Aion blueshift. And it works!

[Phil hodson]

So I purchased this one literally years ago now in a sale Aion was having a sale. It was a whim, but basically it looked cool AF and hard and I didn’t have a chorus yet. What could possibly go wrong.
Then I started reading the instructions and panicked.
I shoved it in a drawer with other boards hoping one day I would stop ordering more boards and have no option but to complete this one.
Then I ordered all the parts, again for some motivation. It stayed in the drawer.
Then I etched the enclosure. Now must be the time, but no.
Last year I buckled and added all the easy bits and was very happy with myself for having the patience to triple check (literally) each resistor, capacitor etc and the documentation. Marking them off as I went.
Now it didn’t end up in the drawer but sat on my desk in a tub so close but so far. I was still intimidated by it. Then I get in a rut of about three pedals in a row that didn’t work so this was totally forgotten about. If I couldn’t get easy ones to work then this one never would and I had absolutely no interest in trouble shooting it!!
Then my luck changed and I had a great run of pedals last week so I thought F-it let’s do it. I drilled the enclosure, I mounted header pins and sockets. I dug out all the IC I needed. Now came the off board wiring. Taking my time and realizing I didn’t have enough colors I hacked through. Measured twice and cut once.
Then the moment of truth. I could wait no longer. I crossed everything and hoped at least for a bypass signal! And I got it, then I popped the stomp switch and it came to life!
Not owning a scope yet I used Aions fantastic instructions and also knowledge from the master of modulation @thewintersoldier who said he set his chips for around 3.45V. So I aimed for that. Or as close as I could get it.
And it’s done. Boxed and playing. The funny thing is I can’t seem to stop playing Purple Rain and I’m not even a prince fan!!
The “only” issue I have is I’m not sure my TP1 and TP2 points are working correctly. As when I probe them with my DMM the voltage doesn’t really change no matter what I do with the trimmer.
When I probe pin three on IC3 and IC9 I get a full range and it adjusts easily (ish) with the trimmer. Has anyone else had this issue or know what could be causing it? Not worth a trouble shooting by itself as it does actually work.
Totally bowled over by this one. Definitely my hardest one to date. But patience is the key!! Don’t let the look of it put you off.

 

[steviejr92]

i love the raw look!

 

[Phil hodson]

Stan is @steviejr92 im happy with the way it turned out. I did t think any of the lettering would survive but it did!

 

[steviejr92]

dude it came out really good! etch right? thats actually what im getting into next i love the ways these turn out!

 

[jimilee]

Good show! Yep, I’m still staring at my PCBs as well.

 

[Feral Feline]

Bravo!

I've got two sets of these so I can build the bypass both ways and give whichever I don't like to a friend.
Sorta like Jimilee, I'm still staring at PCBs, working up the courage to tackle this.

 

[Phil hodson]

dude it came out really good! etch right? thats actually what im getting into next i love the ways these turn out!

Yep it was an etch. I wish I could have done it for a little bit longer but it came out good enough in the end.

 

[Phil hodson]

Bravo!

I've got two sets of these so I can build the bypass both ways and give whichever I don't like to a friend.
Sorta like Jimilee, I'm still staring at PCBs, working up the courage to tackle this.

you guys should start. Just take your time and move on when ready. Read the building section towards the end of the instructions. Don’t get too bogged down with the calibration sections. Which is I think what I did.
The guide is really well written.
It’s a tight build so make sure you’re drilling is on point.

 

[Fingolfen]

Amazing build... and not for the faint of heart... I built one of these. Had to correct a couple of issues... and it still worked! Hasn't left my board since... now going to build at least one more fit the travel board.