Category Archives: guitar stuff

Pedal Build: Tube Screamer Clone – Update

I put together the tube screamer last night. I couldn’t turn it on until today, because I was still waiting on the IC chip to arrive. The mail came, I popped it in, and I love it! I was expecting the pedal to be brighter, but from what I’ve read the RC4558 is supposed to be warmer.

Most of the parts were purchased from Mammoth Electronics. The PCB is from General Guitar Gadgets, and I used a few GGG’s ideas for mods. The left toggle is a fat switch. The right toggle is a on-off-on that lets you switch from (asymmetrical 914 diode clipping, no clipping – boost, red led’s – crunch). I also used the list supplied by GGG to switch out some parts like the Keeley Mod.

This was the first pedal project that I housed in a 125 size enclosure. It’s a third of an inch taller than the standard 1590b size. With that extra space I tried top mounting the jacks like Wampler!

Pedal Build: Tube Screamer Clone

I’ve never owned a tube screamer. I was never drawn towards them. The closest I’ve ever gotten, was when I played through a Double Barrel by JHS. I didn’t like it. If felt as though the bass was cut. I just recently learned that Stevie Ray Vaughan used to stack two in his signal path. That fact alone spiked my curiosity. I just got all the parts today, except for the RC4558 chip. I’m expecting that to show up tomorrow.

I was excited to work on a pedal today. I sort of rushed through drilling all the holes. The result of my haste is wonky holes. I’m not too happy with how the holes are spaced. I might buy a new enclosure and re-case this pedal, if I like the way this pedal sounds.

Pedal Build: Big Muff Pi – Update

It’s done! This is an EHX big muff – 73 Ram’s Head Clone. I used the pcb from GeneralGuitarGadgets.com and the parts from MammothElectronics.com

To be honest, this pedal has been done for a while. I was just waiting on the Hello Kitty stickers. I made it all pink with the stickers as a tribute to my old hello kitty guitar,  which I originally purchased 10 years ago. I thought it was hilarious to play hardcore shows with it. Here’s a few photos from the “good ol days”.

T.K.I.D. my old band – July 2007. The Alley – Fullerton, CA – Photographed by: Christopher Rendon

T.K.I.D. – Sept. 2007. Awakenings Coffee House – Lomita, CA – Photographed by: Christopher Rendon

Pedal Build: Fuzz Face Clone – Update

It’s Done!

The case showed up yesterday in the mail. I got started drilling the holes and soldering.

I was genuinely surprised it all worked on the first try. My circuit builds usually take a few tries. I used 2N3904 transistors for the brains.

Pedal Build: ProCo RAT Clone – Update 2

IT’S DONE! I finally threw in the last bias pot. The only issue was when I went to close the case… I was getting a grounding issue. I’m still not where the problem is, but I got the pedal to close up. If I ever take it apart again, I’ll have to do some troubleshooting.

The two toggle switches give me 9 different clipping diode combinations!

Pedal Mod: VOX V847 Wah – Update

So I found a few articles talking about stacking the capacitor value on the V847 to get different sounds. I found the right capacitor using the article HERE.

I added a SPDT on-off-on to toggle between a bass wah(47nF), stock wah, and a more throaty wah(12nF).

In between doing this mod and posting this update… I accidentally dropped my wah. The fall ended up breaking the switch, but I just ordered a new one. I should have it fixed next week. I’m also curious about investing into a Fasel Wah Inductor to replace the stock VOX one.

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