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 adam972 |
pedal power supply build: Documented finally |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 8:46 AM) |
Hey, i finally got my blog rolling and documented the Spyder power supply build. i am still not digging the way the blog site adds photos...a bit hard to
write text and add photos as you go, as imports always throw the photo on the top of the post...i guess i have to learn to work backward. I should have
instructions on the 808 and bluesbreaker soon.
http://ampbuild.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-one.html |
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 9:29 AM) |
How much does building your own save you? Also when your building your own what pedals are you modeling? How close are you to it? And what is it missing other
than just not being the ACTUAL pedal
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adam972 |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 9:41 AM) |
the power supply i built cost 50 bucks, vs. the voodoo version which is 160. There are a couple of things the voodoo does that mine doesnt, but i didnt need
any of those feaures, also mine can supply more pedals. The 808, bluesbreaker, and EA trem i have done were built on the exact schematic of the original, so
nothing on the layout is different. You will find from time to time that some components are no longer availible, such as the original 808 IC, unless you get
an NOS, but there are very suitable replacements. The IC i use for the 808 were like 30 cents and they sound absolutly amazing. Nothing is missing from these
pedals. Take my 808, cost me about 50 bucks, compared to 200 for the reissu e. the money spent went to american companies that i support and it was fun. Also
changed a couple of resistors and caps to boost some frequencies...doing this while building the pedal was prob as much effort as getting a real 808 and doing
the keeley mods. Rather than getting a complete board, having to unsolder, being really carefull, and resolder new components, you just build it all up from
the blank.
Some pedals like delays and modulators are just really complex and take a damn long time and to me it isnt worth it...but i dont really use them...but things like overdrives, boosters, trems, leslie sim, phasers, these are really simple things to build have all have about 10-20 reisitors and a hand full of caps, transistors and diodes. If you have the time and the desire i recomend building your own as it is just satisfying. You also have the oportunity to make tweakes. This one 808 i made, i wanted it to have the same heavey mid boost as the original, but i also wanted a strong bottom end, so i add a switch that bypass a couple of components. now when i play the pedal without the switch thrown, i think the pedal is missing something. |
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 10:14 AM) |
I would definately be interested in building a brick, plus building a trem pedal for sure where do you get all the parts? the body, knobs, board, labels ect.?
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adam972 |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 10:19 AM) |
i dont want to seem stupid, but is that a pic of you for your account name or someone else?
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 10:36 AM) |
LOL I don't think I'd put a picture of a non celebrity that's not me as my pic.... it's me why do you ask?
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adam972 |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 11:12 AM) |
well there are a lot of celebs i am unaware of! Just havnt seen a lot of upclose pics for people, usually a lot of action shots.
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 11:31 AM) |
i cropped it... figured i'd take a pic i wasn't using for anything else usually never use avatars
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Spartacus41 |
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Posts: 474 (03/23/2009 12:07 PM) |
I would not have the balls to build my own purely out of fear of electrocution or of fucking up my pedals.
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 12:10 PM) |
spartacus... for some odd reason everytime I see your avatar I say to myself "look at this jerk" and wanna punch you in the face I have no idea
why...
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Spartacus41 |
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Posts: 474 (03/23/2009 12:11 PM) |
It makes me kinda horny.
Then again alot of things do. |
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seanlee |
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Posts: 424 (03/23/2009 12:12 PM) |
LOL congratulations
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 zaddN |
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Posts: 1224 (03/23/2009 12:36 PM) |
adam, you've officially sparked an obsession with building pedals...i can't wait for the summer when i am at home and have a workspace! i think i am
going to start off with a compressor, and then move on from there
---So here goes: close your eyes, get out of your own way, and JAM.---
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adam972 |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 1:35 PM) |
as for electrocution....pedals run on 9v dc...you ever stick a 9v battery to your tounge? thats about as bad as it gets! im not saying dont be careful, im just
saying that working with 9v pedals isnt that big of a deal. and think about the worst case scenario...you totally screw up and short the pedal...well you know
what happens? its just like touching your guitar cable when its not plugged in... ya it sucks and you should stop, but it wont blow up your amp. Also, i have a
little Ruby amp i built just for testing pedals. you think i was eager to try out my Lesllie sim ( with an internal AC transformer!) on my blues jr? screw
that, hooked it up to my little 4 dollar amp and it was piece of mind.
Super easy pedals you could do in an hour: 808 any compressor any booster ( im still trying to crack the Katana....damn knob is glued on which makes tear down a pisser...but i did find out what Alpha pot is in there Any distortion trems are pretty easy phase 45 and 90 arnt to bad tycrobrae octavis is really really easy custom Wah with all the little tricks....amazingly easy to turn your wah into something crazy buffered effects loop a la dumblator( $40 in parts!) pedal switchers buffered amp switcher EQ pedals Boss Slow Gear ( really crazy effect) just a few ideas that really are less that 50 bucks and would take about hour and a half to make |
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zaddN |
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Posts: 1224 (03/23/2009 1:44 PM) |
when you order a pcb from general guitar gadgets, does it come with the printout like you showed on your bluesbreaker build?
---So here goes: close your eyes, get out of your own way, and JAM.---
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handonam |
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Posts: 2088 (03/23/2009 1:50 PM) |
hey adam, use windows live writer to post on your site. it will be more convenient
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adam972 |
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Posts: 1134 (03/23/2009 2:13 PM) |
GGG has all the build info online, hi res, so you can either work off your monitor, or do a print out...i am redoing my basement so my office isnt down there
right now with a comp, so i just did a print out for ease. all the info is up and free....thats why i started doing my own...why pay them 60 bucks for a kit
when you could pay them 15 for the board and do everyhting else EXACTLY how you want it.
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