Beginner looking for advice

Everybody Jump!
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JUMPAROUND!



@Nix
Yeah, jumparound, experiment, try out different circuits on the breadboard — learn to breadboard!
That way you can find a circuit you like, audition it, without resorting to buying hoards of PCBs.
Using the breadboard, you can then further refine the circuit to your liking.
 
I ordered the booster kit and a Hakko FX-600. I am finding all kinds of projects I want to build in the future. Been reading up on the basics. The book I purchased isn't that bad, it just threw a lot of information at me at once.
 
Not sure if I should start a new thread for this. I have a Donner Comp/limiter that I love the sound of for some reason. It has a loose power jack after seven years, so I thought I'd order the newer Ultimate Comp but it doesn't sound the same, not nearly as good to me. Is repairing the old model possible? I don't want to mess it up, I have it turned on all the time while I'm playing. Is it just a rip off of some other pedal?
 
Not sure if I should start a new thread for this. I have a Donner Comp/limiter that I love the sound of for some reason. It has a loose power jack after seven years, so I thought I'd order the newer Ultimate Comp but it doesn't sound the same, not nearly as good to me. Is repairing the old model possible? I don't want to mess it up, I have it turned on all the time while I'm playing. Is it just a rip off of some other pedal?

Repairing your Donner is possible.

You can't use it 'cause it's currently not working — so if you screw it up more than it already is, you've lost nothing
— either way you're better off attempting to repair it and learn from it than letting it sit.

Well, I suppose you could have a "professional" repair it, but where's the fun/learning in doing that?



Bonus points if you remove the switch and hard-wire it to always on, since that's how you use it.
 
I completed the Boost pedal kit. It was a lot of fun. It was a bit pricey to get to Canada but it sounds good. Next is a Jfet preamp from Tayda so I can learn to drill enclosures. Also ordered a kit from Aion FX. Thanks to everyone for the very helpful advice. The book I purchased is making a lot more sense now that I've figured out what my problem was.
 
Oh and I wish you could erase stuff on forums. I figured out the Donner Ultimate Comp did not have a pcb mounted power jack as I thought before even bothering to open it. The only thing I found was a small piece of solder wire stuck on a smd. I flicked it off anyway and put it back together.
 
I completed the Boost pedal kit. It was a lot of fun. It was a bit pricey to get to Canada but it sounds good. Next is a Jfet preamp from Tayda so I can learn to drill enclosures. Also ordered a kit from Aion FX. Thanks to everyone for the very helpful advice. The book I purchased is making a lot more sense now that I've figured out what my problem was.
Which book is it?
 
Which book is it?
It's Sascha Suhr's beginner book. My problem was that in the first page or so I was informed that electricity travels opposite to how we diagram it. That just messed me up so bad for a while I couldn't read on until I dismissed it. It really is a fine book, I highly recommend it.
 
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It's Sascha Suhr's beginner book. My problem was that in the first page or so I was informed that electricity travels opposite to how we diagram it. That just messed me up so bad for a while I couldn't read on until I dismissed it. It really is a fine book, I highly recommend it.
Don't let that slightly bizarre convention regarding electron flow, confusing as it may be, deter you from building moar stuff.
 
I ordered a kit from Nightfire Electronics, seems like exactly what I want to build. It's a 14 watt amp with a marshall tonestack. Very clean sounding, perfect for using with my pedalboard and maybe competing with my EHX Howitzer, which doesn't have a great EQ. It's not exactly a pedal. I hope to find a project box to put it in. Anyone build anything similar?
 
I ordered a kit from Nightfire Electronics, seems like exactly what I want to build. It's a 14 watt amp with a marshall tonestack. Very clean sounding, perfect for using with my pedalboard and maybe competing with my EHX Howitzer, which doesn't have a great EQ. It's not exactly a pedal. I hope to find a project box to put it in. Anyone build anything similar?
There are some amp builders here, but mostly tube specialists AFAIK. They provide some creative solutions to housing such things, worth a look.

From the site: ‘The PCB is approx 5.5" wide x 2.5" deep.’ Perhaps ask what they advise or see what enclosures Tayda have that will fit.

I see from the assembled version that they apparently solder the IC directly to the board. If they don’t supply an IC socket with the kit, it’s wise to order one. It’s risky soldering that kind of component directly and using a socket means you can swap it out easily as you wish.
 
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There are some amp builders here, but mostly tube specialists AFAIK. They provide some creative solutions to housing such things, worth a look.

From the site: ‘The PCB is approx 5.5" wide x 2.5" deep.’ Perhaps ask what they advise or see what enclosures Tayda have that will fit.

I see from the assembled version that they apparently solder the IC directly to the board. If they don’t supply an IC socket with the kit, it’s wise to order one. It’s risky soldering that kind of component directly and using a socket means you can swap it out easily as you wish.
Thanks! That's great advice! I appreciate it.
 
I built the Tayda Jfet Preamp and learned some lessons. I soldered the pot on backwards...Luckily PedalPCB had the answer on how to get it off. Then I forgot to buy a footswitch, so I wired it always on. The drilling went smooth I must say. It's not pretty work inside but the pedal works, so I am happy.
 
I built the Tayda Jfet Preamp and learned some lessons. I soldered the pot on backwards...Luckily PedalPCB had the answer on how to get it off. Then I forgot to buy a footswitch, so I wired it always on. The drilling went smooth I must say. It's not pretty work inside but the pedal works, so I am happy.

A win is a win, sometimes all you need is a bit of confidence to keep at it
 
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