the build it yourself thread:

[diesect20022000]

List some things you've built yourself (guitars,pedal boards,FX,cables etc) and if you're UP to it the process, why you built it etc.

I'm getting ready to build a pedal board or more specificaly 3. I know woods are tried and true but, i'm thnking of making a plaster mold and building mine from strong polymor materials. i figured weather resistant and spill proof etc would come in handy not to mention less weight etc.

I need 3 because i have up to three different pedal/rig needs depending on what project/studio i'm in and style. I always maintain simplicity (as in less crap and short signal) when i can.

my main one will consist of one of each of my needed fx: a clean boost,noise suppressor and a delay. Number two willhouse two delays,two OD's and two noise supporessors. and the final one will be a boost and a noise suppressor.

 

[SmokeyDopey]

I built an A/B box!












It never worked though.

 

[brp]

I built my 2x12" Eminence isobaric subwoofer. It kills down to 35hz.

I used to make all my own cables, including rack looms. I don't really need anymore.

 

[johnfv]

Back in the 80s I built my own rack based custom effects switching system and footswitch board. It had stompboxes (dynacomp, tube screamer, TC boost, TC chorus) but also programmable rack delay and a Fender tube reverb. It had true bypass for each effect and an active splitter buffer for running to 2 amps. I still have the damn thing, I might have to take some historical photos

 

[SmokeyDopey]

oh! Cables! Of course. Thanks brb, you reminded me.
Yes, cables, THAT I make my own.

I wish I could make my own tubes and strings though :-/

 

[johnfv]

You made me take a trip down memory lane with this thread and I had to go check. My old rack unit is buried somewhere but I was able to dig up the footswitch pretty fast. Big honking multi-pin cable for switching and LED power (remote switching, no audio through it). Yes, that is a door threshold

With the remote switching and true bypass it sounded really sweet...

 

[scat7s]

cool thread, i make anything and everything that i can on my own.

necessity is the mother of invention. although in my case, lack of dough would be more accurate. and its rewarding when something turns out nice...

 

[brp]

The door threshold footswitcher is cool!
Very resourceful.

 

[diesect20022000]

The door threshold footswitcher is cool!
Very resourceful.

yeah thought it was pretty effing sweet too!

 

[thetragichero]

a bunch of dirt boxes: jfet overdrives, brian may treble booster, ampeg scrambler + jfet boost in one box with two footswitches (this is the only one still on my pedalboard, use it every gig), ge fuzz face that quit working
assembled a tweed deluxe clone in what used to be a raven combo amp
oh yeah and my pedalboard, which is a scrap of plywood with a bunch of velcro on it

 

[johnfv]

...my pedalboard, which is a scrap of plywood with a bunch of velcro on it

A door threshold will make it perfect!

 

[jammattjam]

Working on a pedal board.

 

[carnada]

Back in the 80s I built my own rack based custom effects switching system and footswitch board. It had stompboxes (dynacomp, tube screamer, TC boost, TC chorus) but also programmable rack delay and a Fender tube reverb. It had true bypass for each effect and an active splitter buffer for running to 2 amps. I still have the damn thing, I might have to take some historical photos

u fucking geniouss

 

[thinlizzy96]

Back in the 80s I built my own rack based custom effects switching system and footswitch board. It had stompboxes (dynacomp, tube screamer, TC boost, TC chorus) but also programmable rack delay and a Fender tube reverb. It had true bypass for each effect and an active splitter buffer for running to 2 amps. I still have the damn thing, I might have to take some historical photos

pics ASAP!

 

[HOT TUBES 70]

I make a mess........... ......so my wife tells me all the time !!

 

[Bieling3]

In the middle of slapping together a BYOC Mouse (Rat clone). Looking for the right attachment to brush the aluminum case with right now.

 

[MM54]

In the middle of slapping together a BYOC Mouse (Rat clone). Looking for the right attachment to brush the aluminum case with right now.

Brushed aluminum = aluminum + 250 grit then 400 grit sandpaper. Put it on a block and keep your lines straight and you're golden for a brushed finish that isn't rough. Found this out through working with blank aluminum amp chassis

 

[newbies]

I made a les paul copy and a 4x12 back in school about 9 years ago as my final pieces. The les paul came out pretty sweet considering....... however just a little tip........ dont make a guitar out of black walnut unless you have a crane to pick the sucker up!!! damn thats some heavy timber!!

 

[impetus maximus]

i built a 2x12 with two greenbacks weighing in at 80lbs (36kg) :eek2:.



cost me the speakers, wire, jacks, handles, feet/bumpers, and some time.
i'm swapping the greenbacks for higher wattage speakers.
cranked my 2204 puts out around 90W:Ohno: i cooked one greenback very quickly.

===
with the help of my brother TradAmpGuy we built a 1Wattish FireFly (self split push-pull).

it sounds like a cranked Marshall at bedroom levels. lots of crunchy goodness. i freakin love this amp.
i want to fix/mod my JCM 2204. it sounds stale compared to the FireFly.
maybe a PPIMV

===
i swapped out the dirty Op-amps for some Hi-Fi ones in my GE-7 EQ.
also swapped 7 capacitors to help with tone while on, as well as buffered.
now instead of a hiss box, i have a pedal i can actually use!

next build is a Echoplex pre-amp stomp box

 

[Blacque Jacque]

I built an analogue tuner as a college project, it worked but it wasn't overly accurate.

Mid 80's I built my own "rack multi fx" by stripping down a bunch of pedals & slapping them in a 1U case, built a regulated DC supply, switchable master volume & remote switching unit too. It worked reasonably well & wasn't hideously noisy so I was pretty chuffed.

Since then I've built several bitsa guitars, flight cases and so on. I always make my own cables these days. I converted my MIDI foot control to phantom power so I only need a single cable to the front of the stage.

I've also started building a rack mount wah with remote pedal & switching, but as I have no need of a wah in a punk band, it's kinda shelved at the moment.

When I get some time (yeah right !!) I'm hoping to build a 2204 clone of some kind, but that's some way off just yet.