On to bigger things. My first Fuzz Pedal

There is no way that i could of come close to even getting started with building a fuzz pedal if it wasn't for a whole bunch of web sites that are dedicated to DIY stomp boxes and electronics in general.

Stomp Box layouts
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album18/album151/
http://www.home-wrecker.com/articles.html

Electronics
http://sunburst.usd.edu/~schieber/psyc770/resistors/r4beginner.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/16497/home/index.html
http://www.dannyg.com/examples/res2/resistor.htm
http://www.electronics2000.co.uk/beginners-guide/

Well, thats just a few to be getting on with !

OK, the build. This was the first thing i've done outside of wiring a plug so from the start i found it a bit daunting.

Instead of finding out what I need and sourcing the parts, I decided on buying a kit from Ebay. It consisted of everything I needed other than the battery. So I paid the princely sum of £24 and waited for the postman........

To keep it brief.....it didn't work. I had the true by-pass but no fuzzy stuff. What I didn't know at the time was that 3PDT switch's are a little on the fragile size and don't like being pulled about and getting to hot. After two attempts at the build, I simply decided to change the switch and...ta-daaaa....I got fuzz....

I'm going to do a groovy lil' paint job on it to make it look a bit prettier as well. Once done. it'll be posted here.

I've already started a couple of other projects but what i've found is, where i'm hanging about waiting for parts, I've been constantly on the net learning as much as I can about stomp box construction. So once i've got my parts I already have a rough to good idea what i'm going to do.

I've learnt a hell-of-a-lot about simple electronic circuits and it gives me great satisfaction to build something out of a bunch of parts....and then to find it works. Great stuff !

Next, the Muffer (Jack Orman)

The first circuit I built (Epiphone Les Paul)

After many years playing guitar and bass, I never gave any thought to electronics of any kind - not even guitar wiring. But a few months ago, I bought an Epiphone Les Paul (bolt-on neck) for £20. Now, I've always liked Epi's and I all ready had a Gold Top, an EB-3 Bass and a Thunderbird. The Les Paul I bought didn't have pick-ups or any wiring so I had to give it a go and do it myself.

I got hold of a kit I found on ebay which was being sold from a dude in China. No worries, I can wait three weeks as it gives me time to bone up on whats involved. Anyway, the kit consisted of  four pots, wiring, switch, socket etc and was already pre-wired. I didn't really want it that way but all the same, I could photograph it so I have a guide when replacing the horrid, thick wire that came with it.

To be honest, it was pretty easy even though i had no soldering skills and as mentioned, no idea about electronics. Got the pick-ups in, the switch and woorrey, it worked.

That was the first thing I'd ever done other than wiring a plug !

Left. How it came to me. No wiring, no pick-ups or switch, bridge/tail piece and a missing Machine head. Once I get the rest of the pix off my camera, I'll post them

...and with a couple of Wilkinson pick-ps

the finshed Les Paul with my Gold Top and the two basses.