I Would Love To Make My Own Guitars, Where And How To Get Started

Chris asks…

how do you add an led to a homemade guitar effects pedal?

I’m building a guitar pedal from a schematic online, but the schematic doesn’t include an led on it. To add one on, would I just have to get a 3pdt switch instead of a 2pdt and hook it up on the third portion of the switch? If so how do I hook up to the battery then? Or am I completely wrong about that part? Any help is appreciated.

NydiaMccartney answers:

Your idea sounds good having a separate switch section just for turning on the led. That way, you could even use a separate battery to power the led. Just keep the led current below 20 mA, and use any battery 3 volts or more. To limit current, put a resistor in series with the led and power source. The resistor should be R= (V1-V2)/.02, where V1= battery voltage and V2=led forward voltage (usually 2 volts for common red leds). So that is R=50 ohms for a 3 volt battery, or R=350 ohms for 9 volts. You can even just use the 2pdt switch if one section powers the guitar pedal with a low D.C. Voltage. Then just tap off the switched side, go through the series resistor and led and connect to circuit ground.

Mary asks…

What are some good analog effects to use on live vocals besides delay?

My friend is giving me a computer and she’s a singer. I want to build her an analog effects pedal. My friend builds guitar pedals and has everything I need in his garage including schematics for any analog effect I could possibly want.

NydiaMccartney answers:

It is so easy to overcook; that is to use too many effects.

Assuming your singer can actually sing in tune then all you would generally need is a tasteful touch of reverb.

Jenny asks…

What are some good analog effects to use on live vocals besides delay?

My friend is giving me a computer and she’s a singer. I want to build her an analog effects pedal. My friend builds guitar pedals and has everything I need in his garage including schematics for any analog effect I could possibly want.
ANALOG

NydiaMccartney answers:

Reverb, chorus.

Ruth asks…

How to build a voltage regulator?

I want to build a voltage regulator for a guitar pedal. Basically what i want to do is take a power supply, split it before the jack and build a circuit to control the voltage going to the pedal via a pot. Anybody know how to build said circuit or know of a schematic online? Thanks.

NydiaMccartney answers:

Building a voltage regulator is somewhat difficult
unless you have at least a little bit of experience with electronics.

Look at a book on power supplies (before you buy it)
and if you think you will be able to follow the
diagrams and instructions it contains, have at it.

Otherwise, you’d be better off with an AC adapter that has
switchable output voltage.

Some have as many as 9 choices, viz:
1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, and 15.

There may be one with a 13.5V setting, but that value is extremely rare –
it would be used for something that otherwise operated from 7 1.5V cells.
However, it would be a good match for something that was designed
to operate from a nominal 13.8V supply, such as a car radio.

Helen asks…

Im wondering what other guitar pedals would work?

Im wondering what other guitar pedals (esspecialy a wah pedal) would work with a Gigitech rp150 effects pedal. Im making a pedal board and i want some basic pedals to go with it. All answers are apprecated.

NydiaMccartney answers:

This question really depends on what you LIKE about the rp150. Might i recommend finding your favorite affects from the rp150 and building your board from there? If you like the wah, then maybe modulation pedals are your niche. The multi effects pedals are a great starting point.. But you really have a pedal board already. In terms of the wah – Look into the dunlop crybaby. Its not the BEST wah, but its certainly not a bad one. Other than that… Remember that the more pedals, the less true your tone.

Oh… And look for true bypass pedals you can KEEP. You get what you pay for.

Good luck!

Paul asks…

how to build a kill switch pedal for guitar?

I need help on how to build a guitar pedal that will just kill the signal to my amp for around $20 because I teach guitar to a lot of friends and i need something to keep it quiet while i talk and i don’t really want to spend a lot of money

NydiaMccartney answers:

In cars they used to have floor switches for high beams. One of these wired to a triangular plywood box would be perfect.

I would try an automotive store, if you cant find a high beam switch next would look for a push button toggle switch instead.

David asks…

What kinds of paints or inks can I use on die-cast aluminium?

I’m building a guitar effects pedal housed in a die-cast aluminium box (factory-painted black), and I’d like to decorate it. However, I don’t know the first thing about paints or inks. What kind of stuff can I use on metal that’ll hold up to some abuse?

NydiaMccartney answers:

Sounds like car touching-up paints would be best for your purposes. It comes in as many colours as cars, so plenty of choice. You can buy them in spray cans or small pots (also you can look out for model-craft paints in tiny pots). Spray would be good for a background cover. You may need to key the surface by a light sanding first.

Maria asks…

How can I make my guitar pedals be midi?

i have a bunch of guitar pedals. how can i put them in my rack with the rest of my stuff, and use my Rocktron midi mate control pedal to control the pedals?

NydiaMccartney answers:

The GCX guitar audio switcher from Digital Music will do exactly what you want. It will accommodate up to 8 stomp boxes and let you switch them in and out of the signal chain via MIDI.

Http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Digital-Music-GCX-Guitar-Audio-Switcher?sku=183401

At $400, it ain’t cheap, but that’s what you need. I’ve probably built 30 racks for guys around Texas using these things. They’re rock solid.

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Thomas asks…

What are some cool things to do to my guitar I am building?

I am making a fretless guitar i will swirl like a Steve Vai Jem. Any ideas of what else i can do to it?(put a guitar pedal in it, killswitch, something that is unique, strange or cool and fun)
Anything, shoot as many ideas as possible please.

NydiaMccartney answers:

Definitely a killswitch. That’s about as unique as it gets when it comes to guitar sound!

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