Most DIY-Friendly Pedal Builders/Manufacturers?

[Joben Magooch]

So, I'm sure most of us who have been here for any period of time have likely seen examples of pedal and/or buffer makers who have not been particularly receptive to DIYers and whatnot. I'm not really interested in rehashing that but I thought it might be fun/beneficial to give a shout out to some of the guys on the opposite end of that spectrum - ones who seem to embrace, if not outright encourage DIYing, even if it's their products.

First few that came to mind for me:
Brian Wampler has been helpful in the DIY pedal community for as long as I can remember and has never seemed to mind too much when his products get the DIY treatment.
If I'm remembering correctly, I think I've even seen Paul Cochrane post here before offering a small correction to someone's trace/schematic of one of his pedals, but maybe I'm thinking of something else...
Dave Barber has long made schematics for many of his pedals available, to the point that a while back he even posted the LTD schematic and said "This is for you DIYers, here are some mods you might consider making as well".

Who else comes to mind for you?

 

[cwsquared]

I hear that @vigilante398 over at Sushi Box/C2C Electronics is pretty DIY friendly.

 

[ICTRock]

Peter over at VFE has generally been helpful and supportive of the DIY community.

Catalinbread used to be as well with their "you fucking build it" kits

Devi too if we're giving credit where it is due

I know we don't talk amps much here but Bruce Egnater is kind of a big deal wrt diy amps or at least he used to be ... I don't build amps much these days

obviously the guys at god city as well

 

[tegendemuur]

You can see pedal brands in the list of kits at Musikding. These guys, among others, are our friends.

Kits

Kastle, Musikding Kits, GuitarPCB, Aion Electronics, Parasit Studio kits, PedalPCB, TH Custom Effects, God City Instruments, Madamp Kits, PCB Guitar Mania,

www.musikding.de

I am pretty sure Electro Faustus is on board as well.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

Jon Cusack of Cusack Music and Mojo Hand FX is also the owner of StompBoxParts, and he frequently responds to disscussions in the various facebook DIY effects groups.

as @ICTRock mentioned Bruce Egnater– he's another one who frequently gives pointers in various DIY facebook groups.

plenty of small boutique builders who aren't part of the forum, but are more than happy to geek out and chat about circuits.

 

[Erik S]

Doesn't mean they love when their stuff gets cloned, but the folks selling pcbs are at least somewhat down with DIY.

Pedal companies that also sell pcbs/kits? (Frost Giant, EAE, Catalinbread,GCI)

I was just wondering if you guys have come across any other pedal brands that also sell some pcbs? I have bought some from Frost Giant(also bought some custom muff knobs), Electronic Audio Experiments, and God City Instruments. I have seen the Catalinbread kits but thats not really my thing...

forum.pedalpcb.com

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Peter over at VFE has generally been helpful and supportive of the DIY community.

Catalinbread used to be as well with their "you fucking build it" kits

Devi too if we're giving credit where it is due

I know we don't talk amps much here but Bruce Egnater is kind of a big deal wrt diy amps or at least he used to be ... I don't build amps much these days

obviously the guys at god city as well

Was just going to say, first thing I did after my first build (madbean sabretooth) was order some pcbs from devi. And that's how I found out that I don't like the torns peaker.

 

[vigilante398]

I hear that @vigilante398 over at Sushi Box/C2C Electronics is pretty DIY friendly.

Bit of a weirdo though, best to steer clear.

 

[Alan W]

Both Fairfield Circuitry and Shnobeltone have, either directly or indirectly, answered questions in very helpful ways on this forum. I’m sure I’m forgetting others, but some people are just sweethearts.

 

[KR Sound]

Jon Cusack of Cusack Music and Mojo Hand FX is also the owner of StompBoxParts, and he frequently responds to disscussions in the various facebook DIY effects groups.

as @ICTRock mentioned Bruce Egnater– he's another one who frequently gives pointers in various DIY facebook groups.

plenty of small boutique builders who aren't part of the forum, but are more than happy to geek out and chat about circuits.

I want to take his amp building class someday.

 

[vigilante398]

...Shnobeltone...

Roman at Shnobeltone is one of the nicest people on the planet, sweetheart is an absolutely fitting description. I've had the opportunity to chat with him at NAMM twice now and he is always a delightful person to talk to.

 

[Atom ant]

MAS effects. Pops up all the time for me when I’m searching for info. Super helpful and makes some cool stuff.

 

[Feral Feline]

Bit of a weirdo though, best to steer clear.

Well yeah, the guy is OBSESSED with jamming a tube into damn near every circuit possible.

I'd like to see him try to work a tube into a Bazz Fuss.
Conversely, how 'bout a BazzFuss into a tube!?!

... I thought it might be fun/beneficial to give a shout out to some of the guys ... who seem to embrace, if not outright encourage DIYing, even if it's their products.
...

Who else comes to mind for you?

Pedal companies that also sell pcbs/kits? (Frost Giant, EAE, Catalinbread,GCI)

I was just wondering if you guys have come across any other pedal brands that also sell some pcbs? I have bought some from Frost Giant(also bought some custom muff knobs), Electronic Audio Experiments, and God City Instruments. I have seen the Catalinbread kits but thats not really my thing...

forum.pedalpcb.com

Aen from Dwarfcraft, too.

 

[vigilante398]

Well yeah, the guy is OBSESSED with jamming a tube into damn near every circuit possible.

I'd like to see him try to work a tube into a Bazz Fuss.

I assume you're joking, but the wheels are turning now. It doesn't take much to get my stupid brain to latch onto things.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

I assume you're joking, but the wheels are turning now. It doesn't take much to get my stupid brain to latch onto things.

I’ve been trying to think of a way to work a single tube into a fuzz face. It’s entirely based around a dumb idea I had for an enclosure

 

[vigilante398]

I’ve been trying to think of a way to work a single tube into a fuzz face. It’s entirely based around a dumb idea I had for an enclosure

I support this wholeheartedly and will assist in any way I can.

 

[Feral Feline]

I assume you're joking, but the wheels are turning now. It doesn't take much to get my stupid brain to latch onto things.

I seriously take my being not ever being serious very seriously, sir.

For the insidious thought-seed that's been implanted into grey matter, I am apologetic, but not sorry.

 

[pbrommer]

I assume you're joking, but the wheels are turning now. It doesn't take much to get my stupid brain to latch onto things.

I’m waiting for him to jam one of the Engl/Diezel/etc high gain channel into a 125b with 2 tubes.

Wink wink: I’d like to see that Sushibox goofball go after an Orange/Matamp preamp…..

 

[JTEX]

Exqueeze me, I'm so frikkin' DIY-friendly that I want to completely offload all of my pedal building to my customers I'm trying to sell >90% of a pedal's pretty elaborate guts (you know, all the hard stuff) for 50% of what I used to sell the whole pedal for, and you put it all together - - jacks, pots and switches mostly. It's not really working out that well. For every person who buys the guts, there's probably five others who'd rather pay the extra 50% and have the whole thing already built and ready to go Ain't nobody got time for that!