Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Ratrod on April 08, 2009, 03:23:19 PM

Title: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Ratrod on April 08, 2009, 03:23:19 PM
A while ago i prurchased a Box Of Rock clone kit from uk-elelectronic in Germany (MEK effects). It was relatively easy to build if you don't make any mistakes. Being a noob at pedal building I did make a few. With the help of a friend I managed to debug it and rectify my mistakes.

So now I'm proud to present to you: the Clone Of Rock

(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9578/dscf1057u.jpg)

I came up with the name pretty quick. I wanted to stay with a clone theme for this pedal. That narrows down the choise between sheep and Star Wars Clone Troopers. So I found this wallpaper, scaled it down and centered it on the page and printed it out. Then I printed the control layout, included in the pdf manual over the artwork. I then copied it on a self adhesive transparant with a color  laser copier. I spray painted the box white and sticked the cut out artwork on the box. The gothic lettering are vinyl stick-on letters. Finished it the whole thing with clearcoat.

The tone of this pedal is a dead ringer for a JTM45. It has that 'amp and speakers are about to blow' bass tone. Great for early AC/DC stuff, with my Gretsch I can get a near spot on Malcolm tone. Crank it up and you'll get that Foxy Lady tone. it's very sensitive to volume and pick attack, it behaves like a tube amp.

Great stuff. I tried a real one once but I'd love to compare it head to head.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: sgmypod on April 08, 2009, 03:24:23 PM
mmmm  i Want
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: blue on April 08, 2009, 03:28:10 PM
very nice looking pedal

however, i'm going to have to put on my anorak here!  those are imperial stormtroopers, not clone troopers.  i know, the clone army became the stormtroopers, but still, consider that nit picked

sorry about that, i think i need to get out more....  ;)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: sgmypod on April 08, 2009, 03:28:19 PM
Clips
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Denim n Leather on April 08, 2009, 03:36:11 PM
Awesomecross!

'Cept, technically, those are Stormtroopers, not Clone troopers. PDT_008
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: gingataff on April 08, 2009, 03:43:23 PM
Nicely done but I'm with Ben and blueon the 'troopers ;)
Any gut shots? It certainly looks far nicer than my plain metal box DIY builds.
Do you recommend MEK? I haven't heard of them before.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: blue on April 08, 2009, 04:06:37 PM
did nobody read my post?  i will sulk now  PDT_021
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: gingataff on April 08, 2009, 04:13:45 PM
did nobody read my post?  i will sulk now  PDT_021
you can stop sulking now 8) (see above)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 08, 2009, 04:32:45 PM
these may not be clone troopers but the original films are so much more cool anyway  :lol:
looks sweet ...
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: MrBump on April 08, 2009, 04:34:45 PM
Ignore the Star Wars geeks - that looks great!

Mark.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: blue on April 08, 2009, 05:20:27 PM
did nobody read my post?  i will sulk now  PDT_021
you can stop sulking now 8) (see above)

thanks gwem, sulk over!  :)

and yes, the main thing is, the pedal looks great!  even to geeks  ;)

if it sounds as good as it looks (and you say)  then you've got a good'un, congrats
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Denim n Leather on April 08, 2009, 05:53:41 PM
did nobody read my post?  i will sulk now  PDT_021
you can stop sulking now 8) (see above)

thanks gwem, sulk over!  :)
Wow, you just said "your mom"!

Now it's gingataff's turn to sulk!
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: juansolo on April 08, 2009, 06:08:10 PM
Cool!

I just finished the build bit of a BYOC OD2 and it's dead... Trying to figure out what i've done wrong currently.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Ratrod on April 08, 2009, 06:16:25 PM
The Clone Troopers became Imperial Stormtroopers when the Emperor took power. They're still the same guys and still clones. Ya bunch o' geeks!  :lol:

Here's the gut shot (prior to debugging).

(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5832/dscf1037a.jpg)

All WIMA stuff, the pots are Alpha, same as in the Squier CV series.

According to the friend who helped me, the schematic is identical to the ZVex Box Of Rock so in theory, it should sound identical. The only way to be sure is a head to head with the same amp, guitar and player.

I'd say it's a good alternative to a real one. Such a kit saves you about 3/4 of the money.

I wish I had some proper recording gear and something with Riff Raffs.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Ratrod on April 08, 2009, 06:20:40 PM
Cool!

I just finished the build bit of a BYOC OD2 and it's dead... Trying to figure out what i've done wrong currently.

Try an audio probe. See here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/debug.html (http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/debug.html)

Also check the power line.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: juansolo on April 08, 2009, 06:43:56 PM
Cool!

I just finished the build bit of a BYOC OD2 and it's dead... Trying to figure out what i've done wrong currently.

Try an audio probe. See here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/debug.html (http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/debug.html)

Also check the power line.

Sorted by a fella on BYOC forums. I hadn't wired in the 9v jack as it bolts from the inside. As I plan to paint the enclousure, I thought I could get away without it for the time being. Seems it has to be in the circuit for switching the battery on and off. Bobbed it in and it's away!

Not pretty yet, but give me time:

(All photos clickable for bigness)

All components present and correct
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3423668915_6bf3236988_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3423668915_6bf3236988_b.jpg)

Everything pre-pots...
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3423670951_47e8a66357_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3423670951_47e8a66357_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3424480236_5218889683_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3424480236_5218889683_b.jpg)

Pots, switches and LEDs on, with plenty of clearance underneath and nothing touching
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3424482074_175d85ffa8_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3424482074_175d85ffa8_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3424483302_f603969a6f_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3424483302_f603969a6f_b.jpg)

Jacks and footswitches on
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3424484996_e9a6b9f752_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3424484996_e9a6b9f752_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3424489056_e21c5d5400_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3424489056_e21c5d5400_b.jpg)

In situ
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3423684233_c6e62f9b71_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3423684233_c6e62f9b71_b.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3423686109_368f6715ab_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3423686109_368f6715ab_b.jpg)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: badgermark on April 08, 2009, 07:56:44 PM
Nice build both of you! I'm looking for a project to do over easter, only thing is i think my pedal board is complete. Anyone want me to build something for them? No cost if you buy the kit...
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: juansolo on April 08, 2009, 08:06:11 PM
More depressingly, I've found that I'm going blind. I haven't really built any circuity type stuff since I was in my teens and now, in my mid 30's, I can't read the values on half the components. I started by photographing them so I could zoom in on the computer, but that was going to be a PITA. So I borrowed a pair of reading glasses and, by jove, I could see again. This growing old thing and having stuff stopping working right is just not on.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: horsehead on April 08, 2009, 08:17:19 PM
Rat, that's one clean build. I've finished my BYOC treble Booster...damn it's nice get one peeps!
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 08, 2009, 09:09:18 PM
The Clone Troopers became Imperial Stormtroopers when the Emperor took power. They're still the same guys and still clones. Ya bunch o' geeks!  :lol:

indeed order 66 but they did still cease to be clone troopers as such.....  :roll:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: ailean on April 08, 2009, 10:56:01 PM
More depressingly, I've found that I'm going blind. I haven't really built any circuity type stuff since I was in my teens and now, in my mid 30's, I can't read the values on half the components. I started by photographing them so I could zoom in on the computer, but that was going to be a PITA. So I borrowed a pair of reading glasses and, by jove, I could see again. This growing old thing and having stuff stopping working right is just not on.

This is what you need.

http://uk.daylightcompany.com/home/product/?id=590 (http://uk.daylightcompany.com/home/product/?id=590)

Amazingly useful for close work.

Great work both of you, and great finish Ratrod, I'm impressed (and a geek but I think Stormtroopers look cooler anyway)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Philly Q on April 08, 2009, 11:15:43 PM
Oh Jesus, it's taken me three years to realise I'm on a forum full of Star Wars geeks....  :roll:

(That's Star Wars, NOT frickin' "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope".... oh no, what am I saying?  :oops: )


Anyway, I think the pedal looks cool.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 08, 2009, 11:22:01 PM
a new hopes one of the best philly  :lol: and empire strikes back of course .... :roll:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Denim n Leather on April 09, 2009, 03:31:22 AM
The Clone Troopers became Imperial Stormtroopers when the Emperor took power. They're still the same guys and still clones. Ya bunch o' geeks!  :lol:

indeed order 66 but they did still cease to be clone troopers as such.....  :roll:
NO, they are, in fact not the same batch of clones at all. The clone troopers did not 'become' Stormtroopers. :)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 09, 2009, 12:40:28 PM
The Clone Troopers became Imperial Stormtroopers when the Emperor took power. They're still the same guys and still clones. Ya bunch o' geeks!  :lol:

indeed order 66 but they did still cease to be clone troopers as such.....  :roll:
NO, they are, in fact not the same batch of clones at all. The clone troopers did not 'become' Stormtroopers. :)

they are however still the same clone so.... they kinda are the same..... their still a clone from boba fetts DNA.... :roll:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: gwEm on April 09, 2009, 12:43:59 PM
then why are the orignial clones so bad ass, and the storm troopers a bit lame?
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: MrBump on April 09, 2009, 12:45:09 PM
Please.  No more.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 09, 2009, 12:49:34 PM
haha im sorry... main thing cool pedal :wink:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: gwEm on April 09, 2009, 12:53:32 PM
Please.  No more.
No - I want answers!

(great job on pedal ratrod - I fancy the JCM800 one)
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 09, 2009, 12:56:27 PM
Please.  No more.
No - I want answers!

becuase they got lazy i dont frickin know  :wink:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: the prince of shred on April 09, 2009, 02:35:24 PM


they are however still the same clone so.... they kinda are the same..... their still a clone from boba fetts DNA.... :roll:
[/quote]

awfull sinfull mistake there.... its jango fetts dna not bobbas .....sorry  :lol:
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: Ratrod on April 09, 2009, 05:04:44 PM
Sigh..............

I should have gone with a sheep theme and named it Dolly.
Title: Re: DIY Clone pedal finished.
Post by: blue on April 09, 2009, 05:21:38 PM
hmm, "The Dolly Drive" has a nice ring to it...

(oh lord, i just realised what i typed! and i'm still going to post it!)



both pedals posted look like lovely tidy builds, excellent jobs from both of you.  i'm quite jealous, everything i wire ends up looking like it was don by an enthusiastic five year old!