What makes a good build report?

jjjimi84

Well-known member
I took a few questions on Youtube as to the quality of my build reports and I was wondering what would be a good build report to all of you?

Its kind of hard to talk about the builds when I am trying to make sure all the behind the scenes stuff is running so I am going to start filming them separately and editing them in.

So what say you watchers of these videos, what can I do to make them better for all of us and new builders?
 
Good gutshots, some personal impressions, and when doable, some audio is all it takes imo. Everything else is icing. You’re already the cream of the crop!
I am ordering a new lens for my camera for so even better gut shots and too kind of you! I really do appreciate the kind words and the views. I know how busy every ones lives are and to see people even taking ten minutes means the world to me.
IDGAF how the actual build goes. That's gonna be different for everyone depending on skill level. You're already doing the most by making videos and using the pedal
I am working on a video now called Tips for a successful build and that is the number one thing i am talking about, build to your skill level.
 
I am working on a video now called Tips for a successful build and that is the number one thing i am talking about, build to your skill level.
Good advice, but how I going to get into trouble if I just stick to what I should be building at my skill level? I think I should build a Tourbus as my next pedal. That'll teach me.
 
I tune in for your unfiltered stream of consciousness.
And I quote, "you buy a pedal... and you go on youtube and you go well, lets see what people think about it. Is it a piece of $#!T or whatever"

There are plenty of others, but for some reason that one stuck in my brain. It brightens my day, so keep it up!
 
Just a thought, everyone does a demo playing to a pedals strengths so maybe show it's weaknesses. I think it would be good to see what a pedal doesn't do good, why you should avoid this because it doesn't do something. Like skip this if you don't like tube screamers or big muffs, or doesn't play well with these pedals, pickups or amps. Sometimes knowing what you don't want is as important as what you do want.
I am filming two pedals next that I don't like and don't understand the love for it.
Good advice, but how I going to get into trouble if I just stick to what I should be building at my skill level? I think I should build a Tourbus as my next pedal. That'll teach me.
I think there is a incremental increase in building and the tourbus should never be your first. Its like if your first time having sex was with a porn star, its going to be over in seconds and you will be just in shock and crying, kind of like if you tried to build the tourbus for your first build.
 
I tune in for your unfiltered stream of consciousness.
And I quote, "you buy a pedal... and you go on youtube and you go well, lets see what people think about it. Is it a piece of $#!T or whatever"

There are plenty of others, but for some reason that one stuck in my brain. It brightens my day, so keep it up!
I am quoting that and putting it in the signature! "I tune in for your unfiltered stream of consciousness".

Thank you, you just made my day.
 
Agreeing with a lot here, especially that it doesn't get much better than the build report videos you do @jjjimi84. Not all of this answer is specific to you but just in general:

A few things I like doing, even if I don't post each of these in build reports, when testing commissions:
  • Into clean channel, into dirt channel
  • Active vs passive pickups, humbuckers vs single coil (I can only do that passive though)
  • Different instruments: bass, synth
  • Long ass cable runs vs short
  • Noise level when powered by
    • 9v battery
    • isolated wall wart
    • daisy chain
  • Testing in different chains, especially with mod/reverb
Some of these are more about making sure I have a decent idea of how it sounds before I hand them off so there's less surprises. Not all of them are worth doing for every pedal but just trying to throw the kitchen sink at ya.

For the actual build / unrelated to how it sounds, the only thing I really care about is whether or not some components were hard to find, and if they were impossible to find, what they were substituted with, especially if a few were tried. Also biasing info is always appreciated, even if it's elsewhere it's just nice to have it be one more place if I'm searching for it.
 
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For the actual build / unrelated to how it sounds, the only thing I really care about is whether or not some components were hard to find, and if they were impossible to find, what they were substituted with, especially if a few were tried. Also biasing info is always appreciated, even if it's elsewhere it's just nice to have it be one more place if I'm searching for it.
Oh yeah I do wanna know if it has goofy parts or if I can just get everything at tayda or whatever. I don't wanna be buying a bunch of bbds or some stupid clock chips or whatever
 
I think there is a incremental increase in building and the tourbus should never be your first. Its like if your first time having sex was with a porn star, its going to be over in seconds and you will be just in shock and crying, kind of like if you tried to build the tourbus for your first build.
That was just the first "above my pay grade" pedal I could think of. I will build a DMM variant eventually, but I have plenty that may or may not be more my speed in line already.

BTW pretty sure sex with porn star would be longer than you think. Gotta keep stopping to change camera angles.
 
For the actual build / unrelated to how it sounds, the only thing I really care about is whether or not some components were hard to find, and if they were impossible to find, what they were substituted with, especially if a few were tried. Also biasing info is always appreciated, even if it's elsewhere it's just nice to have it be one more place if I'm searching for it.
Oh yeah I do wanna know if it has goofy parts or if I can just get everything at tayda or whatever. I don't wanna be buying a bunch of bbds or some stupid clock chips or whatever
I am absolutely going to start doing this again, I did it a few times but this is something I really need to do more.
That was just the first "above my pay grade" pedal I could think of. I will build a DMM variant eventually, but I have plenty that may or may not be more my speed in line already.

BTW pretty sure sex with porn star would be longer than you think. Gotta keep stopping to change camera angles.
After humping the same person for almost twenty years even the thought of strange is enough..... I believe she feels the same way.
I tune in for the tight close up shots of those khakis
Juice-Music-Video-Lizzo.gif
@thewintersoldier might know this but yes one video was cut because of camera angle and moose knuckle. Save that shit for my onlyfans.
 
I don't know jack about jill when it comes to the pedal world at large, but the above suggestions seem solid to me. I love the videos, you, and your family. Rock on!
 
IDGAF how the actual build goes. That's gonna be different for everyone depending on skill level. You're already doing the most by making videos and using the pedal
I do give a flying copulation about how the actual build goes, because it does depend on different skill levels. I've learned a lot from other people's mistakes, like "this was a tight build, I should've used slimmer solder and a thinner solder-tip to get between the caps, then I might not have melted them soldering in the pots" — that sort of thing. As my skills and experience improve, I'm happy to pass on anything that'll help the next person coming up, including my mistakes.

...
I am working on a video now called Tips for a successful build and that is the number one thing i am talking about, build to your skill level.



I'm a firm believer in always shooting for one step beyond your skill level. My first build was a MFX of Red Llama, Green Ringer, Boost and EQ — every individual circuit worked on its own, but not altogether. I bit off way more than I should've tried to chew, and I do recommend a complete novice to stick to say, a 1-transistor boost or a similarly simple circuit. I wouldn't try to stop anyone from trying to build a TS-808 or Muff as their first build though.

If we all stuck to building at/to our skill level, that's all we'd build — one-transistor boosts and fuzzes and other simple circuits, or maybe not build anything at all.
Also, there's also that one punter out there who'll attempt a Tourbus build to break their solder-cherry and ... possibly even succeed.
 
I do give a flying copulation about how the actual build goes, because it does depend on different skill levels. I've learned a lot from other people's mistakes, like "this was a tight build, I should've used slimmer solder and a thinner solder-tip to get between the caps, then I might not have melted them soldering in the pots" — that sort of thing. As my skills and experience improve, I'm happy to pass on anything that'll help the next person coming up, including my mistakes.





I'm a firm believer in always shooting for one step beyond your skill level. My first build was a MFX of Red Llama, Green Ringer, Boost and EQ — every individual circuit worked on its own, but not altogether. I bit off way more than I should've tried to chew, and I do recommend a complete novice to stick to say, a 1-transistor boost or a similarly simple circuit. I wouldn't try to stop anyone from trying to build a TS-808 or Muff as their first build though.

If we all stuck to building at/to our skill level, that's all we'd build — one-transistor boosts and fuzzes and other simple circuits, or maybe not build anything at all.
Also, there's also that one punter out there who'll attempt a Tourbus build to break their solder-cherry and ... possibly even succeed.
I am with you, I want to try and make this an even easier hobby to get into and point out the error of my ways. Trying to get better at remembering to add that to my build report videos. I am thinking about shooting another VFE build just so I can cover all of those issues in one build.

I should have clarified that, I was referring to beginners. Don't start out doing a Deluxe Memory Man but get a few basics under you and then tackle the big guys. Maybe there should be a video of what to do next? You have done a few boosts and drives, what should you work on next as a DIY pedal builder.

Ideas are flying today baby!
 
I took a few questions on Youtube as to the quality of my build reports and I was wondering what would be a good build report to all of you?

Its kind of hard to talk about the builds when I am trying to make sure all the behind the scenes stuff is running so I am going to start filming them separately and editing them in.

So what say you watchers of these videos, what can I do to make them better for all of us and new builders?
I’d say what makes a good build report for your channel is keep being yourself! I think the stories behind the build and artwork are what sets you apart from it being a “medical” build and vid… You play into the intro… Talk about the circuit a bit and then the idea of the artwork then you go through the settings and do your multitrack thing.. Then sometimes tell a story… It’s awesome
 
I’d say what makes a good build report for your channel is keep being yourself! I think the stories behind the build and artwork are what sets you apart from it being a “medical” build and vid… You play into the intro… Talk about the circuit a bit and then the idea of the artwork then you go through the settings and do your multitrack thing.. Then sometimes tell a story… It’s awesome
Thank you sir! It is really great to get positive feedback, it helps put gas in the tank to keep this rolling.

And boy oh boy is it rolling.
 
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