Effect Pedal building

[ampgeek]

Like Mark, I always seem to be somewhat underwhelmed by many of the pedals (a couple dozen of all types to date) that I have built over the years. The GGG PT-80 delay and EA Tremolo being notable exceptions.

But...holy sheep-shit Batman...just finished one of the V2 Zenith Drive circuits and was blown-away!! I have built a couple of their older designs (including some of Tubenits' suggested mods ) and was very happy with the results. However, this one takes it up a notch or three.

I audition newly built pedals on my practice amp (vintage, non reverb, BFD w/Weber Alnico Blue Dog) which is pretty un-forgiving with OD/distortion pedals. This one is like butter on toast!! Awesome tight, smooth and defined grind (if that makes sense) at moderate volumes and even better cranked up using my 72 LP Deluxe...including the neck PU which is a pleasant surprise.

Like the others before, I am using an OPA2134PA IC, 2N7000 'sistors and red led clipping in this one. Stock circuit with Vikiin box capacitors and all components procured from Mammoth.

Now I need to build another one just to see if I got lucky!!

Cheers,
Dave O.

http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/ ... ow/3496072

[Structo]

Looks real nice!

Where do you source the boards?

[ampgeek]

Thanks Tom!

guitarpcb.com carries the boards. The link that I pasted-up ought to take you directly to the Zenith Drive version 2 "project page" which has all of the particulars.

Mammoth Electronic carries complete kits for a number of the guitarpcb.com (and others) designs which is a very painless way to build one of these. I am usually buying for 4 or 5 projects at once so I get the boards from guitarpcb.com and the other items from Mammoth.

Some other great stuff regarding the Zenith Drive from our very own 10TH TX (aka Tubnit at the Hoffman forum) also shows up somewhere in the guitarpcb.com forum. I think that it is under the "old board design" discussion and support section.

Cheers,
Dave O.

[Structo]

Geez, the link was right there.

Thanks, I love the graphics on your pedal.

Waterslide?

[ampgeek]

Thanks again sir!

Yes. Water slide. I have played around with other pedal garnishing techniques (e.g., etching, multi/funky paints, etc..) but just don't seem to ever have the time/desire to follow through with those on every build.

One of my wife's most profound statements of all time was: "Why do you spend so much time on something that you are just going to throw on the flow and step on ?!?! Wouldn't you rather be designing and building something new and unique?"

I had to give her some well deserved credit for that one! You just can't help but love a women who understands and accepts the addiction to building things...even when it isn't something for them!!

I have been a CorelDraw user for decades and am fairly adept at whipping up simple graphics for pedals, amplifier face/back plates, etc..etc. BNP Laser's "base" program is CorelDraw which makes my work with them a complete breeze!

Rock on,
Dave O.

[sonicmojo]

Does anyone know a good source for small (1/4 watt) carbon comp resistors? I've tried Mouser but they only have half of the values I want when I search.

Edit: Okay, I think I was searching wrong. I'm finding them better now. Apparently 8k2 is listed instead as 8200Ohms, etc, etc.

Question still relevant though since Mouser ain't so cheap on these.....

[Chad]

How about here https://www.smallbearelec.com/home.html I've ordered from their with great results,and have heard many others with good Business their. Chad

[ampgeek]

Also take a look at Mammoth Electronics if you are shopping around.

http://www.mammothelectronics.com/default.asp

Cheers,
Dave O.

[davent]

Digikey also carry 1/4w carbon comps but again not cheap.
http://www.digikey.ca/scripts/dksearch/ ... =4&stock=1

[sonicmojo]

Smallbear and Mammoth are great for most things but apparently not carbon comps. I've given up on Digikey because of prices in small quantities. Looks like Mouser is the best one I've found so far.

[davent]

Run Off Groove's Omega Booster with a Geofex polarity protection scheme/circuit. Something different from the usual paint.

[IMG:600:800]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 8a66c9.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:600]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 4b61f6.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:600]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 149512.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:600]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 7e9b70.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:600]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 32710c.jpg[/img]
[IMG:600:800]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 061900.jpg[/img]
[IMG:600:800]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 728aaa.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:600]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 70a826.jpg[/img]
[IMG:600:800]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc30 ... 5acc53.jpg[/img]dave

[JoeCon]

Dave

Awesome!
Looks like HR Giger design, I expect an alien to come out when you open it!

[dorrisant]

Dave, that looks so cool!!!

Please tell us how you created that finish!!!

Tony

[M Fowler]

Dave,

Such great work I'd have you guys build my pedals and be done

[NickC]

^^^ Yes indeed, that Omega pedal looks fantastic! Very, very