What byoc kit should I start with?? Want to build distortion boxes

[mikey5]

I  am on byoc and I am looking at a whole lot of kits here I was wondering what do you guys think I should start with? I want to build pedals and I am looking for a place to start. Is a tube screamer the way to go?

[horsehead]

try the booster kit, I found it the easiest & then work up from there

[Ratrod]

The first kit pedal I made was a Box Of Rock clone from UK-electronics.de.

If you're not an experienced welder I wouldn't recommend that one to start with.

Even though I am an experienced welder, it wasn't without hitting a speed bump. I switched two resistors. With some help from an expert I managed to find the problem and sort it out.

[dave_mc]

The first kit pedal I made was a Box Of Rock clone from UK-electronics.de.

do you have a link to their site? Yahoo isn't helping... :)

[phlip]

it's minus an S  :D

http://uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/index.php/cPath/105?osCsid=829f7770c76212014ca1844361b6a799

[cerpintaxt]

What are these German kits like? They're incredibly cheap, and if they're nearly as good as boutique pedals (depending on soldering skills) I'd be tempted to build my entire pedal board out of these bad boys!!

[Ratrod]

I compared it to a ZVex Box Of Rock. The ZVex sounded a bit warmer/creamier because the knobs react a little bit differently. With a bit of knob tweeking I could make them sound nearly identical.

At gig volume you wouldn't be able to tell them apart in a blind test.

[cerpintaxt]

In that case, I might try the MOSFET booster, which also looks like a good beginners project. Having a look through their instructions, it's all in German but there's some good pictures and diagrams in there and I think it's fairly self explanitory (he said in a knowing voice!  :lol:)

[juansolo]

The BYOC kits are excellent. I would heartily recommend the Shredder (Marshall Shredmaster). Though I'd also recommend a simple mod to it in the form of a bright switch. The OD2 is a TS-808 or with the mosfet bits, a Fulltone something oranother... It's ok, but I was never that keen. Both aren't the most straight forward, but if you're careful and methodical, they should be no bother.

[juansolo]

I compared it to a ZVex Box Of Rock. The ZVex sounded a bit warmer/creamier because the knobs react a little bit differently. With a bit of knob tweeking I could make them sound nearly identical.

Knobs not reacting the same is quite common. For example the boost and drive pots on the BOR are 5k reverse audio taper pots IIRC. Pretty much impossible to get in the UK. Most people will use a 4k7 linear pot as that's what we can get here. Same goes for many other components.

Also the diode protection on the boost side of the circuit (basically a SHO) might be the old way he did it. If so you've got to be careful with them blowing the mosfets when you plug the instrument lead in when it's powered up... A quick mod with a zener in the place of the original diodes supposedly fixes this...

[dave_mc]

it's minus an S  :D

http://uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/index.php/cPath/105?osCsid=829f7770c76212014ca1844361b6a799

ahahahaha, that's why i couldn't find it. Man, I hate search engines.

Thanks! :D

[Ratrod]

The typo is my fault.

And Juan, that explains alot.

It is a kit to recommend, if you feel up to it. The original BOR is 240 Euro. The kit, shipping, pre-drilled box, knobs, paint and special artwork combined this cost me about 85 Euro in total.

[BigB]

I  am on byoc and I am looking at a whole lot of kits here I was wondering what do you guys think I should start with? I want to build pedals and I am looking for a place to start. Is a tube screamer the way to go?

Dirt boxes (and boosters) are simple circuit, so they are usually recommanded for a first experience... Can't comment on BYOC kits, but I recently built a modded TS 808 kit from the french Techniguitare forum (http://www.techniguitare.com/), was my first try at anything more involved than guitar wiring, and it was a piece of cake. Oh, and it really sounds good - way better than my vintage '81 TS09, and as far as I can tell from memory better than the 808 reissue I tried last year. No deco yet - I'll have to learn how to do this -, total cost yet : 60€ and a couple hours.

[dave_mc]

The typo is my fault.

no problem at all. :)

[mikey5]

So I guess I will go with the shredmaster or the booster. How would I attach a bright switch by the way