What Platforms Do You Like? PCB vs Stripboard vs P2P vs Breadboard

BuddytheReow

BuddytheReow

Moderator
I know this is a PCB-based forum, but many of you explore other build platforms as well. Each of these platforms mentioned above have their pros and cons if people have preference of one over the other in general.

  • PCB - For me, probably the most straightforward and IMO the easiest method of building. I tend to shut off the world and partially my brain while working of these, which is great at times since it is a form of therapy for me.
  • Stripboard - This is probably my favorite way to build. Stripboard is pretty cheap and a way to build your own board (we're all DIYers here so this is right up our alley). The downside is the rats nest created for all the offboard components. But, IMO, as long as it sounds good and no noise is created you won't tell the difference once it's all boxed up. There are TONS of pedal layouts on the net (dirtboxlayouts and tagboardeffects for anyone who's curious).
  • P2P - I honestly haven't tried this method, but I want to find a rather simpler circuit to test a build on. I can't imagine it's that much more difficult than stripboard other than trying to figure out the layout for all your bridges.
  • Breadboard - I've mentioned this in other threads, but breadboarding opened up a whole new world for me in electronics. It is a phenomenal way to learn how circuits work. Obviously, experimenting is the way to go since no solder is used here. What happens when I up the capacitor or resistor value here? Well, try it and find out!! Two downsides to this method: cleanup is a bitch putting all my components back in their boxes or baggies. The other downside is that it takes up a lot of real estate on a pedalboard, but hey, its temporary.
 
I started by doing a few vero projects which is what got me in to this. I didn't even know that pre-made PCBs were a thing until I found this place not all that long ago. Since then I've gone kind of nutty and have dozens of boards that need to be built up. The PCB method is so simple and I totally feel like I'm cheating, but at the same time I don't really care because it allows me to build more effects than I otherwise would.

I have a few half finished vero projects that I always consider getting back to but never seem to pick up. With a family and full time job and all the other commitments that go along with that I really appreciate being able to buy PCB's.

That said I see the appeal towards vero, P2P and all that. There is much more craftsmanship that goes in to those builds and I can always appreciate craftsmanship. I would like to have time to do more things like that, but for now I am happy with PCBs.
 
peccary said:
I started by doing a few vero projects which is what got me in to this. I didn't even know that pre-made PCBs were a thing until I found this place not all that long ago. Since then I've gone kind of nutty and have dozens of boards that need to be built up. The PCB method is so simple and I totally feel like I'm cheating, but at the same time I don't really care because it allows me to build more effects than I otherwise would.

I have a few half finished vero projects that I always consider getting back to but never seem to pick up. With a family and full time job and all the other commitments that go along with that I really appreciate being able to buy PCB's.
Click to expand...
Pretty much a similar experience. I started here with PCB, but did some Vero builds along the way (one that still need troubleshooting, I think I might have smooshed something getting it ll in), and I have one lined up as no pcb existed. But man do I hate off board wiring, even if I'm at a point where I'm comfortable with it now. Like right now, I have 3-4 boards populated, but I'd rather solder components to another than finish those, SMH. So I always dread that aspect of stripboard builds.
I don't think I'll try P2P anytime soon, as I don't think mine would look anything close to good, especially after having seen some work of art in that domain.
Resolution for the new year include doing some small-scale breadboarding, troubleshooting some builds
 
I like PCB for the ease of building, but I hate it for fixing mistakes or modding.

I've never used stripboard. I prefer single hole perfboard as it makes more sense to me. that leads to....

P2P (well not true P2P like Reeves or those guys) which I've just started getting into. I have been using tag board right now but intend to use turrets as I get more time. This appeals to me the most as it reminds me of the amps I've built. I like the process of taking the schematic and determining a layout in DIYLC. I've tried to do a PCB layout or two and it's a complete mystery to me how to actually do it even though I can trace a PCB. The drawback to P2P is if it's beyond a simple circuit they can get large and you really need to do turrets or eyelets strategically placed. A pro is that it's easy to mod and make corrections without damaging anything.

I typically breadboard anything I'm building that isn't on a PCB to verify the circuit.
 
I remember back in the day when Vero got popular and circuits came out of the woodwork fast and furious. What an amazing time to have a soldering iron!

I started using perfboard at first and had a decent amount of success. Solder bridges and the birdsnest of wires coming from all parts of the board were a pain, but it was rewarding.

I took a break from building when single-sided, simply etched boards were popular and getting back into the hobby and seeing the super quality boards available now, I'm super jazzed to be building again. Still, it's nice to be able to work up a usable pedal with more primitive tools and methods!
 
I've only done a few acid etched and mostly purchased pcbs. Been considering a vero/strip project just to try it. I'll likely never etch again with what's available online these days. Tried to carve an etching layout of a harmonic tremolo with my friend's xcarve but that thing never worked and I moved on.

Anyone have a suggestion for a vero/strip project that a bass player would like and isn't available at ppcb?
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
fig said:
@peccary probably has some ideas.
Click to expand...
The only ones I have that are fully built and working currently are a Woolly Mammoth and a one knob boost but I can't remember which.

I have a "finished" Prunes and Custard but it needs a couple of components replaced after I used a center positive battery clip to test it out ( :ROFLMAO:) so I can't really claim to know that it is good for bass, but I have heard that it is. I'm not sure if there is a board for it (there isn't one from PPCB, at least). I also have DAM 25-17 that is like 90% complete which I started because I'd heard it was great with bass, but again I can't give a personal opinion on it since it's not complete.
 
peccary said:
The only ones I have that are fully built and working currently are a Woolly Mammoth and a one knob boost but I can't remember which.

I have a "finished" Prunes and Custard but it needs a couple of components replaced after I used a center positive battery clip to test it out ( :ROFLMAO:) so I can't really claim to know that it is good for bass, but I have heard that it is. I'm not sure if there is a board for it (there isn't one from PPCB, at least). I also have DAM 25-17 that is like 90% complete which I started because I'd heard it was great with bass, but again I can't give a personal opinion on it since it's not complete.
Click to expand...

Hilarious, I've done both of those on fuzzdog boards. Yes, both are really good on bass. So good in fact that I gave them the trapezoid treatment and housed em together with a hogsfoot (in the center but first in the order). Prunes is especially fun. The Ezekiel is versatile though I don't have much use for the germanium setting. I like the leds the most, silicon second but it's the clean blend that makes it for me. It's my favorite medium dirt w/ clean blend. I've been calling it the Ezekiel 23:20 though. I'm a lover not a fighter.

Anyway, you should definitely finish both of those.

Screenshot_20211210-150213_Gallery.jpg
 
Last edited:
SYLV9ST9R said:
Pretty much a similar experience. I started here with PCB, but did some Vero builds along the way (one that still need troubleshooting, I think I might have smooshed something getting it ll in), and I have one lined up as no pcb existed. But man do I hate off board wiring, even if I'm at a point where I'm comfortable with it now. Like right now, I have 3-4 boards populated, but I'd rather solder components to another than finish those, SMH. So I always dread that aspect of stripboard builds.
I don't think I'll try P2P anytime soon, as I don't think mine would look anything close to good, especially after having seen some work of art in that domain.
Resolution for the new year include doing some small-scale breadboarding, troubleshooting some builds
Click to expand...
I feel you on the off board wiring, when I finally force myself to do it, I always wonder why I put off so much, but I have four populated boards on my bench right now and guess what they're waiting for?

Edit: actually it's five, forgot about the second Viceroy I populated, and what am I doing? populating a Thermionic Deluxe!
 
Last edited:
I’m good with it all. Never tried dead bug construction, but I’d like to give it a shot just for some sort of functional display piece.
I absolutely hate Protoboard though— you know, the stuff where it’s a grid of individual pads, and you have to create the traces by solder bridging each of the pads in a row
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
Funny how I too am building a vero Prunes and Custard, Ezekiel and have made a handful of Wooly Mammoth pedals in the past. I like the Mammoth quite a lot and hope that the other two will be handy. Luckily all three are reasonable to build up on vero board.
 
I guess because I built amps first that the off-board wiring doesn't seem so bad to me. Like others, I like PCB for speed and convenience but Vero for experimenting. Actually Vero is in some ways my preferred method because I can build modded versions of pedals more easily and I also enjoy making the layouts. It doesn't have to be a rat's nest with Vero - you just cut the wires to length after soldering them to the board. I seem to be able to make a neat pedal with Vero - it's not that hard! I also find Vero easier to troubleshoot.

And I should be able to use a breadboard but can't quite get my head around it yet!
 
I have done perf/protoboard, also tried my hand at p2p (a LPB1. it was def a good starter circuit for such endeavors), but def prefer PCB. Especially ones with board mounted pots. I have done plenty with offboard wiring and, as many have already expressed, I hate it. I say that and yet due to some poor design decisions I have ended up offboarding all the knobs and switches on my headphone amp build🙄
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
Bricksnbeatles said:
I’m good with it all. Never tried dead bug construction, but I’d like to give it a shot just for some sort of functional display piece.
I absolutely hate Protoboard though— you know, the stuff where it’s a grid of individual pads, and you have to create the traces by solder bridging each of the pads in a row
Click to expand...
I love that stuff. I just use the leads of the components though and a wire or two here and there. I very seldom do the solder bridging thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
Blooze said:
I love that stuff. I just use the leads of the components though and a wire or two here and there. I very seldom do the solder bridging thing.
Click to expand...
Maybe the reason why I hate the stuff is that instead of solder bridging I took uncoated 44 awg copper wire, threaded it onto a needle, and spent roughly an hour weaving it in and out of the holes to create traces, and then soldered along the full length of everything to get it solid and secure. Massive pain in the ass
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top