First build success! Distortion 250

coldchain

coldchain

Member
This would have been done last week but I had an issue with the parts I ordered (because components are confusing). Everything's now together and working quite nicely! I do enjoy this particular pedal as well, never played one. I come across one thing I'm not 100% satisfied with in the taper of the gain pot where you get a very gradual increase over the first 80% of the pot then the last 20% is SUPER GAIN SPIKE.

It seems like the B1M gain pot noted for this build isn't actually what should be used on a 250? Seen a lot of people recommend C500k or B500k for a smoother, more usable gain range. I do like the way it sounds overall but it would definitely be nice to have a little more room to dial in it. Not sure if I'll swap it out on this build or just do another one, I'm pretty sure I duped most of the components I ordered aside from the hardware and PCB. We will see, it was overall a fun process aside from a few moments of frustration.

The hookup wiring really flummoxed me a few times and I felt like the wire I got was really working against me, though I bought what I saw recommended in a few places... or so I thought? I'm using this but I feel something like this would be a heck of a lot easier to work with as far as slotting into the PCB holes and such.

Either way, I think I definitely have a new hobby! Occasional frustrations aside, it was a lot of fun and sounds really good.

PXL_20230214_184117870.PORTRAIT.jpg PXL_20230214_083958480.PORTRAIT2.jpg
 
jhaneyzz said:
Fantastic job. Definitely doesn't look like a first build, I don't see any blood stains...
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You should see the wall next to my work desk...

Thanks though :D I have done a lot of guitar wiring over the years and a few PCB repairs here and there.
 
jhaneyzz said:
I finally gave up on stocking multiple colors of wire and just use this. I personally prefer 24 gauge wire. That said, I'v not tried a lot of different wires. Just found this and stuck with it.

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I had to go with the newbie kitsch :LOL: You like the stranded wire though? That's what was giving me the most problems. Probably need to get a burner board and just practice that part a little bit. Everything else was pretty smooth.
 
coldchain said:
This would have been done last week but I had an issue with the parts I ordered (because components are confusing). Everything's now together and working quite nicely! I do enjoy this particular pedal as well, never played one. I come across one thing I'm not 100% satisfied with in the taper of the gain pot where you get a very gradual increase over the first 80% of the pot then the last 20% is SUPER GAIN SPIKE.

It seems like the B1M gain pot noted for this build isn't actually what should be used on a 250? Seen a lot of people recommend C500k or B500k for a smoother, more usable gain range. I do like the way it sounds overall but it would definitely be nice to have a little more room to dial in it. Not sure if I'll swap it out on this build or just do another one, I'm pretty sure I duped most of the components I ordered aside from the hardware and PCB. We will see, it was overall a fun process aside from a few moments of frustration.

The hookup wiring really flummoxed me a few times and I felt like the wire I got was really working against me, though I bought what I saw recommended in a few places... or so I thought? I'm using this but I feel something like this would be a heck of a lot easier to work with as far as slotting into the PCB holes and such.

Either way, I think I definitely have a new hobby! Occasional frustrations aside, it was a lot of fun and sounds really good.

View attachment 42044View attachment 42045
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Put a 1M resistor across lugs one and three, that will bring the value down to 500k. I forget what I stuck in mine.
 
jimilee said:
Put a 1M resistor across lugs one and three, that will bring the value down to 500k. I forget what I stuck in mine.
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I believe I might have an extra one of those laying around, I'll give it a try! As much as I am not a math or numbers-brained person in the least, learning about this kind of stuff is pretty interesting.
 
A DOD250 kit from BYOC was my first ever pedal build. I printed a photo of a mushroom cloud on cardstock and mod podge'd it to the top of the enclosure. Then I played it through a solid state Fender Rumble bass amp (which was serving as my guitar amp at the time) and thought it sounded godawful.

That one's probably on me. :P Welcome and enjoy!!
 
jhaneyzz said:
I finally gave up on stocking multiple colors of wire and just use this. I personally prefer 24 gauge wire. That said, I'v not tried a lot of different wires. Just found this and stuck with it.

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Oh man that’s a good price for silicone tinned wire. Idk if I could handle only one color though. This silicone can you strip with your finger nail? One of my favorite things about silicone
 
Joben Magooch said:
A DOD250 kit from BYOC was my first ever pedal build. I printed a photo of a mushroom cloud on cardstock and mod podge'd it to the top of the enclosure. Then I played it through a solid state Fender Rumble bass amp (which was serving as my guitar amp at the time) and thought it sounded godawful.

That one's probably on me. :p Welcome and enjoy!!
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Gotta start somewhere! I used spray paint and a stencil :geek:
 
spi said:
Awesome first build. I recommend C500K pots for this circuit--that's what I've used and no complaints about the range.

Here's a tip: you don't need that lock nut on the outside. I typically use it on the inside of the pedal, right up against the aluminum.


View attachment 42054
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I think it actually got put there on accident
jhaneyzz said:
I do like stranded wire, but you've gotta pre-tin everything....

That said, I have been messing with crazy solid wiring fun lately.

View attachment 42049
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That look good and from what I read of the soild wiring the main complaint was easy breakage. I figure I did most of the wiring on this with the parts already mounted so that wouldn't be much of an issue.
 
Locrian99 said:
Oh man that’s a good price for silicone tinned wire. Idk if I could handle only one color though. This silicone can you strip with your finger nail? One of my favorite things about silicone
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I had never tried but I just tested and YES, you can easily strip it with fingernails... That is going to come in handy...
 
coldchain said:
I think it actually got put there on accident

That look good and from what I read of the soild wiring the main complaint was easy breakage. I figure I did most of the wiring on this with the parts already mounted so that wouldn't be much of an issue.
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You are correct, if everything is in place, solid wiring is fine..

But the first time you have to disassemble everything to replace a capacitor in the middle of the board you will begin to understand why it is not popular with folks who like to tweak things.
 
coldchain said:
I believe I might have an extra one of those laying around, I'll give it a try! As much as I am not a math or numbers-brained person in the least, learning about this kind of stuff is pretty interesting.
Click to expand...
I use an iPhone app called e tools pro. I paid for it, worth every penny.
 
jimilee said:
I use an iPhone app called e tools pro. I paid for it, worth every penny.
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I don't think that app is available any longer.

I use Electronic Toolbox Pro in iOS. it has a TON of tools and references. I find the User Interface a bit annoying when trying to type values and you MUT turn off the default that tries to download updates every time you launch, but it does that job.
 
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