CONTEST Buddy's Summer Contest - 1 Knob? No Prob!

CONTEST
BuddytheReow

BuddytheReow

Moderator
As the unofficial summer kicks off (at least here in the States), I thought it might be time for another circuit design contest. I was kicking around the idea for a contest about 6 months ago, but then @Chuck D. Bones and @steviejr92 came in with theirs. No biggie.

Anyways, my first contest was pretty much open ended. This time it's a little different. Your task? Design a circuit with only 1 external knob. Any circuit you'd like. Fuzz, OD, boost, modulation, ringmod. Heck, even a LED dimmer. It's all fair game. There are plenty of resources and areas of inspiration on the forum here to point you in the right direction.

The contest starts now and ends July 15th. That's 6+ weeks and plenty of time to tweak your circuit.

Some clarifications/rules:
  • Everyone can enter. There are no other judges except myself, unless you'd like to be one with me.
  • Your final circuit, IF you choose to box it up, must fit inside a 125b enclosure. For the record, you don't HAVE to box it up in order to submit an entry.
  • Only 1 main knob allowed. Other switches and knobs (i.e trimmers and DIP switches), must be mounted internally IF boxed up. You are free to use regular sized ones while prototyping to make a "set it and forget it" effect. Think low pass filter or bias controls here.
  • An official submission must include a LEGIBLE schematic with ref des and a picture of your working prototype. Prototypes can include breadboard, stripboard, PCB, P2P, etc. If you have additional knobs in your circuit you MUST clarify which knob is to be the external one.
  • The circuit must work (duh...)
  • You are free to use any component as long as they can be sourced as of today from a reputable vendor (tayda, smallbear, SBP, etc.). I'm not 100% against tubes, but I am hesitant to test high voltage circuits on my own (I also don't have any, tbh). If your submission is tube based, please also include a sound clip.
  • The circuit must be powered by a positive 9V supply. If the circuit sounds better with more than that, fine. But, it should work with 9V going into the main supply. You can step down or step up the voltage from there. Voltage inverters are allowed.
  • Circuits can be guitar or bass oriented.
  • Cross-talking on the thread is allowed. Let's help each other out!
  • You are allowed multiple submissions.
Judging Criteria:
  • The circuit must work. Bonus points if you submit a sound clip
  • Originality. Don't make a stock LPB-1. Go the extra mile (or kilometer) with your design and call it your own!
  • Of course it has to sound cool. I won't disallow noisemakers, but more points will be awarded for something more useable in a musical setting. Unless of course it makes a sweet noise :cool:
  • Regarding the number of "internal" knobs/switches, don't be a dick about it. Remember I need to try these out on my own too!
  • Bonus points for multiple submissions. They won't all be top notch, but let your imagination run wild!
The prize:

The grand prize will be a transistor substitution box plus a few other goodies. Here's a link of a similar one from SBP. Click on 'transistor'.
stompboxparts.com

Component Substitution Boxes

Top Quality Parts for Guitar Effects Pedals and DIY Music Devices. Knobs, Pots, Switches, Kits, LEDs, Enclosures, Jacks, Wire, Resistors, Capacitors, Semiconductors
stompboxparts.com stompboxparts.com

I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!!!! Let the prototyping begin!!

BuddytheReow
 
t1redhands said:
Aw yeah this is going to be fun.

Would it be considered outside the rules to design something intended to be interactive with a guitar's volume or tone knob?
Click to expand...
Isn't arguably anything interactive to a guitar's controls, only thing that changes is "to what extent"? And especially a lot of one knob fuzzes also rely a lot on the guitar's volume control. Or did you have something weird in mind?
 
Here's a general solution:
Build an FV-1 board, such as the Arachnid. Pick one pot to mount on the front panel. Make the other pots trimmers and use a DIP switch for program select. Design a custom program, or use one the hundreds (thousands?) available on the interwebs. :cool:
 
Chuck D. Bones said:
Here's a general solution:
Build an FV-1 board, such as the Arachnid. Pick one pot to mount on the front panel. Make the other pots trimmers and use a DIP switch for program select. Design a custom program, or use one the hundreds (thousands?) available on the interwebs. :cool:
Click to expand...
Why not use a switch pot and a digital encoder to cycle through parameters?
 
I guess there’s no reason not to count me in! First circuit contest that aligns with when I’m not in the middle of a semester, so I don’t really have an excuse not to try. Also I’ve been a bit over the top with my maximalism lately with all of the 12 knob fuzzes and ring mods and what not that I’ve been in the early stages of designing— limiting myself to one knob seems like a healthy exercise in restraint. Gotta start brainstorming!

The mention of “all other pots/switches must be internal” has me understanding that toggle switches are a no-go, but what’s the ruling on a secondary (likely momentary) footswitch? Any opinions on using a rotary switch for the “one knob” aspect instead of a pot?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top