I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

[Curly]

I got a General Guitar Gadgets ITS8 kit, based on a TS-808.

I put the board together a couple of months ago, then put it aside, but finished over the holidays.

I was pleasantly surprised when I plugged in and the light went on ... then played it, and it worked no problem.

the toggle is for clipping options: diodes/ boost/ LEDs
I got the option kit and subbed a couple components, just following the "boutique" schematic.

I've played it a couple times, and it hangs with any of my tubescreamers.
Since the op amp is socketed, I can also try different ones, like the LF353P that came with the option kit.

although I've built a Mission Amps 5E3 kit, I really don't care for working on smaller circuits, 'cause you have less room, smaller components, and pcbs, so you have to be patient and careful.

I know JD Sleep at GGG makes nice circuit boards ... John Spina ordered his boards from JD. The kit was kinda idiot proof, as my success proves.

I look at this as a learning exercise, and I'm pretty happy with the results.

 

[Bludave]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Nice Job. I bet you felt real proud of yourself. L know I would, I'm a spaz with a soldering iron! Post some clips when you get a chance.

 

[Curly]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

I'm proud when anything I build works!

I had to troubleshoot my 5E3 for a day ... as many times as I double checked my wiring, one of the wires that ran under the circuit board was wrong. :smack:

 

[Hoss]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

i may have to pick some of them up...i bought a bunch of tools for kits last year for Christmas...but never ordered any kits!!! duh!

i'd like to try my hand at it...and do a paint job and the whole she-bang! you know that when you hand paint them they become "boutique"!!! hahah!

 

[karpathion]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

wow, for 60 bucks i may have to give that a try.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

paint that sucka nuclear green and your all set

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Congrats Gary! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Boy I know what'cha mean about working on those small circuits - I just can't see what I'm doing anymore.

So how does your handwired 808 compare to your factory made 808?

Better I hope!

Lew

 

[Stratman]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Boy I know what'cha mean - I just can't see what I'm doing anymore.

Better I hope!

Our mom's told us to stop or we would go blind!

 

[FretFire]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Awesome, I ordered the same kit a few days ago and it should be waiting for me when I get back to town tomorrow. I'm looking forward to putting it together next week and experimenting with it.

Would you recommend doing the "Very Expensive Boutique Mod", or do you wish you'd done the standard build? The mod is supposedly based on the Landgraff M'od circuit, and I've heard it compares pretty well though I've never played the Landgraff personally.

 

[Curly]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

thanks guys

Boy I know what'cha mean about working on those small circuits - I just can't see what I'm doing anymore.

So how does your handwired 808 compare to your factory made 808?

Better I hope!

Lew

I didn't want to say my eyesight is going, but that's part of the problem ... reading those little numbers ... you need a magnifier

I haven't A/B ed this with my Maxon, but from memory, it does seem to have a little more resonance. The difference is mine is set with asymmetric diodes/ clean boost/ and red LEDs on the clipping toggle.

I played it with a few wahs after reading your thread, and it sounded pretty darn good with those.

Would you recommend doing the "Very Expensive Boutique Mod", or do you wish you'd done the standard build? The mod is supposedly based on the Landgraff M'od circuit, and I've heard it compares pretty well though I've never played the Landgraff personally.

I used the "boutique mods" component substitutions, but the stock pots -- the boutique mods includes a 1M value for the drive pot, but I don't care for the increased gain in a couple similar pedals I've got.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Cool job! I gotta give it a try one of these days -- especially since you can save a bundle for a pedal that sounds/functions as well as any commerically made units.

 

[Mincer]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Great job! I am waiting until the BYOC TS pedal is available. Building your own stuff rocks!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

That's very cool indeed! Congrats.

 

[FretFire]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Well, I finished up my build last night. After discovering I had left the op amp out of the socket in my excitement to plug in and test it, mine too worked on the first try. First impressions are pretty good, this may be a great lower gain OD to put in front of my BB Preamp.

 

[FretFire]

Re: I built a TS 808 kit, and it worked!

Here's some pics of my build, I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with the enclosure, if anything. I should add that I did the full "Very Expensive Boutique Mod", and also wound up using the RC4558P op-amp. I thought it sounded a little clearer/smoother than the other two included in the kit.