General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

[Shauggy]

Anybody built one of the GGG boost pedals recently? Or a BYOC or anything? Any suggestions for a noob on his first build?

Never built any pedals, but I'm half-decent with a soldering iron, so about 6-12 months ago or so I ordered a LPB replica boost kit from GGG. I finally got around to taking it out a few days ago and decided to go ahead and put it together...I printed off the build instructions and PCB layout from the website, dumped all the parts out on my desk, fished around for the PCB...and realized the board is COMPLETELY different from the one in the directions.

I tried emailing them through the website (the only way they have listed to reach them) to see if they have a layout for the PCB that I have, thinking maybe mine was an older version or something, but hadn't heard anything back after a couple days. Tried using Google, but all I could find were schematics (which I couldn't make much sense of) and layouts for different PCBs. I did a was about to give up and order a PCB from somewhere else that had a build with similar parts, but decided to try one more search through the Interwebs, and this time I chanced across some random spanish site that ended up linking me to a GGG schematic I hadn't seen, and based on the name I was able to figure out the file name of the layout I was after and just type in the web address manually....bingo! :bigthumb:

So now I'm pretty stoked....but I spent my evening on Google instead of building the kit so it'll have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks www.pisotones.com, couldn't have done it without you.

Oh yeah, and any suggestions appreciated as well.

 

[woemoejack]

Re: General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

I built the LPB boost. my first pedal build. best advice is to take it slow, make good connections and triple check the instructions. keep your iron tip clean and tinned. rough up the pot terminals with a wire brush so the solder joins well. the hardest part for me was soldering the switch, other than that it was a breeze. PCB soldering is pretty simple if you use a clamp to hold it steady. the boost is a very good starting point for getting into building pedals.

it sounds great too.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

I'm in the process of building the Marshall Guv'nor clone they make. They put out a good product and the instructions are real clear. Nice folks to deal with too. I agree with Woemoejack, take it slow and double check everything. Other than that it's pretty easy.

 

[Shauggy]

Re: General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

sweet, thanks guys. Here's the schematic I found, It doesn't have the LED in that one (must have been trying to stay true to the vintage repro vibe)

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/lpb2_lo.gif

At first I thought about just wiring it up without the LED, but then I found this one through an old thread on here:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/switch_lo_3pdt_tb_dcjack.gif

I figure if I put those two diagrams together I should be able to finish the build. And if not...at least I'll have fun trying!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

How does this LPB-2 compare to the original LPB-1 from the 60s? I had an LPB-1 which I used constantly and loved. Not only boosted my volume, but thickened my tone and pushed the front end of my amp (Bandmaster). It was a little noisy though.

Anyone know the comparisons?

 

[Shauggy]

Re: General Guitar Gadgets boost (LPB-2 kit)

From everything I've heard, the LPB-2 is pretty much just an LPB-1 with a footswitch. I do have one of the Nano reissues (LPB-1) and it does seem to add some low end so it's not really a "clean" boost, but I still like it.

I got the pedal all wired up to test it, and surprisingly it works! Now I've just got to drill some holes and slap it in an enclosure and we'll be in business.