Building Pedals

Post by **Mike** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:57 am

Just take your time with the pot wiring on Fuzz Factories. There are 5 pots and there's a lot of connections you can fuck up.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 3:43 pm

Fuzz Factory case progress.

Knobs across front edge, power and jacks at back, front switch and LED.

Finished in the standard grey/beige colour that all the electrical enclosures in my work are cause this place is full of spray cans of it.

(2nd picture is more like the colour of it)

Need to wait for the PCB to come in the post, will probably wire the switch and led's etc while I wait, save me some work.

edit: you can see where I stuck the feet before taking them off. silly billy.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 3:56 pm

Are the pots mounted to the PCB? If not you have a bunch of intra-pot wiring you could also get done ahead of time.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:02 pm

Mike wrote:Are the pots mounted to the PCB? If not you have a bunch of intra-pot wiring you could also get done ahead of time.

nah, they aint, so I can do all that too! Fingers crossed I'll get the PCB early next week that way I can have a proper go of it and see if I can use it for a gig I'm playing on Thursday. I saw your 'Veroboard Layouts for the hobbyist' thread and think I may try out one of them rather than a kit next.

now with stuff in it:

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:55 pm

Id just break off those little tabs on the pots and save from drilling another hole.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:59 pm

Mike wrote:In both those diagrams the switch should be orientated with lugs horizontal, so wire can be entered vertically.

Damnit. That is what I did but the thing still doesn't work! I try hooking the machine up to the (Idontknowwhatitscalled) machine at the lab and make sure the circuit works, then trouble shoot from there. It seems like a basic enough circuit I don't really know where things could be going wrong :/

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:00 pm

wwrrss wrote:

this image shows the way i've done it in the past.

I like that switching diagram better because it doesn't have three different grounds going to one post on the switch. I'll be using that next time, fo' sho.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:54 pm

FUZZ FACTORY PROGRESS REPORT:

I finished it and it doesn't work though I have clocked on the the fact I've wired all of the pots as a mirror image of what they are on the drawing

I know some of the pots replace parts of the circuit so should I just re-do all the pots or should it work regardless except for the lowest setting being the highest etc?

Or should I look elsewhere? Is it best to run a continuity test across all the parts to see what happens, if any connections are crap or any components are broken?

P.S. the true bypass switch works if that helps.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 1:35 pm

Capacitors and transistors orientated correctly?

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 2:24 pm

Fix the pots, a Fuzz factory won't work if you screw up any of them.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:06 pm

Mike wrote:Fix the pots, a Fuzz factory won't work if you screw up any of them.

sound as, I'll get on it!

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 8:37 pm

FIXED!

the pots are in the opposite order but i'm not bothered, only got a shitty little 5 watt bass practice amp at home so will give it a real go when I go the practice room.

I'm gonna get my mate to do a drawing on the top, who did this Part Chimp bass drum skin, that later became the Thriller CD facia.

zedoktor · Post by **zedoktor** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:39 pm

looking really good

Post by **Mike** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:38 am

Nicely done!

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:50 am

zedoktor wrote:looking really good

Mike wrote:Nicely done!

Thanks and Thanks, I was feeling pretty downtrodden when it didn't just work first time but i'm happy now.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:14 pm

Tis a great feeling, la!

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:25 am

so, I'm going to bump this because I'm anxious to get my pedals working and I think the veroboard thread largely gets ignored in the resources section.

I built the DAM meathead and the saltbooster. Both work but are outputting about 1/10th the volume that they should. I've checked all my connections with my voltmeter but can't seem to find anything wrong. Also, I had some issues with the power jacks, so I'm currently using a battery clip only. The LED lights up when it's on and the pedals sound good, there's just something off.

has anyone experienced anything like this?

Bill Oakley · Post by **Bill Oakley** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:52 am

The best way to get results is to post pictures (good ones) of both sides of your boards and the layouts you used. That way people can check your work.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 4:05 am

I'll do that first thing in the morning!

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:00 pm

Saltbooster

Meathead

Veroboard layouts

Offboard layout

I had issues with my power input so I'm using only a battery clip for the time being. If I can get the pedals to actually work, I'll order some power inputs that actually work. The Meathead was the first pedal, so it's much sloppier and hard to tell where everything is going. I check the voltage last night and the board is receiving 9.2v. Is there any other places I should be checking?

also noteworthy, the Meathead's LED only lights up if there is an input plugged in but the booster's LED turns on anytime the switch is engaged.