 08:12

    yes please appreciate it. Like where is the output if its on the board or how does it go if its on the pot. It's this only riddle that I'm having a hard time but most of the offboard wiring and build is already done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark18 April 2013 at 09:06

      With these layouts, the output of the board going back to the stomp switch is marked "Output". Or if there is an end of circuit volume control it is marked Volume 3 with instructions of where volume lugs 1 and 2 need to go in the notes of the layout.

      Delete
    2. Unknown18 April 2013 at 10:50

      @MPB: OK here you go, I'll try to be as graphic as possible. :)

      Firstly, you need to religiously follow this:
      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html

      you see where the blue wire connects the board output with the footswitch, that's just a general representation. Output in this case means "whatever is specified as output on the actual build).
      Output jack is always connected to the footswitch.

      You can have the output on the board itself like here (blue wire marked "output" on the left side of the board)

      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-angel-chorus-rick-holt.html

      in which case you do indeed follow the offboard wiring to the
      letter and connect the board to the footswitch.

      On the other hand, you can have the output taken from one of the pots, like here

      http://http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/mid-fi-electronics-clarinot.html

      There's no output marked on the board but in the notes below it states "vol1 to gnd, vol2 to output". Lug 2 of the volume pot needs to be connected to the footswitch, as described in the offboard wiring picture. In effect, lug 2 is now what you see as "output of the board/effect" and it needs to go to the footswitch.

      Hope this helps. :)

      Delete
  27. chumbox 27 May 2013 at 07:23

    Can someone please tell me how all the grounds connected to the output jack get back to 'common ground' on the DC jack? Or does it somehow ground via the enclosure. I thought it might be via the board ground but it's attached to the output jack also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown27 May 2013 at 07:52

      If you do it as per Mark's diagram here,

      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html

      output jack's ground goes to footswitch and input jack ground. Input jack is then grounded to the dc jack and your board.

      Delete
    2. chumbox 27 May 2013 at 08:01

      Thanks Goran, however I actually wire my true bypass exactly as shown in this build guide as I like to wire the CLR from the DC straight to the switch. However I normally either connect all my grounds via star grounding (pain as you end up with heaps of wires joint at one spot, not my preference) or I combine them all via a small piece or vero (works well but feels a touch clunky) Thought this build guide might show a simpler way but just cannot see how gets back to common ground. Either way I can stick to my vero option, was just hoping someone might be able to explain it for me. :)

      Delete
    3. Unknown27 May 2013 at 12:23


      Oh, I see... you meant THIS particular build, not any build in general! I really shouldn't be writing anything before 9AM... :)

      In this particular case, my guess (since I only see the dc groung being connected with one of the jacks) is that he's using the enclosure to connect the grounds. It is true that when you screw the jacks to the enclosure the enclosure itself gets grounded through the sleeve. As long as there's contact between bare metals of the jacks and the enclosure, this should work fine.
      I wouldn't trust Tayda's jacks with this, though. :)))

      Delete
    4. chumbox 28 May 2013 at 00:33

      Thanks so much Goran. Makes total sense and you 9AM replies are pretty solid for what it's worth ;)

      Delete
  28. Anonymous14 June 2013 at 08:38

    great to see this still getting used!

    ReplyDelete
  29. mstumpf20 July 2013 at 03:55

    What wire do I buy for the jumper "cables"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown20 July 2013 at 07:23

      Whatever suits your fancy. I mostly go with component leads leftover from previous projects, especially for the links that need to fit underneath the IC. For longer spans I go with regular hookup wire, whatever I have at hand at the time. Basically whatever gets you from A to B without getting in the way of other components is fine.

      Delete
    2. Mike Stumpf21 July 2013 at 13:44

      So it does not matter if it is stranded or coated? It always looks more like the component leads in the pictures. What gauge would you recommend?

      (Sorry, two accounts!)

      Delete
    3. Mike Stumpf23 July 2013 at 02:06

      So does it matter if it is solid core or coated? The pictures make it look more like component leads than hook-up wire. What wire gauge would you suggest?

      (Sorry, two accounts!)

      Delete
    4. Mike Stumpf23 July 2013 at 02:11

      So does it matter if it is solid core or coated? The pictures make it look more like component leads than hook-up wire. What wire gauge would you suggest?

      (Sorry, two accounts!)

      Delete
    5. chumbox 23 July 2013 at 02:14

      I use 22 gauge wire (some use 24) and as a starter use stranded. It is flexible, easy to maneuver and hard to break. The ends need to be tinned (look up a youtube video on how to do this) to make it easier to work with. If this is new to you, get stranded. It's easier to access anyways from any electronic shop.

      I now use solid core because I know where I want my wires to go (as does Timmy in the build guide) but it's not a great starting wire because too many bends and it snaps. It doesn't need tinning however. :)

      Delete
    6. Unknown23 July 2013 at 06:39


      @chum: It seems that you are talking about the harness (offboard) wiring, my reference was to board jumpers.
      Good info, though! I use prebonded stranded, best of both worlds IMO...

      Delete
    7. chumbox 23 July 2013 at 06:47

      Oh dear. Thanks Goran for enlightening my tired brain. I use cutoff component leads, especially the nice chunky ones from diodes and caps... cos they make me feel better.

      Delete
  30. Mojo32116 October 2013 at 15:23

    This build guide is great. I am completely jealous. But I have issues. I don't understand how you solder the circuit board in last with the solder on the backside?!?! You go from "lookin kinda messy" to abracadabra the board is soldered onto 7 rigid wires from the backside. Am I crazy here? Are you removing the entire populated enclosure, then soldering the circuit in, and then putting it all back into the enclosure?

    I tried this method of putting everything in the box first with my Keeley 4-knob, and I had to put a bunch of extra wire in to be able to flip the circuit over. Result, a rats nest of wire that I had to cram in the box. Mind you, I used flexible wire, not the rigid stuff.

    Issue #2: A lot of people on this forum say things like, "I finished it tonight, it sounds great. I'll be boxing it up tomorrow."

    Well, if you finished it, and it isn't boxed, that means you didn't do it the way this guide says. Are you going to de-solder everything and then do it this way? Or did you wire it up on the desk with a "plan" in mind to just drop it into an enclosure? THAT is how I do it, but it still never comes out as clean as you guys get 'em.

    Boxing is now my most loathed part of this hobby. PLEASE HELP ME! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. chumbox 2 January 2014 at 03:49

      Hey Mojo 321. I'm no expert but here's my responses from what I've learnt using this guide. I leave just enough wire so I can thread it into the vero right at the end, just flip it over and solder it. Then flip it back. I use solid core wire like in this build guide so it doesn't bend far but works well for me. I found the first few times I had a 'rats nest' of wire and slowly but surely learnt the right lengths to use. Being able to make things neat and structured is done by just building and building and building. You'll get it. Please note Greeny is an expert builder who has been at it for a long time and has a great reputation.

      I tend to build and box all in the same sitting, that's my thing but some people will possibly build the board and hook it up to a test kit with pots and jacks etc to make sure it works before wasting all the time wiring it into an enclosure. I tend to problem solve once it's in the enclosure but certainly don't recommend this as ideal if you don't know what you are doing. Some others might even just breadboard these circuits to see how they sound before soldering anything together at all. Just my thoughts.

      Delete
  31. Mojo32118 October 2013 at 21:00

    There is now a great thread going in the forum under "Boxing Thread". Thanks all for sharing your tricks over there for us beginners!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown8 December 2013 at 12:11

    Hi there what function is the black (diode,cap looking thing) have and what value do you use

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jumbled Opinion2 January 2014 at 03:10

      I'm with Andreas. I can't believe no one else has commented on it before now but there is what appears to be an RN60C Resistor connecting the foot switch to the DC jack. It looks to me like it says [something].65K on it, but there's nothing like it on the parts list.

      Delete
    2. chumbox 2 January 2014 at 03:43

      Hi Jumbled and Andreas. That is the LED resistor. He has it connected from the 9V on the DC jack through the footswitch to the anode (+ve leg) of the LED and the cathode (-ve leg) of the LED to the ground sleeve of the input jack. This way when the foot switch is engaged it connects the 9V power via the resistor to the LED and it lights up. When the switch is off the LED is off. I think it's quite a 'pretty' way of hooking it all together however after using it myself for a few months I found with standard flimsy lead resistors you often found they eventually moved and started touching things. I now mount that resistor on the vero itself even if it means adding a column. I'm now 'one of those guys'. haha

      Delete
  33. Jumbled Opinion2 January 2014 at 16:22

    Thanks for the response, Chumbox. I think that makes sense, but can you tell me what is the correct size resistor for that LED? I'm glad it came up because I need to double check to ensure that I used the correct polarity for the LED anyway.

    In the illustration, it appears that Timmy's LED Resistor lead connects through the middle bottom lug on the foot switch and then to the center lug as well. Is that correct? I will not have to be concerned with the resistor lead touching the jumper between the bottom left and right lugs because I used an insulated wire segment there. I am building the pedal in a configuration like the original Red Snapper (1590BB box with the foot switch in the bottom right edge, so that jumper would have shorted on the box otherwise.

    One thing I'm going to leave right here is that, for a noob, Mark's original tagboard drawing from Feb 14, 2010 (http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2010/02/menatone-red-snapper-3-knob.html) has a clearer picture of which leads connect to which lugs on the pots. The Vero layout is easier to build, but the pot connections are left to experience that some of us don't have yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jumbled Opinion2 January 2014 at 19:48

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Jumbled Opinion2 January 2014 at 19:49

      I found a calculator to help me figure out what resistor I needed for my LED. Unfortunately, it cames back with 350 Ohms, 280 mW, 20mA. I can't find a resistor that comes near that; did I put in bad data?

      Here's the LED Tayda sold me:

      Diameter: 3mm
      Forward voltage(V): 2.0-2.2
      Current(mA): 20

      If I can find what I need in town, I may be able to finish this evening, otherwise, I'll have to place another order.

      Delete
    3. IvIark2 January 2014 at 20:59

      I wouldn't look too deep into it. It depends greatly on the type of LED and what sort of illumination you have a preference for, and a calculator doesn't tell you that. I find with conventional LEDs that a 2.2K resistor is about perfect for me because I never want them blindingly bright. Super bright LEDs and you may prefer something in the range of 10K to 15K.

      I'd suggest experimenting with a battery, a breadboard (or even a terminal block to make the connections) and a few different resistor values to see what works for you.

      Delete
    4. Jumbled Opinion2 January 2014 at 23:02

      That's cool, Mark. I got some extra 10K resistors and the LED is labelled as Ultra Bright, so I will put one of those in there.

      I'm really nervous about this build. I know I need a better soldering station and the iron is a 25W from about 1993, so the solder job has been a bit sloppy, but close inspections don't reveal any slag crossing the lines.

      Delete
    5. IvIark2 January 2014 at 23:21

      I used a 15 or 20W soldering iron for a few years before getting a station so there's no problem using them. As long as the tip is ok that's the main thing. My first soldering iron had a fixed chunky tip and that was just useless for me with this kind of thing. If it's pointed or with a small flat area it'll do nicely.

      Delete
    6. Jumbled Opinion10 January 2014 at 03:27

      OK, so once again, this is my first build and I am feeling particularly lost. Maybe I'm no more so than any other noob, but I've gotten myself thoroughly confused. I may need some counseling on this one. Perhaps I am looking at too many pictures but between the Red Snapper Vero drawing, the Offboard Wiring Vero drawing and the Tagboard drawing that shows the 3 knob layout, I'm messed up.

      I'd like to ask some questions, but I hesitate to load up this blog entry with them because others who aren't confused might become so. Is it better to load them up here or is there someone who might volunteer to answer some questions offline?

      Delete
    7. chumbox 10 January 2014 at 04:21

      Ask away here like Travis said. Good community. Everyone was a noob at some point.

      Delete
  34. Travis10 January 2014 at 03:59

    I suggest you just ask away right here. We're all happy to help when we know how, so it's best to get a varied response :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jumbled Opinion10 January 2014 at 14:43

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Jumbled Opinion11 January 2014 at 02:26

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Jumbled Opinion11 January 2014 at 02:29

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. Jumbled Opinion14 January 2014 at 02:37

      UPDATE: Once again because of the way my mind works, I need a picture. This time, however, I gave drawing it myself a shot.

      This link will take you to a DIYLC-generated image that I drew using the 2 available drawings for the 3-knob along with the off-board wiring schematic.

      If someone could please sanity check it for me, I will feel safe wiring and firing it up!

      My Understanding of it

      Delete
    5. Jumbled Opinion15 January 2014 at 02:56

      Power-up attempt #1 was a failure. The pedal passes the signal through when off, but all I get when I activate the switch is a hum. I did run a box cutter blade through between the tracks to make sure I didn't have any solder slag jumping strips.

      If you haven't already done so, take a look at the drawing I created to try to help me understand the full logic (Link) and then the list below is every wire I have connected to what.

      I really would appreciate any help you can offer. I feel like I've been a pain, but this is something I really want to learn to do. Thanks!

      DC Jack 9V+ = 1 lead to circuit board (D-17)
      & 1 lead to 10K Resistor for LED Anode

      LED cathode = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #1

      DC Jack tip = 1 lead to Input Jack ring

      Input Jack tip = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #9

      Input Jack ring = 1 lead to DC Jack tip
      & 1 lead to circuit board ground strip (K-15)

      Output Jack tip = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #8

      Output Jack ring = 1 lead to Vol 1
      & 1 lead to Bite 3
      & 1 lead to circuit board ground strip (K-17)

      Vol Pot lug #1 = 1 lead to Output Jack ring
      lug #2 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #7
      lug #3 = 1 lead to circuit board (A-17)

      Bite Pot lug #1 = Empty
      lug #2 = 1 lead to circuit board (C-1)
      lug #3 = 1 lead to Output Jack ring

      Gain Pot lug #1 = 1 lead to circuit board (H-1)
      lug #2 = 1 lead to circuit board (D-1)
      & 1 lead to Gain lug #3
      lug #3 = 1 lead to Gain lug #2

      3PDT switch lug #1 = 1 lead to LED cathode
      lug #2 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #3
      lug #3 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #6
      lug #4 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #9
      lug #5 = 1 lead to circuit board (K-1)
      lug #6 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #3
      & 1 lead to circuit board ground strip (K-16)
      lug #7 = 1 lead to Vol Pot lug #2
      lug #8 = 1 lead to Output Jack tip
      lug #9 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #6

      Circuit Board A17 = 1 lead to Vol Pot lug #3
      C1 = 1 lead to Bite Pot lug #2
      D1 = 1 lead to Gain Pot lug #2
      D17 = 1 lead to DC Jack 9V+
      H1 = 1 lead to Gain Pot lug #1
      K1 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #5
      K15 = 1 lead to Input Jack ring
      K16 = 1 lead to 3PDT switch lug #6
      K17 = 1 lead to Output Jack ring

      Delete
    6. IvIark15 January 2014 at 08:52

      Are you sure the input and/or output jack are grounded properly? It isn't connected to the other grounds other than through the case and if either the input or output jacks don't have a good connection to ground through their physical mounting then that could cause noise. Hum often suggests a ground problem so it would certainly be where I would check first.

      Delete
  35. Jumbled Opinion17 January 2014 at 02:42

    Sorry, Mark. I reported an incorrect symptom. I realized tonight that the power supply I pulled out of my extras pile was actually positive center, not negative center. That's where all the hum came from.

    Now that have I connected the correct power supply, I have a clean signal in bypass mode, but when I activate the switch, I get a quiet hissing sound, but absolutely no guitar sound (strumming makes no discernible change). The LED does come on when the switch is active. Any clues?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark17 January 2014 at 08:50

      You need to give us a bit more info. Measure the DC voltage between all IC pins and ground. That's usually the easiest way to spot an area which is misbehaving.

      Delete
  36. Jumbled Opinion18 January 2014 at 01:50

    Mark,

    Using the traditional numbering for IC pins:

    1 - 6.59
    2 - 6.59
    3 - 3.3
    4 - 0
    5 - 6.5
    6 - 6.53
    7 - 6.49
    8 - 13.1

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark18 January 2014 at 02:21

      How are you getting 13.1V out of a 9V power supply?

      Delete
    2. Jumbled Opinion18 January 2014 at 03:53

      Just double checked the power supply. It states "9.0 VDC, 300mA" and it's the one I have been powering my 5 existing pedals with, so I trust it.

      Could one of the capacitors be acting as a charge pump and storing up greater than 9VDC in the circuit? I guess if anyone else would be willing to check the voltage on their own pedal, we could compare them.

      Delete
    3. mirosol18 January 2014 at 09:16

      A cap cannot do that.

      Measure the dc voltage between the tip and sleeve of the power supply. I've seen regulated power supplies that give out a lot higher voltage than they should. The cause has always been the burned regulator inside the supply. If you've used that supply for testing your boards, then it's more than likely that you've shorted the supply out at some point.

      I strongly recommend testing all the boards with a battery. You can solder the 2.1x5.2mm plug tip straight on to a battery snap and use that. A battery is a lot cheaper to burn than a AC/DC supply when testing.

      I've burned a few of supplies myself...
      +m

      Delete
  37. Unknown27 January 2014 at 08:15

    Thanks Mirosol ...... had a noise problem with picoso boost and just connected the battery and it works thanks mate !

    ReplyDelete
  38. N.R. Janoes28 January 2014 at 18:10

    Hello everyone! I just wanted to share a tip that I'm using when it comes to mark out for the trace cuts, adding jumpers even the components, especially in larger veroboards. I first number the layout (both rows & columns)

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7DoTp4ra27rRHJZV0lHVzFGYjA/edit?usp=sharing

    Then I stick some tape on the sides of the veroboard and do the same.

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7DoTp4ra27rME02UXc4NFcxNkk/edit?usp=sharing

    It really helps me getting to the right holes easily, without counting again and again just to triple check that I'm right.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Boukman21 March 2014 at 08:47

    Hi,
    I`m about to complete the Zendrive...How do you fix the board in place after you`ve made all the solders?
    And what is the best way to cut the vero to size without breaking it?
    Thanks for all the wonderful work you`ve been doing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark21 March 2014 at 09:07

      I buy lengths of velcro and stick the board to the back of the pots using that. If I wanted it as secure as possible then I'd use stand-offs screwed to the box, but I don't think they're necessary unless you're particularly heavy handed with your pedals. Velcro has always worked perfectly for me.

      To cut the board I've used lots of different ways over the years. Scoring with a Stanley Knife or box cutter and then snapping, Dremel, etc etc, but for me the best and safest way is just to use a junior hack saw. I do it a little on both sides, snap it off, and then smooth down the sides with a bench grinder, but if you don't have a grinder just cut all the way through with the hack saw and it will be neat enough.

      Delete
  40. Unknown28 March 2014 at 19:35

    Hi all.
    I have a need. I have a 2 channel amp. I use a pedal board.
    I need a stomp box that will let me use channel 2 w/o effects and switch to channel 1 with effects. Is there a non-powered simple build for this. I have built a lot of Marks stuff but am not sure what I need.
    jeff

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous24 April 2014 at 11:31

    Hi, this post isn't really related to this particular post, but i'm wondering if i could replace vero with cardboard, cause i really don't like to be using it for the possible toxicity. I know it's possible to solder into cardboard, but what i'd like to know if there is some hazard like the cardboard catching fire or something when in use. I also know that it's been used for example with the Paperduino (http://lab.guilhermemartins.net/2009/05/06/paperduino-prints/). Besides the cardboard i'm also thinking of maybe using wood though using cardboard would mean a lot less trouble. Anyways, i'm trying to just find a good, non-toxic substitute for vero, so if someone should have any ideas i'd like to hear them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mirosol24 April 2014 at 13:14

      Now you got me interested. What are the toxins in stripboard?
      +m

      Delete
    2. chumbox 24 April 2014 at 14:03

      I'm also interested to hear but personally I'd say the solder fumes are the real hazard here. Even good non toxic solder fumes are still pretty toxic over time compared to heating up copper strips on vero. Interesting topic though and keen to learn more.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous24 April 2014 at 14:32

      Well, I just heard about this yesterday, and supposedly the bad thing about vero is that after you cut or file it or whatnot, inhaling the debris/dust would be very bad for you. So what I did today is I looked up what this vero that they sell here in Finland cointains and it says it's made of paper and pertinax, which I then googled and found out contains phenol formaldehyde resin, which supposedly (maybe) is the toxic part in it. Not completely sure yet though, and not sure either if that is the stuff they use in all stripboards. Anyways I'm still trying to find this stuff out and am gonna ask the guy I heard about this from if he knows any better or where his information is from.

      About the solder fumes, I personally use an active carbon filter ;) while soldering (I do this at kitchen/living room) so myself or no-one else needs to be inhaling that stuff anyways (at least all that much).

      Delete
    4. Bohemian H24 April 2014 at 14:35

      Muahhahaa, I cut my Vero with a dremel, so if I suddenly stop posting, I'm probably writhing in a toxic cloud of vero board dust.

      Delete
    5. IvIark24 April 2014 at 17:00

      I can understand some peoples concerns, but if I was put off everything that had the potential to be bad for me, I'd be bloody miserable. If you concern in phenolic board then consider epoxy fibre instead:

      https://www.veroboard.com/

      As far as the cardboard goes, you could make these things on literally anything with conductive tracks, so yes there's no reason why it wouldn't work. Personally I think I'd prefer to use the proper stuff which will always be physically more robust, and if I have concerns about dust, use a face mask when cutting and clean up after myself with a hoover. Or think about the alternative material like epoxy.

      But to each his own, if you try it let us know how you get on.

      Delete
    6. mirosol24 April 2014 at 17:47

      I might want to give a epoxy fiber a chance at some point anyway...

      I think you need to eat a whole lot of pertinax on every breakfast before it makes any difference. I smoke ~2 packs a day (and have been doing so for the last 22 years), plus earlier i've worked in environments that are not the best ones for your lungs. It may be just me, but i don't see the risk on this one. Besides, the acids used for etching PCBs are not exactly fruit juices either...

      On solder fumes - you'd need to go way higher with the temperature to make lead a gas. 1749 °C to be exact. Same goes for the tin at 2602 °C. So using an iron with ~400 °C temperature won't make those metals hazardous. What the flux agents have in them, i'm not sure. But trust me. You won't get lead poisoning by soldering.
      +m

      Delete
    7. levis29 April 2014 at 20:04

      Do you know a place that sells that epoxy board? Because normal "paper"-based Veroboard builds aren´t something that you can give anything like lifetime guarantee to. I´ve seen those boards go totally crumbs in demanding use (from a cold trunk to warm stage daily). They really don´t like condensation and moisture + maybe bit of shake in the back of gig bus eats them quickly compared to PCB.

      Delete
    8. mirosol1 May 2014 at 14:40

      I've heard a lot of talk about standard paper based stripboard being unworthy building material compared to factory made PCBs. No. I do not agree with any of you. I just did a little experiment. Threw a couple of stripboard pieces in a jar with water and left it be for 6 hours. No. They don't suck the water in them and no. They didn't crumble or anything else. These pieces are just as solid as they were 6 hours ago.

      I sure would like to see a photo of stripboard that's broken.
      +m

      Delete
    9. IvIark1 May 2014 at 17:21

      Phenolic boards are in plenty of stompboxes from the 60s and 70s which still work perfectly well, and some people will pay thousands of pounds/dollars for, so I'm not too concerned about its longevity. I think the electrolytics will pack in before the board does.

      Delete
  42. levis1 May 2014 at 16:28

    Funny that I have done the same test. Actually I had a piece of stripboard in water for a couple of days and let it dry and put back to water, but that also seemed almost as hard as it was new after the experiment. There might be different types of "normal" stripboard material too or then that waterglass-test doesn´t equate real-life situations where the moisture might also get frozen time to time plus all the shaking etc.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown27 June 2014 at 02:41

    I am thinking about building my first pedal and I don't have a power drill at home, is there any way to cut the traces without a drill, or do I need to borrow one? Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. chumbox 27 June 2014 at 02:49

      Hey Wes

      Greeny drills holes so he can clearly see where the cut needs to be and it makes it a little easier but you can do it without one.

      I mark all my cuts with a permanent marker and use a appropriately sized drill bit in my fingers to cut them. I just hold it in the hole, give it a couple of quick flicks of the wrist and blammo, nice clean cut.

      If this is not an option you can just score a line in the trace with a sharp knife (box knife etc), as long as you are sure it is clearly cut it will work fine too.

      There's also special tools just for this job but if I was going to buy one of those I'd buy myself a new power drill while I was at the shops haha

      Have fun. Your going to love it!

      Delete
  44. Unknown7 September 2014 at 12:36

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Unknown8 September 2014 at 14:12

    Great guide! I just don't quite understand the color codes for the condensers. Which ones are the red ones and so on?

    ReplyDelete
  46. GxDxKx16 October 2014 at 17:53

    this might be a stupid question but what are those two blue dots on the upper and lower corner of the layout drawing? thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Unknown2 November 2014 at 11:43

    sorry if this sounds a bit stupid to ask, but does the direction of the switch matter? I mean by looking at the diagram, is there anything indication to which direction the foot switch should be in (i.e. horizontal, vertical, etc.)? Sorry I'm very new to this and still learning very slowly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown30 May 2015 at 23:52

      Hi! I'll try a reply here. The direction matters. You shoul pick the switch and the see the poles as horizontal lines. This way, the horizontal line in the middle (3 poles) is the common. As you can see in the pic nº 17, the input and output jacks goes right there.
      Am I clear? sorry the poor english

      Delete
  48. dodger2 December 2014 at 20:08

    Hi Guys, First let me say thank you to the person/people that put these layouts up. I have had 3 successful builds so far and managed to upset my mate with my £12 SHO Compared to his £130 one.....well he is also a drummer.....I am looking to complete this build over the weekend and with been a complete novice I am looking for a touch of advise...

    What if any difference would it make using 1n4001 diodes instead of the 1n914.... I have ordered both.....

    Thanks in advance....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. chumbox 2 December 2014 at 23:26

      Different diodes clip at different forward voltages and thus produce differing harmonic tones or smoothness. You could socket them and try as many as you like. I'm with Greeny though 1n4001s sound killer in pretty much anything

      Delete
  49. dodger3 December 2014 at 19:15

    Thanks chumbox.......do I take it that different diodes have different values so they clip the wave form at different points?????

    Again thanks all help appreciated as I am a complete novice

    ReplyDelete
  50. Unknown27 January 2015 at 15:09

    How do i know how to wire the led, buttons, jack inputs etc??? that's not in the schematic...

    Thank you =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mirosol27 January 2015 at 17:53

      First, the layouts are not schematics. Second, have you checked the page on the top menu, called "Offboard"?
      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.fi/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html
      +m

      Delete
  51. Unknown31 January 2015 at 21:51

    Thanks for this really helpful guide!
    A have a question about the cosmetics of the pedal, not about electronic... Is there a proper and timeless method of painting the enclosure? I'm thinking of sintering or anodizing, but these methods are a bit hard-to-do at home...

    ReplyDelete
  52. jaygeeteruk23 February 2015 at 18:11

    The guide is great for a newbie.

    My main problem in making boards that worked was counting the holes in the veroboard in order to place components and constantly losing or mixing up the hole count and placing them in the wrong place.It can get very confusing.
    I got over this by placing a wide piece of masking tape over the "raw" strip board and rubbing it firmly down to be able to see the ghost of the holes.
    I then use a fine marker pen to identify the strip cut locations with a square and punch out the corresponding hole in the masking tape before drilling..
    I punch out a hole for each end of the resistors and links and draw a straight line between them. For the capacitors I do the same but mark the line with ring or oval to distinguish from resistor lines.
    It is just about possible to circle semiconductor pins and mark transistor and diode pins with a letter (C.B.E. D.S.G etc.) Wires are also located with holes punched out.
    The result is that I can populate the board accurately and wire connectors to the correct strips even when leaving the board part way completed until days later.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Frank Liu18 May 2015 at 20:00

    Hi!
    The wiring you did on the 3PDT switch here is much cleaner than the one on your Off board wiring page. Can you share with us the exact diagram here?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ciaran Haslett18 May 2015 at 21:59

      The switch wiring above does not ground the circuit input during bypass like Marks diagram in the Offboard section. I would recommend sticking to Marks wiring, especially in high gain circuits to minimise potential noise/crosstalk when bypassed. But as for above...

      Switch lugs
      1-4-7
      2-5-8
      3-6-9

      1 = Circuit Input
      2 = Jack Input
      3 linked to 9

      4 = LED Anode
      5 linked to 6
      6 = Current resistor to V+

      7 = Circuit Output
      8 = Jack Output

      Delete
    2. chumbox 1 June 2015 at 05:54

      Hi Frank (and Ciraran) Just wanted to say I use Greeny's 3PDT wiring all the time and have had no trouble with the grounding problems people often refer and that is with medium-high gain circuits as well. Just be sure everything else is grounded well in a good quality enclosure and 9/10 times you'll probably be fine. Have fun.

      Delete
  54. Unknown16 August 2015 at 09:21

    I still have to buy my components. My question is can I use box type capacitors and bend their leads like you do to those panasonic/phillips caps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. chumbox 17 August 2015 at 02:50

      Hey Renato

      Most standard box caps span 3 spaces as in the vero used in this example (and most veros on this site) except for the 100p which would be a tiny ceramic one. You'll find they fit perfectly on most veros you see on this site. Occasionally you'll some film ones span 4 spaces you'll need to do some bending as Ciaran noted.

      Good luck!

      Delete
  55. Ciaran Haslett16 August 2015 at 10:58

    Yes you can. Some box caps come with short legs making them difficult to span more than 4 rows without modifying then so just bear that in mind. Good luck

    ReplyDelete
  56. Unknown17 August 2015 at 04:58

    Thank you so much for the replies. I've been mulling over a parts buy at Tayda's for a startup in pedal building and I think I should proceed with the purchase now. Thanks1

    ReplyDelete
  57. Unknown7 October 2015 at 18:26

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  58. SEO Hire Me8 October 2015 at 07:18

    It's really a fantastic information and may creatively response plenty of inquiries some individuals could have any time seeking build-up these kinds of outcomes.
    guitarscamp.com/best-electric-guitar

    ReplyDelete
  59. Francesco21 December 2015 at 16:37

    what kind of wire do you use/recommend? solid or stranded? fabric or plastic?

    ReplyDelete
  60. Francesco16 January 2016 at 19:39

    would be great if you guys could build examples on a traditional prototype Breadboard (5 columns+5columns) so we could learn by changing components instead of soldering them

    i also love Fritzing software that actually convert anything in boht bread to schematic and pcb...

    ReplyDelete
  61. Unknown31 August 2016 at 21:09

    HI, sorry for a stupid question, I am a beginner What is the reason for (Tracing a board before you start, do you make the hole all the way through.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark2 September 2016 at 00:19

      Tim just uses those from the layout as an indication where the cuts need to go. You can drill straight through if you want, plenty of people do it that way, but I use a simple drill bit on the copper side to cut through the track to make the required break

      Delete
  62. Justwork_lol13 November 2016 at 20:36

    I know this is a noob question but can't tell from the pictures...when you create the links in the diagram, is the goal simply to connect the circuit in the top hole to the bottom hole or do you need to try to get solder through every hole to the jumper wire (line of solder spanning all the holes). I'm 90% sure it is the first but all the pictures I've seen of perf boards with the individual copper holes that needed everything soldered. I ordered the stripboard to alleviate some of this soldering but wanted to be sure about how to connect the leads properly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Justin18 November 2016 at 22:08

      They sell two kinds of strip board. You should get the one that has tracks so that the current will flow down the track.

      Delete
    2. Zach18 November 2016 at 22:52

      There's only one kind of stripboard actually. The one that has individual pads is known as perfboard and will not work for the layouts on this site.

      To answer unknowns question about links, the like is a wire that you run on the top of the boards, i.e. the side without the copper tracks, and does as you first say, connect the row at the top hole to the row with the bottom hole.

      Delete
  63. Justin18 November 2016 at 22:07

    How is the board mounted to the enclosure? Does it just rest on the pots, or does all the wiring hold it in place?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zach18 November 2016 at 22:54

      Everyone has their way, so I can't you specifically what to do. What I do is use a piece of a wood dowl and glue the board to one side and glue the other to the enclosure. You could use double sided tape to stick it to the enclosure or back of the pots too. As long as the board doesn't ground out you should be fine.

      Delete
  64. Unknown26 January 2017 at 19:26

    Thank you for this site and all the valuable information! I've been wanting to build my own boxes for a while now, and this site has really opened up a world of options for me. Sites like this and the free sharing of information are what makes the internet great!

    P.S. If anyone has a layout/BOM for the Friedman BE-OD, I'd love to see it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous3 March 2017 at 21:51

    Ive been using this site for a while, i happened to check out the build guide. I noticed that he omitted the 100pf cap, and there is a 1n4001 in its place. Could anyone advise on why? It just happens that im down to last of my stock and have these exact pots, which is crazy bc i never seem to have what i need lol. But if anyone could give me some insite into why the diode is used instead of the pf cap id really appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Unknown15 May 2017 at 21:26

    i've got a newbie question here. Do you place all the components on the vero, and then you solder them, or do you solder each one on the board when placing them?

    ReplyDelete
  67. Unknown22 September 2017 at 17:20

    You know what would be nice? If there's a section of 'best and worst' circuits. Then votes put circuits in categories based solely on whether its a good layout or bad layout. By this I mean layout principles which make a circuit work well, vs which have cross-talk, power and signal in wiring too close together, long parallel runs of wire or other issues which cause parasitic capacitance, etc.

    By having a catalog of what is best and worst in circuit design people can more quickly and easily figure out the rules for good design principles. I have scoured the net and have not found the solutions to these questions:

    How do you make a circuit fit in as small a space as possible?

    How close can certain wires be before issues arise?

    Is crossing over other wires a problem, if the wires run perpendicular with one on the underside of the board and one on top?

    ReplyDelete
  68. Unknown12 January 2018 at 14:20

    Pfff, When watching this, it looks so easy...

    ReplyDelete
  69. Riff Worship30 January 2018 at 05:54

    hey I just realised that I've been trying to build a pedal placing the components on the vero mirrored since I used to build them on diy pcb. Will soldering them mirrored affect them in any way or will the build still work?

    ReplyDelete
  70. Lemminkejnen25 February 2019 at 12:56

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Lemminkejnen25 February 2019 at 13:01

    Hi! I bulit this after a every noob's 1st bulid (the fuzz face), and it's doesn't do the trick.
    I'm testing the finished strip-board with a breadboard (no bypass switching), it let's trough the sound but it doesn't distorting or modify. And it's a bit noisy.

    And I've got the same problem with my 3rd bulit, an EHX Big muff. It lets trough the clean (bit noisy) guitar tone, but does nothing else.

    Any idea where I screw them? Maybe I overheated some components?

    ReplyDelete
  72. Tino20 September 2019 at 15:01

    Forgive my newbieness, but where is the output in the board?

    ReplyDelete
  73. Remi17 January 2020 at 17:02

    Thanks Ivlark for a very useful service. I appreciate the imagination and skill required to layout these boards. I have built many boards but I completed my first successful build on this site (mxr noise gate) and would like to offer the following suggestions:

    1. Schematics are a must for troubleshooting. Each component should be referenced with identifier such as R1, C1, U1, etc. This makes troubleshooting and discussion on the forum much easier.

    2. Consider flipping the second image of the board that shows cuts and traces so that it is displayed as viewed from the copper side. This reduces possibility of errors and simplifies verification.

    Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Peter16 July 2020 at 13:58

    This excellent guide will help a lot when I make my first pedal shortly. The one big mystery left is how to connect/solder the pots... I do not have a clue based on this guide. The schematic talks about Vol 1 and 2, but only mentiones Vol 3...

    Nobody else seems to be bothered, so I am probably dumb :)

    But.... If anyone can shed some light on this....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark21 July 2020 at 22:16

      The wire to Volume 3 is in the vast majority of cases the output of the circuit. If you look in the notes of the layout you will usually see:

      Volume 1 to ground
      Volume 2 to output (stomp switch)

      The pot numbering and switch wiring can be found here:
      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html

      Delete
    2. Peter22 July 2020 at 07:36

      Thank you, Ivlark. This really helps. The same goes for "Bite" and " gain" in this example I guess? I still do not understand it well: Bite goes to pin 1 on the pot and then? Pin 2 to output and 3 to ground?

      Delete
    3. IvIark24 July 2020 at 18:22

      Not necessarily. The volume pot is acting as a voltage divider that will let all the signal through or dump some of it to ground and so reduce the output volume. Gain pots are usually just acting as variable resistors and so only 2 of the pins need to be connected to anything (although you will often see pins 1 and 2 or pins 2 and 3 linked.

      Basically a variable resistor will move the wiper (pin 2) closer to either pin 1 or pin 3 depending on which way you have rotated. The variable resistor mode is just altering the resistance between two of the pins. Have a read of this to better understand how the potentiometer works:

      https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/potentiometer.html

      Delete
  75. Byron3 October 2020 at 04:33

    I don't know if someone has asked this already, quite a few comments to read through.

    But I followed this layout for the Frantone LoTone Classic Fuzz and the pedal is working, but the LED is not functioning. Any recommendations?

    ReplyDelete
  76. Ed12 January 2022 at 16:24

    Check the polarity of the LED?

    ReplyDelete
  77. Horizon79 November 2023 at 18:25

    At the outset, I wanted to say that I am a complete novice and the question is extremely simple and stupid. In the scheme on the right, there is one 47u element (marked with blue colors). In the picture it is black. What is this? Is this a type of electrolytic capacitor? Thanks for help ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IvIark9 November 2023 at 18:36

      Yes that’s just the colour of capacitor that he used. I have them in all colours so the one shown in the layouts isn’t significant as long as it’s 47u with an appropriate voltage rating

      Delete