How do you feel about 1590A builds?

How do you feel about 1590A builds?

  • Yay! I love 1590A builds!

    Votes: 18 41.9%

  • Whatevs...I'll just put it in a larger enclosure.

    Votes: 17 39.5%

  • Ugh. I hate 3PDT mounted PCBs and off-board potentiometers!

    Votes: 7 16.3%

  • I require more features—give me more knobs!

    Votes: 10 23.3%
  • Total voters
    43
Having made two so far and only afterward ran across the astute point about their dimensional advantages over 1590B being marginal, I'd say I appreciate the form but it's just not worth the hassle. Even in the case of the Moonn Dice/Random Number Generator (the Abby Normal pedal), which is a teensy board AND I omitted the LED, lol!

I am down for pro 1590A builds, ie my Wampler Belle, and I do dig utilities implementations as well (OBNE Expression Slider and Ramper). Until I one day feel even remotely competent at (let alone interested in) the perilous art of SMD components, I think I'm good 😂
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I'm not a fan of 1590A for "normal" pedals because of the way the jacks end up. If you do a horizontal one then you can put all the jacks on one side and it's fun to squeeze it onto your board somewhere. But for a normal vertical form factor I'd rather do a 1590B with top jacks and a bigger knob. It takes up the same amount of real room as a 1590A but the cables end up being more uniform with the other pedals and it looks nicer too

jessenator said:
I have a Cupcake that hasn't found a home yet for this reason…

I keep saying if they made a taller 1590G, I'd consider a sub 1590B build. But the B is such a great size. A tall G would still necessitate side jacks…

But for LpB-1, orange squeezer, ringer, those small circuits it's kind of a waste to put it in larger enclosures. INB4 "lol green ringer already a waste" peanut gallery.

I actually considered putting an LPB-1 into the garbage 1590F smallbear gave me in the grab box for the PHB build contest.
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They do make a taller 1590G, it's called a 1590G2, it's the same height as a B. Check out the hammond website and peruse their list of 1590 series enclosures
 
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Aleph Null said:
🤔 Are you using a Lumberg style DC jack and mono jacks, or can you use Nuetrik style mono jacks? (I would do my own homework, but I don't have a 1590B on hand.)
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Here's one of mine, 1590B with top jacks. With these they fit up against the backs of the pots and I do need to space them out from the inside of the enclosure or else they interfere with the lip on the back cover. I use an extra nut for this
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Mini pedals for me are only ok for the studio and the bedroom. On stage I need big pedals, large knobs, foootswitch toppers, blinding LEDs and space between pedals. I also can't stand pedals that wobble on boards. Looking at you Polytune mini...

And like Tom Bukovac says "big tone is heavy and hard to carry".

In general everything in pedals is too tiny and fiddly for me. I would gladly switch to 1590BBS boxes and large, spacious PCBs.
 
andare said:
Mini pedals for me are only ok for the studio and the bedroom. On stage I need big pedals, large knobs, foootswitch toppers, blinding LEDs and space between pedals. I also can't stand pedals that wobble on boards. Looking at you Polytune mini...

And like Tom Bukovac says "big tone is heavy and hard to carry".

In general everything in pedals is too tiny and fiddly for me. I would gladly switch to 1590BBS boxes and large, spacious PCBs.
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I feel the same way. All my Revv G series builds went into BB enclosures.
 
It's all about the lack of top-mount of 1590A for me. Makes it pointless for anything that isn't always on/utilitarian.

1590LB can do top mount, but you're limited on the size of the circuit (but you mentioned one-knobbers).
I just build everything in 125B. It's like a luxurious car, loads of space in the engine bay. Wide tolerances for hand drilling.
 
I don't like 125B. It's totally irrational but I just don't! And 125B with side jacks?? So many brands do that and it seems contrary these days. If you're gonna use a 125B (and I probably would if I was a serious producer) I'd at least use top jacks.

I mainly use 1590B with top jacks, 1590BB for dual pedals and sometimes a bigger one I can't remember the number of for triple pedals.

Used to like building 1590As but don't see the point anymore. I will use them for footswitches though. I've built a few Strymon Favourite switches with a 1590A.
 
andare said:
Mini pedals for me are only ok for the studio and the bedroom. On stage I need big pedals, large knobs, foootswitch toppers, blinding LEDs and space between pedals. I also can't stand pedals that wobble on boards. Looking at you Polytune mini...

And like Tom Bukovac says "big tone is heavy and hard to carry".

In general everything in pedals is too tiny and fiddly for me. I would gladly switch to 1590BBS boxes and large, spacious PCBs.
Click to expand...

Here's your jam...

www.deadendfx.com

Dead End FX

We sell musical electronic effects PCB's for the DIY community. We generally specialize in effects that are long out of production, and/or quite rare. We cater to group purchases as well.
www.deadendfx.com www.deadendfx.com
 
Thank you all for your input. After some self reflection, I've come to the conclusion that it's not the size that matters but the fit. If a 1590B is like a well-tailored set of chinos, then a 125B is like worn in jeans. For most builds, I like the extra room and comfort afforded by a 125B. (I guess 1590A would be leggings and 1590BB parachute pants in this analogy?) The 5mm of width on the pedal board is worth the extra leeway inside the enclosure for me. Top-mount jacks and minimal off-board wiring are what's important. If I ever go commercial, I'll move to SMD and 1590Bs with top-mount jacks.

Also, this circuit, if it ever comes to life will be four knobs and one switch.
 
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125b is like going to visit your parents but more of your family shows up and someone has the bright idea of going somewhere fancy for dinner and you didn't bring anything nice so you have to borrow your dad's slacks which are like 4 sizes too big and none of his belts fit either. Great.
 
Anything I can possibly fit into a 1590b with top jacks I do. I’m fine with 125b and 1590bb or even larger for more complex circuits.

I also use the lumberg KLBM 3 for my 1/4” jacks and the thinline Lumberg DC jacks in my 1590b builds.

Aleph Null said:
If I ever go commercial, I'll move to SMD and 1590Bs with top-mount jacks.
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This or some custom bent aluminum enclosures would definitely be my plan if I were ever to go commercial, which I sometimes feel pulled towards but let’s be real it’s not happening any time soon for me. Maybe once I’m retired from the current day job… I’m nowhere near retirement though.
 
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