I get asked frequently about where to buy components from, and I know a lot of people, like me, have got together a huge stash of parts so they always have the right resistors and caps at hand. But others still seem to be buying the exact components as and when they need them, sometimes from multiple suppliers and so I thought it would be a good idea for these people if we could put some sort of kit together for the effects so that you can buy everything you need from one place. So I had a word with Bob at Bitsbox who sells electronic components at great prices and I know a number of people already purchase from him from all over the world, and he has agreed to put together kits for these layouts which will include all resistors, capacitors, transistors or opamps, diodes, pots, DC adapter, stomp switch and even an appropriately size stripboard.
I know some people have their own favoured parts when it comes to boxes (size or colour of your choice), indication LED (colour of your choice), input and output sockets (quality and type of your choice) and knobs (design of your choice). With that in mind, these parts haven't been included in the kits so you can still stamp your own mark on the build, but everything else you need is there.
I'll just add a link to the layouts that have kits available as and when they are available, but if there is anything you want to see then let myself or Bitsbox know and we'll try to get some order of priority in putting the kits together. I'll update this post as and when new kits are added so that there is a master list to refer to if you're wondering what kits are available.
All Bitsbox kits can be found HERE.
Update 24th April 2014
Kits now available for sale in the US. Check out:
http://mklec.com/project-kits/guitar-effects-kits
And contact David about what you would like to see next
Great initiative Mark!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDeleteWouldn´t it be better if the kits would have their own name? Like Brainwash Kit- based on the Brain Seltzer? I think bitsbox would get problems this way?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should check this Mark!
Otherwise a very good Idea!
Cheers
Each kit has its own kit number for identification, K078 and K079 in the case of these two. If anyone wants to make suggestions for names for the kits then I'll pass the best on to Bitsbox, but I really didn't want to get into the Madbean-type rename thing myself. I don't know whether my brain would take having to think up witty and meaningful names for potentially 200+ kits.
DeleteGreat! Bitsbox and Doctor Tweak are the main two places I buy from. This makes it much easier. The best thing about Bitsbox is their low postage, as well as being able to buy just one of things.
ReplyDeleteIbanez Tube Screamer?
ReplyDeleteYes that's in the list for the first set of kits. Just so you know this is the list I suggested would be worth doing initially which covers a lot of bases in terms of older classics and modern popular effects:
ReplyDeleteColorSound Overdriver
MXR Phase 45
Seamoon Funk Machine V2 with buffered blend
Keeley 4-Knob Compressor
EHX 66 Triangle Big Muff
EHX 73 Rams Head Big Muff
Maxon OD808
Menatone Red Snapper - 3 knob
ZVex Box of Rock - Complete
Hearthrob Tremolo
Paul Cochrane Timmy
BJFE Honey Bee - layout 2
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Skreddy Lunar Module Deluxe
Ibanez TS808
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Klon Centaur
Lovepedal Eternity Burst
Skreddy Screwdriver Deluxe
Monster Effects Swamp Thang
Proco Rat
Hermida Zendrive
Clark Gainster - compact version
DAM Meathead
MXR Microamp - compact layout
Really awesome idea here, especially since the ones already up are cheaper than some clone pcbs alone from other sites. Also takes the guesswork of figuring out replacement parts on your own. Once some of the weirder, more work intensive pedals show up I'll definitely be ordering them!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant mate, i'll be keeping an eye open and i'm sure i'll be ordering one or two or three !!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea, cheers!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea, Mark, saves a great deal of petrol too, having to to trek to Maplins all the time. Also, the idea seems to have a more personal feel to it than having to go to the cold sellers from ebayers and the like.
ReplyDeleteWill deffo be a future customer.
Mark L.
I think this is an awesome idea... but... No US shipping from BitsBox. I know that Mammoth Electronics does some kits with GuitarPCB and
ReplyDeleteTonefiend, I wonder if they will work with you also. That would be awesome since I buy from Mammoth monthly.
Bitsbox definitely ship to the US, I know people there who buy box caps from them. I don't know if Bob has set up specific worldwide prices for the kits, but I'll ask him.
DeleteNo I asked about one of the kits a couple days ago they said something about their insurance doesn't cover U.S. shipping.
DeleteI don't remember the exact words, but i wasn't able to get one shipped to the U.S.
That doesn't sound right. There is no (good) reason a business won't ship to USA/North America. If they want to they can- and will. If not...
DeleteGreat work and takes a lot of the pain out of parts sourcing.
ReplyDeleteHow about a list of commonly used ICs, trannies and doides across the list of available kits? I often find that BitsBox don't stock the ICs and Diodes on your layouts so have to go hunting to the States a lot.
The Ibanez TS808 and the Keeley 4Knob Compressor would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Kits which are already available.
TS808 kit added
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
Delete3 knob Red Snapper kit added
ReplyDeleteLovepedal Eternity Burst kit added
ReplyDeleteMad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive kit added
ReplyDeleteDear IvIark, I see no other way to contact you, so I would much appreciate if you could help me here. I have just purchased three kits (the Sweet Honey OD, the Klone and the EHX Rams Head). Could you advise on the type of alu die cast boxes I should use for them, as I intend to buy them locally? Many thanks, cheers and best wishes for a Happy New Year, Yavor.
ReplyDeleteAll three of those should fit in "B" box (Hammond 1590B, New Sensor 1290B, 4Site 1590B.. basically anything with 1290B or 1590B in their name), but personally i'd go with "BB" box for the Klone, as it's a bit tricky to fit with that dual gang pot.
DeleteHere's some links for you for the reference and measurements:
http://www.musikding.de/Enclosures/Aluminium-diecast-enclosures/Natural/Box-Type-BB::127.html
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Eddystone-enclosure-B.html
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Hammond-1590B.html
In my experience, most of the local electronic shops carry some boxes that are with those measurements (or close). Just make sure they are die cast aluminum. Plastic is otherwise good, but with those, you're going to have to live with more interference 'cause you're missing the faraday cage effect... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage)
+m
You are great ! Thank you ! Once again, my best wishes for the New Year. I am afraid I will be your frequent guest here form now on :))) Cheers !
ReplyDeleteJust tried ordering my first kits from Bitsbox and found out they don't sell to the US or Canada. I would just order everything I need to build the few builds I'm looking to start with from Smallbear or pedalpartsplus, but I don't know how to identify the icons in the layouts with what the component is. Is there a picture chart identifying what each icon means? If I knew that maybe I wouldn't need to buy a kit. Thx
ReplyDeleteThey definitely deliver to the US and Canada, have you sent them an email?
DeleteAccording to their website, they no longer sell to USA or Canada due to insurance reasons. Also, if I follow the link to the kits from this site and click on the kit to buy it it asks what territory it is shipping to (a value which must be entered in order to proceed) and the US and Canada are noticibly not options to pick from. Upon further investigation today, I learned from their ordering instructions that they no longer provide service to US or Canada.
DeleteWith that being said, I am very excited to built some of the diagrams you and other users have posted, but I need some clarification on a few things to make sure I'm buying the correct seperate parts. I've read through the Components, Layout Guide, and Build Guide tabs on here (all good and informative reads), but still have no clue as to what some of the icons stand for on the vero and tagboard diagrams. For example there are two different capacitor icon types shown in the Layout Guide example (Eternity build), but how would I know what types I am looking at in the example if the author hadn't specified. Also it appears one of the types of caps used has a negative side to it. I'd really appreciate it if someone could take all the icons / symbols commonly used on here and explain what they are (ie: resistor, capacitor (so far I've counted what appears to be three different pictures for them but not sure), diode, trasistor, some half moon looking black thingie, etc...). I am new to this and have much respect for you guys for buiding such an awesome community, but for me, without the knowledge of what the icons mean I'm kinda lost as to what parts I need to order.
If anyone can help, my email is smgbad@yahoo.com . Thanks!
Well I didn't know that, I'll have a word with them because I thought they were shipping worldwide. In the meantime I'll put a little diagram together showing all the component types with descriptions (I'll post it tomorrow, I need my bed! :o). With many of them though it won't make too much difference and I have used a certain cap type (for instance) simply because in the software it was the correct pitch for the number of rows spanned. Most of the components should be obvious with the possible exception being the caps which have a number of different symbols. This is what I would use the majority of the time for caps:
Deletepf values up to 1nF - Ceramics, or preferably multi layer ceramics.
1nf to 1uf - Polyester. Box caps (for a 5mm pitch) or else Panasonic ECQ range or Xycon Greenies.
1uf and above - Radial electrolytic or tantalum bead. I really do like tantalum as they are very compact which is useful with some builds.
If you stick to the above you won't go far wrong.
Do I need to change any of these values if I want to add an LED to one of these schematics? Currently I am collecting parts foe the 3-knob Red Snapper. Also, is there a decent source other than bitsbox for vero/strip board? Pedalpartsplus nor Small bear appear to carry it oddly enough.
ReplyDeleteHello, I have a schematic.. What would it cost have it transformed into awesomeness??
ReplyDeletePost it to the requests section on the forum and as long as it's not for the Space Shuttle control console, awesomeness will be forthcoming :o)
DeleteWould be good to see kits for:
ReplyDeletePaul Cochrane Tim
Barber Ltd
Barber Direct Drive
Sparkle Drive
Zendrive kit added
ReplyDeleteMXR Micro Amp kit added
ReplyDeleteCould you do one for a Mastotron?
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful!
Would also love a Mastotron kit!
ReplyDeleteAw man...what a downer...I was totally going to jump on one or two of these kits. Pretty rarely see a refusal to ship to the states! Back to mass sourcing I suppose :(
ReplyDeleteBitsbox have unfortunately been hamstrung by litigation. Liability insurance required for businesses to send goods to the US has grown to ridiculous (sue-for-a-bad-haircut) proportions making the service uneconomical for companies who don't have a large core business shipping over there.
DeleteWe have so many members and contributors on here from the US (probably 70% of all traffic) that this needs side stepping somehow. I'll have a think of the best way forward and post something up when it is sorted.
I look forward to hearing of your solution! Thanks for being proactive about it :)
DeleteI'm also anticipating a potential solution! I'm new to the world of DIY builds and the thought of having the parts provided is great! I hope you can figure something out!
Deletewould love to see some compressors
ReplyDeleteor an octave pedal
ReplyDeleteIf you have a preference for a compressor and an octave pedal then let us know which ones. Bitsbox are totally open to doing kits for everything on here but there is so much to go at that they're doing them on a "who shouts loudest" basis at the moment. So if you say what you would like to see then I'm sure Bob will sort out the kit reasonably quickly.
DeleteThe Keeley 4 knob compressor or the MXR Dyna comp would be great for a compressor. And the "Way huge piercing moose octifuzz' sound like a great octave pedal.
DeleteI am thinking of buying about 3 of the kits! Such a great idea. Thank you so much for your help!
I would also love a Keeley 4 knob compressor.
DeleteVemuram Jan Ray kit added
ReplyDeleteHey Mark, I'm very interested in the Deep Blue Delay layout you have, especially with the tap tempo daughterboard. That'd make an outstanding kit if it were to happen...=)
ReplyDeleteA kit of the DBD may happen, but it won't for the tap tempo daughterboard because of the bespoke IC. That needs to be purchased from diystompboxes or the tonegod's web site and isn't something bitsbox will ever stock themselves.
DeleteAye, I noticed that as I investigated further. No worries, will do some sourcing myself then!
DeleteSo is there no chance of a tap tempo delay coming out of this other than the aforementioned solution?
DeleteNo chance with the current solution we have because bitsbox aren't likely to buy in a bespoke IC which will have no other uses. The ICs are sold by the diystompboxes linkas noted. That may change if a new tap tempo solution is published which uses more conventional components, but as of now, there won't be a kit. To be honest though, once you've taken the 2 ICs out of the equation, as far as the components are concerned there's only 10 passive components, a mosfet and a regulator left and so shouldn't be too hard to source.
DeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteSorry to bother you again but is there any progress on the octave pedal? I have a compressor now but i am about to order several kits from bits box and was wondering if it worth waiting for.
Cheers,
Jack
ZVex Box of Rock kit added
ReplyDeleteHi, I'd like to build the BJFE Honey Bee - layout 2 as my first pedal. A kit would help a lot.
ReplyDeleteHere's a small free CAD program that we use at the university. It can be used to make construction easier and fault finding a lot more easier. Just recreate the layout, add info on values/names using the text tool.
Print (no scaling) and glue it onto the bord. http://www.drnil.com/stripcad/
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay kit added
ReplyDeletehey i would love to see a vox tonebender mkII
ReplyDeleteI don't think bitsbox carry germanium transistors, and these should be matched.. Plus getting MKII to work perfectly without a trimmer will be extremely hard and based solely on luck.
DeleteI've been planning on drawing a layout with "more volume" mod and a trimmer for bias...
+m
Blackout Effectors Musket Fuzz and Skreddy Lunar Module added
ReplyDeletei have more suggestions i would definitely buy all of these, i've already purchased 9 kits, it makes things so much easier when you live in a remote area like western australia.
ReplyDeletefulltone 70's
skreddy top fuel
skreddy p19
skreddy congnitive dissonance
himmelstrutz fetto
colorsound jumbo tonebender
DAM Fuzzrong
DAM Drag'n'Fly
DAM sonic titan (mod'd stack)
thank you!
so...any update on if we can get these kits shipped to the U.S.? Seems like bitsbox still can't do it due to liabilities...:(
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I've just recieved my DB Delay kit and I'm chuffed!Thanks IvIark !
ReplyDeleteI'm, planning a few more asap, but wondering what the odds of ever having any Death By Audio kits in? the robot is my next build but I'm guessing the unusual IC means there'll never be a kit for that, what some of the others though? Failing that, what about a Fuzz Factory?
The Robot is unlikely due to the IC. I expect the Fuzz Factory would be a very popular kit but the problem comes with sourcing the right germanium transistors. I'll have a word with bitsbox and see if they have a source.
DeleteWish I could get kits in the US
ReplyDeleteno kits for the usa? that sucks. anyone know where else i can get parts individually and not in bulk
ReplyDeleteYou will be able to get them soon, I'll post something on here when it's finalised.
DeleteDumbloid Special kit added. Includes the optional diodes so add a DPDT on/on toggle if you want the option to switch them in and out of circuit
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=280_281&products_id=2260
Son of Clay Jones kit added
ReplyDeleteAmerican kits now available! So excited!
ReplyDeleteFulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet kit added at BitsBox
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until there are more than two kits offered for the US. I should really just start purchasing parts in bulk though, then I'd never have this issue.
ReplyDeleteDavid will add them all the time now, it's just a lot of work and expense at first getting all the correct parts together, but it will keep growing.
DeleteI would greatly appreciate a kit for the selmer buzztone. I'm not sure how popular it might be, but it sure is a cool tone.
ReplyDeleteOctavers!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi is there shipments to New Zealand?
ReplyDeleteMKLEC is now closed.
ReplyDelete