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9/15/10: Two New Kits @ BYOC

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duhvoodooman

duhvoodooman

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Keith Vonderhulls at BYOC has introduced two new DIY pedal kits over at Buildyourownclone.com:

Classic Overdrive ($70) - To supplement the feature-laden Overdrive 2, Keith now offers a stripped down, pure vintage TS808 clone. Not everybody wants all the bells and whistles of the OD2, and he had been getting requests for a "back to basics" TS808 kit ever since he pulled the original Overdrive off the market. Well, here it is. Cheaper price and a much simpler build than the OD2. Good choice for DIY novices, and of course, it's based upon the world's most popular overdrive circuit.

Envelope Filter & Fixed Wah ($75) - Freshened version of the previous BYOC kit, with some additional effect control and the popular jacks-at-the-top layout. If you're into funk, a good envelope filter (also known as an "auto-wah") is a must-have effect. Switch from the auto mode into manual, and you've got the distinctive sound of a "parked" wah pedal.

Check 'em out. And if you like what you see but don't feel like making one yourself.....well, you know who to contact! ;)
 
Very cool, thanks for the head's up.

That stripped down TS-808 looks like a real winner for those who like simplicity in a pedal.

duhvoodooman said:
Keith Vonderhulls at BYOC has introduced two new DIY pedal kits over at Buildyourownclone.com:

Classic Overdrive ($70) - To supplement the feature-laden Overdrive 2, Keith now offers a stripped down, pure vintage TS808 clone. Not everybody wants all the bells and whistles of the OD2, and he had been getting requests for a "back to basics" TS808 kit ever since he pulled the original Overdrive off the market. Well, here it is. Cheaper price and a much simpler build than the OD2. Good choice for DIY novices, and of course, it's based upon the world's most popular overdrive circuit.

Envelope Filter & Fixed Wah ($75) - Freshened version of the previous BYOC kit, with some additional effect control and the popular jacks-at-the-top layout. If you're into funk, a good envelope filter (also known as an "auto-wah") is a must-have effect. Switch from the auto mode into manual, and you've got the distinctive sound of a "parked" wah pedal.

Check 'em out. And if you like what you see but don't feel like making one yourself.....well, you know who to contact! ;)
Click to expand...
 
tunghaichuan said:
Very cool, thanks for the head's up.

That stripped down TS-808 looks like a real winner for those who like simplicity in a pedal.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I'm not going to give up my Thesis 96/OD2, but who doesn't want an affordable TS-808?
 
marnold said:
Agreed. I'm not going to give up my Thesis 96/OD2, but who doesn't want an affordable TS-808?
Click to expand...
Ibanez sells the TS808 Reissue for $180. If you can follow directions and solder decently, you can have the SAME CIRCUIT for $70. And it'll be handwired. I should point out that Ibanez also sells a hand-wired version of the TS-808. That one will run you $350! :eek: :rolleyes: (What kind of head case pays $350 for a Tube Screamer??)

<< BTW, if you don't want to undertake building one yourself, the ol' Voodooman can make you one (assembled, tested, painted & decaled) for $125! (Limited time "introductory offer" for Fretters only!) Only problem is that my order backlog is out to Feb. at the moment.... >>
 
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Good for you! You're gonna like it, I'm quite certain. As a global moderator on the BYOC forums, I'm fortunate to receive sample kits for all the new releases. The new Classic OD and Envelope Filter kits were waiting for me when I got home last night. Both are simple builds--the new kit layout introduced in early '09 with the jacks at the top and all the footswitch connections on the PCB are a big part of that. But both kits are relatively uncomplicated, too. In any case, I knocked them both off in no time.

The Classic OD sounds great--just pure TS808 character, as it purports to be. Excellent clarity & note definition, no muddiness at all. Level, drive and tone controls--what could be simpler? The only change I made to the stock configuration was to use a smaller rated pot (5K) for the tone control, to reduce the size of the dead band in the middle of the stock pot sweep. (Keith puts a 25K pot in all the TS808-based kits because it's the closest size a standard pot comes to the the 20K that Ibanez puts in the TS808. But that pot has a special taper, which greatly reduces the dead band. The 25K still gives the same range of tone control, it's just concentrated at either end of the sweep range.)

The Envelope Filter sounds fantastic. I have the older version, too, and this new one allows a greater breadth of control over the sweep speed and the sensitivity. If you've never played through an EF, they're a lot of fun because of how interactive they are. Short of effects that have a foot pedal, you have more control over the response of an EF with your playing than almost any other effect. Sounds great either clean or with distortion.
 
hey DVM just wanted you to know, your ross compressor build for me is a mainstay on my board..it is the most quiet and usefull comp I have ever played.
I can't do without it !

I painted it but have not applied decals so I call it the od green mystery-box of sweet sustainy goodness.

I'm very happy with the workmanship and price

thanks
 
[
The Classic OD sounds great--just pure TS808 character, as it purports to be. Excellent clarity & note definition, no muddiness at all. Level, drive and tone controls--what could be simpler? The only change I made to the stock configuration was to use a smaller rated pot (5K) for the tone control, to reduce the size of the dead band in the middle of the stock pot sweep. (Keith puts a 25K pot in all the TS808-based kits because it's the closest size a standard pot comes to the the 20K that Ibanez puts in the TS808. But that pot has a special taper, which greatly reduces the dead band. The 25K still gives the same range of tone control, it's just concentrated at either end of the sweep range.)

You just talked me into getting the overdrive:thumbsup
 
What's a couple of new pedal kits without some PICS?? Here's an external shot of the new BYOC Envelope Filter and Classic Overdrive, to show the layout of the controls, and then a "gut shot" of the two. The Envelop Filter is on th eleft in both shots:

COD+Filter_top.jpg
COD+Filter_gut.jpg


Closeups of the two PCB's--Filter on the left and Classic OD on the right. The PCB for the Classic OD is also for sale separately, so it's fabricated with two holes for nylon standoff mounting, if needed:

Filter_PCB.jpg
COD_PCB.jpg
 
MAXIFUNK said:
Hey DVM do you make Bass pedals?
Click to expand...
I've done a couple. There are certain kits that have well-known "mods" to make them more suitable for bass guitar. Shoot me a PM if you have something particular in mind.

Andy said:
hey DVM just wanted you to know, your ross compressor build for me is a mainstay on my board..it is the most quiet and usefull comp I have ever played. I can't do without it !

I painted it but have not applied decals so I call it the od green mystery-box of sweet sustainy goodness.

I'm very happy with the workmanship and price

thanks
Click to expand...
:thumbsup Glad to hear you've been pleased with it! That "5-knob" compressor design certainly offers a lot more control flexibility than most do. I've never been a big compressor user myself, but I know a lot of guitarists--especially country players--would never be w/o one. And that's sure "compressor country" down where you are!
 
Hey Vood, questions for you experienced builders...
I've never picked up a soldering iron, but always wanted to do a couple DIY pedals... and eventually an amp that's not too complicated.

1. Would the classic OD kit be good for a very first project?
2. What soldering equipment would you recommend for a beginner?

Thanks man
 
Radioboy950 said:
Hey Vood, questions for you experienced builders...
I've never picked up a soldering iron, but always wanted to do a couple DIY pedals... and eventually an amp that's not too complicated.

1. Would the classic OD kit be good for a very first project?
2. What soldering equipment would you recommend for a beginner?

Thanks man
Click to expand...
If you've never soldered before, I don't recommend learning on an effect pedal that you paid $70 for. Poor soldering technique is BY FAR the biggest reason we see for non-working pedal builds on the BYOC forums.

BYOC sells a "Confidence Booster" kit for $15 that's a good alternative for the novice, but you can get away even more cheaply than that. Go to your local Radio Shack and get a piece of perfboard and a 50-pack of 1N914 diodes--total outlay $5 plus tax. You can practice soldering diodes to the perfboard to your heart's content.

They also carry this Weller soldering iron, which is a good size for pedal work. For solder, I strongly recommend 0.032" rosin-core 60/40 tin-lead solder. Stay away from the lead-free stuff--it is much harder to work with.

An excellent resource on pedal building basics, including proper soldering technique, is Stephen's Tips for a Successful Build, posted on the BYOC forum site. Stephen is a fellow global forum moderator there, and has done an outstanding job with this tutorial document.

Once you feel ready to tackle a pedal kit, the new Classic Overdrive would indeed be a good choice. Others include the ESV Fuzz (Fuzz Face clone kit with premium components) or the 250+ kit.

Neal said:
Dr. Voodoo. I have that EV filter on my rack. ans it's gonna stay there.

Real nice FX
Click to expand...
Cool! Glad to hear ya like it, Neal. :thumbsup
 
I just finished the clasic overdrive, and it is a real niice pedal. It is as good, or better, than anything that I have played with.
 
"Auto-eWAHtica" Love it!!!! Could be your best naming effort yet!

Thanks, as always, for keeping us appraised of, and gas'n for, the latest and greatest from BYOC land :)
 
Ch0jin said:
"Auto-eWAHtica" Love it!!!! Could be your best naming effort yet!

Thanks, as always, for keeping us appraised of, and gas'n for, the latest and greatest from BYOC land :)
Click to expand...

I was laughing when I first visited DVM's website and started reading pedal names, some of them are priceless
And the graphics are great
 
You can get pretty close, though the Classic Overdrive is a little darker sounding overall than the ZYS due to a couple of different cap ratings, and doesn't have as much available gain. You can get right in the ballpark by setting the clip switch to the left (Clip 1, silicon diode clipping), the EQ toggle in the middle (Normal), the tone rolled off to about 11 o'clock and the gain about the same place. Flip the EQ toggle to "Full" if you want a little more bottom end.
 
Time to revive an aging thread ~
For decades I have been a guitar-cable-amp player but after starting to work with some friends on a trio and wanting to be able to play at lower volumes at times I started putting a board together last year. I've always been big on a 'natural' sound. My occasional curiosity about pedals left me with a number sitting around including a FullDrive II, an OCD, and a surprisingly good bargain pedal from GC a Classic Overdrive that was about $30 or $40.
But this crazy DVH guy got me all curious about the BYOC pedals again which I had scoped out in the past. I finally decided to get the basic overdrive pedal and assembled it last night. WoW! What a great sounding pedal! It cleans up really nicely with a twist of the guitar's volume pot, then roars back with some really sweet tones when you twist it back up. Highly recommended! :thumbsup
If you don't like to solder or think you might been in over your head trying to assemble a kit, get duhvoodooman to put you on his build schedule before he hangs up his iron in retirement !
 
Wow, so you prefer the sound of the BYOC basic OD to the OCD?

That's really interesting. I've built both a screamer clone (from another vendor) and an OCD (on vero) and to me anyway, the OCD just blows the screamer design right out of the water. Obviously it's a personal preference and all that, I'm just surprised. Great news that you built it and you love it though!

Any chance you've tried an AnalogMan King of Tone?
 
Nope, never tried one.
I'm not sure if I love this one more than the OCD, I'm just on a honeymoon with this pedal. Having never played a Tube Screamer which I think this is similar too, I now understand why it's so popular
 
That's cool, glad your diggin it. I've never been happy with mine, but maybe I've gone too far with it (4 clipping diode options plus symetrical/asymetrical clipping options too). Perhaps the key is just a stripped down basic tube screamer clone as you've found.

The reason I asked about the KoT is that from listening to demo's, it's the most open, crunchy drive pedal I've heard since the OCD. I plan to make one in the near future actually.
 

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