After a lot of prior planning, I've began work on my first pedal build! Of course I decided to go a bit easy this time, and build something that has a simple circuit and doesn't require a lot of signal processing. This also happens to be within the same window that I purchased an Boss RC-3 loop station, so I decided to build a dual footswitch much like Boss' fs-6 dual footswitch, because it's ugly and I can't bring myself to pay the price of a new video game release for something that doesn't actually change my guitar sound.
Everyone remember the 1980's?
Also pictured: several options you don't need (that you're paying for anyways)
Also pictured: several options you don't need (that you're paying for anyways)
Using a schematic I got from instructables, I purchased all the parts I need from Mammoth Electronics (custom painted to match the loop station I might add), and took it home this Father's day weekend to get the holes drilled (Mammoth provides several preset drillings for typical stompboxes, but my hole plan for my footswitch is admittedly a little far-fetched). We had a great time taking measurements and planting the holes, and this was the end result:
the next step is taking it home to get it wired, which could be messy. :)
Either way I'm sure it will turn out well. I'll be sure to update whenever it is in action.
Looking ahead I have plans of designing several completely original pedals, but I'm going to start with several kits: next up will be an analog reverb pedal ("Mammoth Cave"), a bass octaver ("Big Bomb") and a fuzz pedal ("Muppet Fuzz"). I have many interesting and creative ideas for these kits, including getting some local talent to make me some vinyl stickers to put atop the enclosure. After I have a body of work, I'll start doing some experiments with designing my own unique pedals, or perhaps yet-unknown replicas of well-known pedals.
