Let's see your finished DIY projects!

[eniacmike]

Is this related to the CMATMODS chorus pedal?...the layout/control labels seem kinda similar...

It is based on the boss ce-2 with all the popular mods found on tonepad already on board. I don't know for sure what the cmatmods chorus pedal is based on circuit wise. He doesn't say if the waterbox is based on the ce-2 but I am guessing it is. His other classic chorus pedal is so I don't see why this wouldn't be. This is actually the first I have looked at that guys site, I know I should be up on all the latest gear but I try to avoid looking at pedal sites because then I start wanting pedals I can't afford.

[Jero]

I try to avoid looking at pedal sites because then I start wanting pedals I can't afford.

Well there's no way this forum is going to help that

[eniacmike]

I try to avoid looking at pedal sites because then I start wanting pedals I can't afford.

Well there's no way this forum is going to help that

I'll stick to the diy forum. there is only a few things I really want that I can't build... ehx pog, hog, freeze, deluxe memory boy with the effects loop.

[Steve Mavronis]

Hello all,

Here are some pictures of my first ever DIY pedal project completed in May 2010. They are exact 'circuit' clones of a circa 1979 'gray spec' DOD 250 Preamp Overdrive. The homemade etched and electroplated PCB is my own custom ExpressPCB layout (did not use their board service) after many months of research on the original pedal and learning how to DIY at the same time. I also used IDmark aluminum plating for the top etched 'reverse schemtic' graphic and labeling. I call this clone my Neo-Classic 741 Overdrive:


My 1st build housed in unfinished aluminum Hammond 1590B - owned by neoclassical guitarist Dean Cascione. Listen to this instrumental cover of 'Never More' played by neoclassical guitarist Dean Cascione that he contributed for the 'Magic - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio' charity album using his own Neo-Classic 741 Overdrive that I built for him (pictured above) to give you a feel of what it sounds like on a professional studio recording:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEcXz2Tl3iY[/youtube]
Dean calls this his main "Grail Tone" overdrive for recording all guitar leads on his 2nd album called 'Neoclassical Fire' due out this Fall 2010 and he is promising a Neo-Classic 741 Overdrive video demo review and special guitar lesson coming soon.


2nd build housed in Black Powder Coated Hammond 1590B - my personal use copy.


Inside gut shot showing my custom PCB layout and socketed LM741CN op amp chip.


Experimenting with this 1979 vintage era RCA 741 metal can op amp that I added to my own personal Neo-Classical 741 Overdrive, but don't be fooled by mythical 'NOS' parts like this. They are only good for cosmetic reasons (as a historical era dated part in my case) and really don't sound any different than modern equivalents do.

Watch this video test demo with bluesy guitar playing by my wife's cousin Jim McDonough with his Fender 1965 Deluxe Amp and 1957 reissue American Stratocaster. I hope to make my own clips soon in the neo-classic rock style with my Strat and Marshall amp, so in the meantime sorry for the poor audio quality here. My little digital camera was probably too close to his loud tube amp:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSvmKHfDew[/youtube]

Well these are the only two I've built so far. Currently I'm working on making a clone of a 1977 MXR Dyna Comp (to hopefully improve my sustain at low practice volumes) again with my own PCB layout version under development.

[eniacmike]

talk about diy. that is really impressive.

also I learned a new genre today neo-classical. I know I have heard this stuff before but I didn't know it had a name.

[eatyourguitar]

yeah it started with hair metal when they figured out it would be easier to play old mozart or bach lead lines really fast than to actually write their own guitar solos. buckethead was one of the originators of the style since he was trained in classical music for guitar. but bucket head would not try to cover it up. it was the other clowns that were straight stealing from dead people.

[culturejam]

buckethead was one of the originators of the style since he was trained in classical music for guitar.

Not to derail this DIY thread, but I'm pretty sure Buckethead did not create the neo-classical genre of modern guitar. He lists Yngwie Malmsteen as an influence, and that crazy Swede was rocking Paganini-esque high speed arpeggiation years before Buckethead. His first solo album, Rising Force, came out in 1984; Buckethead's debut album was in 1992.

Just sayin.

[Jero]

Buckethead is a clown

[Toonster]

buckethead was one of the originators of the style since he was trained in classical music for guitar.

Not to derail this DIY thread, but I'm pretty sure Buckethead did not create the neo-classical genre of modern guitar. He lists Yngwie Malmsteen as an influence, and that crazy Swede was rocking Paganini-esque high speed arpeggiation years before Buckethead. His first solo album, Rising Force, came out in 1984; Buckethead's debut album was in 1992.

Just sayin.

I thought ILF was about derailism

[Steve Mavronis]

buckethead was one of the originators of the style since he was trained in classical music for guitar.

Not to derail this DIY thread, but I'm pretty sure Buckethead did not create the neo-classical genre of modern guitar. He lists Yngwie Malmsteen as an influence, and that crazy Swede was rocking Paganini-esque high speed arpeggiation years before Buckethead. His first solo album, Rising Force, came out in 1984; Buckethead's debut album was in 1992.

Yes, Yngwie is the father of the neo-classical style. He was doing his thing back in the 70's as a teen. You should hear his own demo tapes of what he was doing at 15 years old! There is a bootleg at some stores called Powerhouse with this stuff. The audio quality is crappy but he had the chops and technique even at that young age! His landmark 1984 grammy nominated album Rising Force is widely considered the bible of neo-classical.

Anyways his style is a big influence on me hence the pedal name and the reason I chose to clone a gray spec 250 for myself.

[hclapp219]

I wrote a paper about Yngwie (and a few others) for my 20th Century music history class in college. He is a pretty goofy motherfucker, but man can he play fast, and accurately too.

Also, that pedal looks awesome! That is some very neat work on the insides, and the graphics are sweet also.

[frequencycentral]

[Teej212]

yes! i just saw the guts on that phaser....dayum

you are a god!

[Steve Mavronis]

Sweet! Rick, what's the difference sound and feature-wise between each of the mini guitar amps and are you selling them or is the design free for anyone to make?

[eniacmike]

and now back to the fuzz

this is 5 knob fuzz. madbeans zombii pcb. highly recommend this pcb. it is set up to use board mounted pots so you can stuff it into a 1590b it you like but I wanted to avoid the headache of having to drill the holes exactly so I used regular pots. I used two matched, old-stock SINO 3AX31C germanium transistors from smallbear. It sounds really good alot brighter than the other one I made with americansemi trannies. With the gain cranked it jumps to insane levels of fuzz, but if you back it of just a hair it settles down. clean up is nice. I was getting some cool sounds with the stability turned down and the gain turned down just below the point of oscillation.