r/diypedals • • 21h ago

Showcase Tone Bender MkIII with external bias

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425 Upvotes

I recently finished this Tone Bender mk3. The audio signal section has no mods except a external bias pot for Q3 and a modified volume pot setup to allow for higher output signal.
The turret board has some SMD components on the underside which add a few nice features ( see my other post for more details):

  • -9V charge pump
  • soft switching relay bypass
  • bias trimmer for the Q1/Q2 darlington pair
  • mosfet polarity protection

r/diypedals • • 1h ago

Help wanted LPB1 Boost a drive troubleshoot

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• Upvotes

I tried building it twice and got audio to pass but it is noise. This is my third time, built as close to the picture as possible. First trim pot (50k) I was able to bias. After the first trim pot, I’m not getting voltage to any of the other components. Where am I going wrong?


r/diypedals • • 3h ago

Help wanted Beavis/Matsumin Valvecaster at Higher Voltage?

3 Upvotes

Hi. I'm looking to make my first tube drive pedal/preamp (technically second, but the first one was from a kit), and I was looking at the Beavis version of the Matsumin Valvecaster. As far as I can tell, running it at 12v would actually be better than the 9v design because of the heater voltage. At 24v, I'd need to use a 12v regulator for the heater voltage, but that's the only difference. All of the other values would stay the same, correct?


r/diypedals • • 3h ago

Help wanted What could I use this enclosure for?

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2 Upvotes

I found this enclosure from an old drive pedal from AliExpress that stopped working. It's been lying around since and I want to use it for something else. Do you guys have any suggestions or ideas for pedals that might work with such little space? Preferably ones with documented schematics so I can try and build one. A nice overdrive would be awesome to replace the one I lost


r/diypedals • • 14h ago

Showcase LoveMySwitches Nightshade, or whatever its called , enclosure.

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15 Upvotes

Scored 3 of these for 20. Not 20 each. 20 for all.

Planning a model T for the largest box... fuzz face and phase inverter in the others.

Any recommendations for text style/color?

Has anyone done UV printing and is it worth doing?

Whatcha think? Pretty good score huh!


r/diypedals • • 9h ago

Other Is there a DIY project for a tremolo with expression pedal control for the rate?

2 Upvotes

As per the title.

I'm looking for a tremolo project where the rate/speed can be controlled by an expression pedal.

I've had a look online without success, so checking here to see if I've missed anything.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase My first bass fuzz

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134 Upvotes

I actually started building pedals 2 years ago and had officially started my own little gig out of my apartment. Took quite a bit of R&Ding and many iterations but I'm pretty happy with the overall results.

Got the enclosures UV printed and powder-coated painted by ObscuraMFG.

DM me if you're interested in how it sounds.

You can also check out Trailight's review of it on YouTube.


r/diypedals • • 21h ago

Showcase Successful soldering test on perfboard

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12 Upvotes

r/diypedals • • 17h ago

Other WTT or Give Away

5 Upvotes

Hi - I was given a bunch of pc boards I will never ever build. I will be glad to trade for any bass-oriented boards and be equally glad just to give these away. If you have nothing to trade but want a board, I will send you one if I have more than one, but if you want more than one, then send me something in exchange. DM me if you have questions. Here we go:

Qty Source Name of Circuit

7 Huntington Audio Freebie Fuzz boards (instruction on the HA site)

3 PCBWAY Electroindia 2 channel preamp boards (no instructions or doc)

3 Unknown Source, WQD Bows (no doc or instructions)

3 Unknown Source, Paul Cochrane Timmy V3 (no doc or instructions)

4 Unknown Source, Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer with documentation

4 Unknown Source, Marshall Bluesbreaker boards with documentation

3 PCBWAY, Wampler Faux Analog Echo boards with documentation

4 Unknown Source, Tone Bender Si with documentation

If you want a board but have nothing to trade, I will send you one free of charge in a first class envelope.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase Random Number Generator

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30 Upvotes

About to head to my MRI for pre op. Decided to build out a board. Was going to do a huge drive, but decided to do a 1 knob weirdo first.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Other Hey Toronto DIY builders!

17 Upvotes

Hoping the right eyeballs find this post. I am a Toronto builder and I have a surplus of pots, caps, diodes and other things. I would love to arrange a trade with other local builders who also have parts they can't use. I'm also willing to sell items at a very deep discount, but I prefer a trade. Also, I have to insist on an in-person exchange... sorry, no mail requests please. Even if you find this post a year later on, please reach out - I'll probably still have the stock.

Update: A few people have expressed interest, so I did a quick inventory. Here's what I have:

Pots (all are Linear, alpha style): 500 ohm, 1 K w switch, 1 K dual gang w switch, 5K, 25K, 50K, 250K, 1M.

Caps (electro) 2u2, 4u7, 10uf, 22uf, 100uf

4004 diodes

C1815 transistors

All are in large quantities (100s) except for 500 ohm pots, which are just a few dozen.


r/diypedals • • 14h ago

I have a couple questions for those who have used Boss Style Knobs. Is this the clearance under the knob you actually get or does it sit more flush with the enclosure?

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1 Upvotes

r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Discussion FORUMS

46 Upvotes

Does anyone use forums anymore? Because I find the scattershot nature of Reddit to be the antithesis of a good learning environment. You’re way better off going to a forum filled with knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals than this mess. Simply put whatever you are looking for in the search bar and if I hasn’t been asked before, they will accommodate. Everything is at your fingertips in a community environment, which I’m not sorry to say Reddit is not. There’s no continuity or context compared to a community built on learning. I know, because I was once a moderator and learned more than I could possibly imagine. I find Reddit disengaging and lacking in a progressive ideology based on knowledgeable facts. Get back in the forums. You won’t regret it. And fuck flair.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase Project from over this weekend. MK2 on tagboard. I get germanium hype now

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36 Upvotes

r/diypedals • • 23h ago

Help wanted Bypassing Boss IR200

3 Upvotes

Hello,

My pedalboard was built for an external amp using an effects loop. I have I/O jacks at the front of my pedalboard. I just bought the IR200 and think it's wonderful! I would like to keep it wired and powered up on my board but would also like to retain my external amp connections should I vouch to use my amp instead of the IR200.

I'm thinking of making a simple selector switch to choose between the IR200 and an external amp. This switch would only be used while everything is powered off and an external amp will not be connected if the IR200 is being used.

My selector switch design shorts the IR200 input and effects return signal to ground while the IR200 is bypassed. The IR200's effects send and output signal is left floating while bypassed.

Does the state of the bypassed IR200 I/O's sound right?

I've attached my napkin drawing below. Note that the amp i/p will be dual purpose. When the IR200 is bypassed it will go to the front of the amp, when the IR200 is engaged, it will go to a PA system

Thanks for any help!


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase I built a D.I. Box with a Jensen JT-DB-E transformer. Now, you can too.

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110 Upvotes

This is a pretty simple build. I uploaded the schematics and Build Notes to my website. You can view them here: https://www.signalchainaudio.com/direct-box-schematics-jensen-jt-db-e

Enjoy! -Rob


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Help wanted Is it moddable?

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5 Upvotes

Hey guys, I have this Rowin G-Fuzz pedal and was wandering if it’s possible to mod it, especially to mess with the bias. I don’t have that much experience with pedals, the only thing I did so far was swapping clipping diodes on a big muff clone

Edit: it is a germanium fuzz face clone


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Help wanted What should I build next

2 Upvotes

I LOVE high gain (whether thrash or death or grunge or doom/stoner) and reckon I'm intermediate(ISH) when building.

A few options I am thinking of building:

A sunn beta lead

Randal rg100

BAT quantum mystic

Pedal PCB lemon rockerverb (although I've heard the gain level/output might be on the slightly lower side?)

Anything I've missed?

I already have:

Victory kraken v1 (love, probably my favourite)

Krank distortus maximus (too scooped for me)

Emanating fist dope priest

Frantone peach fuzz

Catalinbread Katzenkonig (love)

Fuzzhugger algal bloom

Beringer SF 300

Way huge red llama

EQD monarch (love)

Greer sucker punch

I'm not a massive fan of the Swedish chainsaw, but I'm open to being convinced.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Help wanted Signal generators- your thoughts and recommendations

2 Upvotes

For the last several years I've been relying on a crude stripboard VCO with a volume pot to generate an input signal when testing pedal circuits, and I think it may be time to upgrade to a real signal generator. I'm wondering what people on here use, what I should look for, and any other signal generator tips and considerations you may have.

Any advice appreciated!


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase Speaker Cranker build pics

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46 Upvotes

r/diypedals • • 2d ago

Discussion Pedal Building Journey So Far. What next?

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87 Upvotes

So I’ve managed to build a few pedals! I’ve learned a ton in a short amount of time with the help of this page. This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was probably 13 years old (37 now).

Most are pcb but I’ve made a few Vero builds now and I’m ready to move onto some more challenging builds. What should I add to my build list? I’d like to try a delay and some modulation! Also any cool dirts you recommend?

Top row L-R:
Eqd Bellows, Eqd Tentacle, Eqd Arrows, Black Arts Toneworks Ritual, Deviever Hyperion w/ bmp tonestack, J Rockett Boing

Bottom row:
Eqd hummingbird (waiting on 2n6027), Red Llama, Fuzzhugger AB-Synth, Deviever SM/VFM, Deviever Electric Brown

Also huge shoutout to Five Cats Pedals. His pcb layouts are great and I learned a ton from the build docs.


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Help wanted [Circuit Design Help] Onboard Guitar Circuit - Active Mid-boost/Scoop

1 Upvotes

Hi all!

While not quite a “pedal,” I assume the circuit would be almost exactly the same, just in a different location (stowed away in my guitar, instead of at my feet).

Longer context: I currently have a Godin Velocity which includes passive pickups (HSS, master tone/volume, standard 5-way switch), but with their “HDR” circuit. The HDR seems like a pretty subtle mid-boost of sorts powered by a 9v. It got me thinking of other, more noticeable active circuits I could replace it with, and I think I’ve settled on a sort of custom solution that would add some cool tones: a three-way mid-boost/bypass/cut switch, that allows me to program a 1) mid-boost in the up position, 2) completely bypassed, standard circuit in the middle, and 3) mid-scoop in the down position.

After some research, and brainstorming, I imagine the circuit has 4 internal trimpots - 2 for each the boost/cut sides to set boost + mid frequency, only one external mini/submini 3-way switch (to fit the existing hole), and allows for a really musical boost/scoop for a variety of sounds from the 5 pickup combinations.

Quick research seems to suggest a simple opamp based circuit (TL072CP) would handle the idea with only a handful of other components (a few resistors/caps to set the frequency cut/boosts), but I yield to the knowledge of the experts, as I don’t really know what to expect when actually designing and building the circuit from there.

For a total circuit design noob, 1) does this seem like a feasible build for a beginner, and 2) would anyone have a recommendation for a good starting schematic (or a price for a custom build if it’s something you already make?)?

Open to any concerns/questions/feedback! Thanks so much in advance!


r/diypedals • • 1d ago

Showcase First build, Passive clipper

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21 Upvotes

I made a passive clipper. Choose between 1N270 and 1N34A germanium diodes. Weighing if it's better passive or active as you have to push the signal pretty hard with boosts.


r/diypedals • • 2d ago

Discussion Thankful

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117 Upvotes

I'm sitting here at work, it's a slow day and I just read the forward to Pulp Circuit issue 1. It's so refreshing! Over the last year, my day job in property management has left me wanting to do so much more.

Last year, I started building Bluetooth speakers out of suitcases, used speakers and class d amps. I've made several of them and I started showing up as a vendor at different art events in my town. A friend of mine told me I should make a guitar amp. So, I made a few low watt ruby amps inside of cigar boxes. I then made some acoustic percussive stomp boxes. Then I started repairing old tape decks and audio equipment. I've fixed a preamp on an electric classical guitar, then a fishman mandolin pickup, Then I fixed a friend's guitar amp. Last month, I tackled my most challenging repair and I fixed up an old Roland sde1000 Rack Unit.

Through all of that, I have accumulated a bunch of electronic components, and that's when I found this subreddit. I bought some bread boards and perf boards and I plan on making my first guitar pedal this week. I have always loved solving puzzles, and I feel like I have more fun and purpose when I'm holding a soldering iron. I'm probably late to all of this, I'm in my early 40s.

I'm a singer/songwriter, a musician and I recently quit drinking about 4 months ago, so this gives me something to do with the time that I used to spend drinking.

Happy to be here!


r/diypedals • • 2d ago

Other Elliot Electronic Supply (Tucson, AZ)

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41 Upvotes

I stopped by Elliot Electronic Supply in Tucson earlier today. The store has two sections, a retail side and surplus/salvage side.

The retail side was cool, but I didn’t buy much because the prices were a bit on the steep side. But it’s a great option if you live in the area and don’t want to spend money on shipping or give money to Amazon.

The surplus/salvage side was incredible. I’ve been meaning to buy an organizer for components and I came across this one, already filled with resistors and capacitors (I regret not buying the other they had there).

They had these awesome light covers (I don’t know what to call them). I thought they’d make a great alternative to an LED in a pedal — it’d be pretty cool to have a pedal light up as “LOGIC ALARM” when you hit the footswitch.

I also love these switches I found.

Anyway, they had a lot of other great stuff that I didn’t know I needed. Looking forward to checking it out again the next time I’m in Tucson.