Got my Aion FX kit! Going to build that soon. I was wondering: How hard is it to build the Lead Solder Overdrive? That's my ultimate goal. I have the SLO pedal and the AMT S-drive mini, but I could always use a third to play with. Can someone recommend a JCM800 emulator for a novice? Is there such a thing?
Beginner looking for advice
- Thread starter Nix
- Start date
Hey @Nix how about this?
You'll need through-hole J201s which can be hard to find. I bought these which are smds on adapter boards:
stompboxparts.com
I've not yet assembled the board but have all the parts and look forward to it. I've used the J201s above on two other builds with no problem. I use three 90 degree pins to turn this J201 adapter board into a through hole format. Just be sure to orient these in the correct way.
You'll need through-hole J201s which can be hard to find. I bought these which are smds on adapter boards:
J201 - JFET Transistor - SMT to TO92
J201 - MMBFJ201 SMD to Through Hole To92 Adapter Board
stompboxparts.com
I've not yet assembled the board but have all the parts and look forward to it. I've used the J201s above on two other builds with no problem. I use three 90 degree pins to turn this J201 adapter board into a through hole format. Just be sure to orient these in the correct way.
GizzWizzKing
Well-known member
I've not found too many drive pedals to be that difficult to build outside of some where part selection is important. Generally they're straight forward builds once you know the basics. I would comb through troubleshooting threads and build reports of the lead solder and keep some sort of notes for things to look for or what people suggest. I do that with most of my builds first just to see if there's anything I can glean from others that will avoid me posting a troubleshooting thread.
I don’t know if I would call the Lead Solder difficult. It’s just a higher component count. So patience and diligent work is the name of the game. More chances for a mistake, more to look at if it doesn’t work.
If you wanted something crunchy and simpler to build, maybe look at Crunch Captain, Precipice, there are others too. Something opamp based with a small component count.
I also understand if you want to get some more builds under the belt first before building the pedal you really want. You can go into the Lead Solder with a little more experience and confidence.
If you wanted something crunchy and simpler to build, maybe look at Crunch Captain, Precipice, there are others too. Something opamp based with a small component count.
I also understand if you want to get some more builds under the belt first before building the pedal you really want. You can go into the Lead Solder with a little more experience and confidence.
Really like this advice. Most probably make mistakes along the way but learn how to salvage the build and avoid in future. That's the fun part, and this forum is a great resource. Starting with a simple pedal is a great idea. A rat is a really simple build with an opamp and great character, if you like that type of sound. I started with a fuzz face which is also simple.
swelchy
Well-known member
Pretty much most drive builds are super simple… My advice is test every component with a simple transistor tester, use a multimeter to test each one of your pots and check it range… trim pots especially… I’ve found more trim pots bad than 16mm..is solder one component at a time and clip the leads helps you slow down and put the right part in the right place..
comradehoser
Well-known member
If you want an easy drive build, something like the corroder is great (the easiest MIAB imho); also any zendrive or bluesbreaker variant is usually low part, straightforward, and sounds good. Aion or PPCB will have you covered.
CheapSuitG
Active member
Sounds like you are off to a great start! I am new, started 6 weeks ago or so and jumped right in to PCBs and have had a great time. 7 pedals as of now. Tayda is a great place to source parts as people have mentioned, the easy order function is great for capacitors and ceramics. That said, take your time and quadruple check you have everything you need and it is the right part. Forgot a 1 value, had to place another order. Bundled it with some enclosures I know I will need in the future but shipping was killer. Also ordered 10v electrolytic caps for one value and didn't check before installing them, had to replace them on 4 of my 7 pedals.
BUT
I will NEVER make that mistake again. I suck at unsoldering things, it was good practice I suppose but still dislike it.
Feeling good with drive pedals, making my way to reverbs and modulation next round!
BUT
I will NEVER make that mistake again. I suck at unsoldering things, it was good practice I suppose but still dislike it.
Feeling good with drive pedals, making my way to reverbs and modulation next round!
Sounds like you are doing great too! I love Tayda! Doing a few builds from them next. I definitely need to do more checking my orders, I'm so new to this that when you get 100 items in your cart it seems overwhelming haha. Oh that's too bad you had to replace the cap on four pedals. I just made a mistake with capacitors of different sizes. That's great you're on to other types of pedals. I suck at unsoldering things too.
CheapSuitG
Active member
Haha! 1200 is quite a bit, but if you're making stuff out of it I can see it. A dozen projects would be difficult for me to keep track of, I hope to get to that point though.100? My first order was over 1200 items in my cart! Planning the next dozen or so, that’s gonna be a huge order
Nostradoomus
Well-known member
CheapSuitG
Active member
I have a MASSIVE spreadsheet with all my inventory, what I have on hand and what I have coming in, projects coming up, projects on my wish list all with formulas so it keeps track of it all. Even have it set that if I get below a threshold of a value, it will turn red so I know to order more before I run out!
Yes, I am a spreadsheet nerd.....
Yes, I am a spreadsheet nerd.....
CheapSuitG
Active member
For example.
So getting an order (hopefully) delivered today, will update each line when I check it all out, make sure everything made it.
So getting an order (hopefully) delivered today, will update each line when I check it all out, make sure everything made it.
I have a rather manual and laborious process, but it works.
I use trello for managing the state of projects. I have columns for backlog, current queue, finished… tags for need parts, need pcb, need enclosure, needs fixing, etc. The same thing can be done with a board and sticky notes.
The rest is in my pedal notebook.
- I write down the parts list for each build in my notebook.
- I make a consolidated parts list for my next builds on a loose sheet.
- I take that list and check off everything that I already have in my inventory. This isn’t so bad, I keep the parts organized.
- I make another list on a loose sheet that is just the parts I don’t have.
- I take that list and source everything I need. I typically order parts from Tayda, Mouser, Stomp Box Parts, Love My Switches. These lists get smaller over time as my inventory of parts grows.
Early on I started making a database and application to try and manage this- but programming is my day job and felt a little too much like work.
I use trello for managing the state of projects. I have columns for backlog, current queue, finished… tags for need parts, need pcb, need enclosure, needs fixing, etc. The same thing can be done with a board and sticky notes.
The rest is in my pedal notebook.
- I write down the parts list for each build in my notebook.
- I make a consolidated parts list for my next builds on a loose sheet.
- I take that list and check off everything that I already have in my inventory. This isn’t so bad, I keep the parts organized.
- I make another list on a loose sheet that is just the parts I don’t have.
- I take that list and source everything I need. I typically order parts from Tayda, Mouser, Stomp Box Parts, Love My Switches. These lists get smaller over time as my inventory of parts grows.
Early on I started making a database and application to try and manage this- but programming is my day job and felt a little too much like work.
I take it back, haha...I don't want a spreadsheet or a database. Those are impressive management skills. I don't have the space to work on more than one thing at a time.
I am enjoying the nightfire amp, it was fun to build and it sounds great to me. Should have drilled my box before I built it.
I am enjoying the nightfire amp, it was fun to build and it sounds great to me. Should have drilled my box before I built it.
Built a few more pedals, Tayda's Box of Metal and Distortus Maximums(I like this one better). Got my first PedalPCB board, the Integral Preamp kit. Looking forward to assembling that. I absolutely love Tayda's Jfet preamp, I built that with a 2n5457 and it sounds really good. Edit: Figured out where the noise was, silly mistake.
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