What to do with this pedal??

[Fender_Punk]

Hey everyone. I FINALLY got ahold of the right hgex wrench to open up my Hot Head distortion, which does't work as the adapter plug never has and the black wire to the 9V cell plug was severed. I'm thinking f using the chasis for another pedal, therefore meaning I want to try my hand at making a pedal. I'm thinking since it has mono imput and stereo output holes drilled in the chasis of making a flange or a maybe just a kick ass distortion to put my hot head to shame.

Should I try to salvage any parts like the input/output jacks or any of the few capacitors that have decent leads left on them? Attached are pics of the PCB. What should I build? I want something relatively simple as it'll be my first pedal.

If mroe pics are necessary i can take them/post them. Reccomend away!!

 

[cream123]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

You could do a booster, but those are no fun.

I'd do a FF personally. I like runoffgroove's Tantulus. Check out runoffgroove.com and this site as well for cool ideas.
You can order parts from smallbearelec.com or from mouser.com. I like small bear better.

The latter of the two schematic websites has a lot of complicated schematics that I wouldn't reccomend but it has some ez-er ones too.

 

[cream123]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

BTW, I would just buy new parts. Unless you fell like figuring out every part on there to see if it will fit. The parts for my Tantulus, W/o the box, was like 21 bucks. Not bad.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

My pedal rundown is in my signature, and boost is already in there. I'm thinking Tremelo, Flange or reverb!!!

...... or not, it doesn't seem to be appearing. WTF????????

My pedals are:
Cry Baby CGB-95
Boss DS-1 (looking for a mod for it)
Ibanez Soundtank Bass Chorus
High Gain Volume + Boost CGB-81

 

[cream123]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

I don't see it. Anyway, the modulation effects are relatively complex most of the time. I would still consider it but most are going to use chips, which I don't like (I'm just starting out as well). And are a bit complicated to get the effect.
I would get my meat and potatoes in first.

Wait for some others to chime in to see if they have easy modulation effects.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

Particularly looking for diagrams to go along with suggestions or links to them!!!

If modulation effects are too hard to do, what about a line selector or some really simple to do reverb?? Maybe even a simple to do phaser?

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

anyone else?

 

[Blue_Fingers_Jay]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

Fuzz Factorys don't have many components I think.. and they're pretty cool...Don't know where the heck I have the schematic..
But if you choose some analogic box with few parts it should be ok for a first pedal.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

I'd advise you to try to fix the Hot Head. You'll learn a lot from trouble shooting it.

If you want to build something, use a larger PCB than the Digitech stuff. It's a lot easier to work with a bigger board with the stuff spaced apart more, and big pedals look sweet

 

[LoFiBrian]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

are those any good???

im all about monster jcm800 distortion pedals and if its better than a DS-1 ill grab one used...

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

There's no reason to try to do anything with a prefabbed pedal other than try to mod it with better components and swapping the opamps. I'd try to fix it, then try to build a completely new pedal. I know it's more expensive, but a BYOC pedal is almost guaranteed to work, he provides support online and you can actually build a Chorus (you can mod it to be a flanger), Phaser or Tremolo.

Technically you could reverse engineer the schematic out of the Hothead, but it's much easier to start with a clean board.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

or some really simple to do reverb??

These words usually don't go along together, if you know what I mean.

Honestly, this is not the way I would start out into pedal building. Learn how the Hot Head creates distortion (be it clipping diodes, LEDs, etc.) and try and replace these or wire them to a switch. After this, go to the DIYStompboxes.com forum and there's a simple perfboard project. If you want something a little more hold-your-hand ish, there's Buildyourownclone.com and OLCircuits.com

 

[greco]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

Fender Punk...you seem to always want to jump into the deep end without knowing how to swim.

I admire your enthusiasm, and you seem very interested in electronics....but build some simple circuits and learn about test/measurement, components, etc.

Slow down 'bro...start simple...listen to what the guys with experience are telling you (I'm not including myself in that group).

Remember to PM me if you want some electronics stuff.

Dave

 

[cream123]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

I'm going to agree with the peeps telling you to start small. Just keep it simple and figure out how stuff works. That first build, if you make it too complicated, will be like looking at ancient runes; when you're actually looking at a schematic.

 

[greco]

Re: What to do with this pedal??

Fender Punk...Sorry if I came across too "critical" of you in my last post. :soapbox:


It is just that I'm learning this stuff also and it can be VERY complicated, especially if you don't start with some basics...maybe you are more advanced than I realize. My bad.

Dave