DIY pedal component information

[czac]

Hi All,

I am building my own pedal this weekend and am using the Premier Guitar, Build your own stombox guide. This is the closest thing I've found to actually explaining what each part is for, but it still isn't very detailed. I was wondering if anyone had a good resource that could explain what all of the individual components inside of a guitar pedal do as they relate to the sound output. I have a general idea (ie Transistors amplify the sound, diodes can alter the tone of the gain etc...) but would like something a little more comprehensive.

Is there any way I can learn this without getting ridiculously in depth into the scientific understanding of each part? I know experimenting on a breadboard can help a lot with learning how parts effect the tone, but I need somewhere to start.

Thanks guys!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: DIY pedal component information

I take it you have no electronics experience? Try these articles....

http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/tstech/tsxtech.htm

https://www.electrosmash.com/tube-screamer-analysis

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/the-ultimate-tube-screamer-mod-guide-1

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/13562-diy-mods-to-perfect-your-ibanez-ts9-and-boss-sd-1

 

[DankStar]

Re: DIY pedal component information

http://www.muzique.com/lab/main.htm When I google stuff like "how to add a tone control to a circuit?" his site always pops up and is helpful.

Just googled the guide. That's pretty awesome. Going to save that for myself.

I usually have to refer to general guitar gadget's layouts to remember how to wire up off-board items:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com...-help/switching-and-wiring/bypass-sw-options/

 

[Mincer]

Re: DIY pedal component information

Thank you for posting these- I hadn't seen them before.

 

[czac]

Re: DIY pedal component information

I do have electronics experience, so I apologize if I sound like an idiot. I was just looking for something a little more boiled down. As an example, if you look at this guide:

https://www.premierguitar.com/ext/r...Fs/Oct14_PGDistortion_BuildGuide_Final_R2.pdf

It provide a section on page 11:
"1. Guitar signal enters here. C1 acts as a filter. Smaller capacitors remove more lows.
2. The transistor amplifies your guitar signal—so much so that it distorts. Different transistors provide
different amounts of gain.
3. The battery powers the transistor. R2 regulates the amount of current reaching the transistor.
4. R3 regulates the amount of current flowing from the transistor to ground. Lower values equal
more gain.
5. R1 adds some current from the battery to the pre-transistor input signal.
6. C2 removes DC signal, preventing it from reaching your amp."

This is kind of what I was looking for. I don't really want a deep dive into the science of each component, but more or less where things can be added in a basic circuit to change the tone and what each part does, why it is placed where it is in the circuit. Like I said, maybe this isn't really possible to understand without getting into the actual science behind each electronic part?

Thanks for the links! I will certainly dive deeper when I have some time.