What's your best attempt at building your own stuff?

[ytse_jam]

Mine (the only attempt I've done) is building a MXR Distortion+ pedal (I took a look at the schematics online and it seemed the simplest one). It sounded great and I was surprised beacuse that was the first time I built something on my own. But it was a bit noisy, and so I'm not using it anymore.
This is a pic of the circuit:

So, post yours, and tell how do you like them and the problems you encountered, and the way you solved them. Post some pics too if you've got them!

 

[Buddy]

I needed a portable bass amp for camping , music fests ,impromptu jams etc .So i put together some old car audio stuff in a spackle bucket .
Unfortunately it sucked the battery power down fast and just sounded lifeless .
So I got out the books , designed an amp , used paintbrush for the pc board artwork . etched , drilled and stuffed the board . (took months)
The first few amps were point to point wired on perf board . This was built in '02. Its about the best sounding with the minimum of components ,while keeping battery drain down . Good for 3 -5 hrs of playing and can still be heard with up to 3 acoustic guitars outside . When I get time I'd like to build a tube model from scavenged tube stereo's etc ..



http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k85/gufefut/?action=view&current=1172238454.pbw

 

[ytse_jam]

^ That's cool!

 

[Brewski]

Hey Buddy, That was pretty creative.

 

[Buddy]

Thanks , guys , those little integrated amps are pretty cool to play with .
they can take + - 25v @ 4 amps . I blew up quite a few of them testing and tweaking . They will and do EXPLODE if you get the polarity etc. wrong . Blows a funnel shaped piece of shrapnel out of the front of the chip .
Different voltages and components have an effect on the sound .
Larger stiffening caps seem to give it more apparent bass , while a smaller cap is more detailed sounding .

 

[zappaslaughter]

That is very cool indeed.

 

[Midrangegood]

This is my homemade 2X12,it turned out better than I thought it would.I really need a green Ace head

 

[Guitar Adjuster]

50 Watt Metal Face Plexi Clone--work in process

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/AllenJ7572/?action=view&current=DSC00002.jpg

Train Wreck Clone

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/AllenJ7572/?action=view&current=WorkPhotos011.jpg

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/AllenJ7572/?action=view&current=WorkPhotos012.jpg

 

[Brewski]

Midrangegood, That cab looks great!!! Is that the same green tolex that Boogie uses? It looks really sharp. What kind of speakers did you put in it?

Also, Guitar Adjuster, great job on that amp. You'll have to write more about it when it's completed!

 

[Midrangegood]

Thanks!Its listed as Emerald Green so if not exactly the same,its really close.I built it with the Ace in mind but the cash flow dried up for now.It's loaded with Eminence,Governer and Manowar,that came out of a Splawn Cab

 

[Russ]

I usually build houses...

 

[F1-Fanatic]

Made when I was 16... it took me 6 attempts to just get a neck to stay straight! it wasn't a bow issue, but more of a twist. I still play her today... although the body has changed a few times.

I built the light diffusers too from wood stretcher bars and architectural vellum paper.

 

[Buddy]

Sharp work , f1 , any reason she's got her jack pointed directly at the camera ? Nudge ,nudge ..

Midrange : looks cool , Dig the piping , Did you warm the tolex before stretching it on the corners ?

Guitar adjuster , that is some inspiring work .

Some major talent and skills on this board . 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)