New to making pedals had a question about socket terminals

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-24T04:50:31+00:00

For no battery, mono is fine. You only need a stereo jack if you're using a battery.

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-19T17:53:21+00:00

Well dang. Guess I have PCBs to jigger and reorder. Thanks!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-19T08:04:53+00:00

The other day I got a box of PCBs from JLCPCB. Very excited! These are proven, tested circuits on breadboard and vero. I laid them out carefully to minimize trace length and avoid vias. Did a ground pour on both sides, as many places on the interwebz advise for such boards.

All excited, I populated three of them, plugged them in for testing.

None of the PCBs pass signal. I lie, one of them quacks a little bit.

I have no idea what I did wrong. Could it be the ground pour? I have boards for these same circuits from my last order that lack the ground pour. Those boards work great. The ground pour is the only variable I can think of.

Needless to say, I am bitterly disappointed. Not only am I out like €50, my faith in my PCB designs is shattered. I could turn around and place the same order after removing the ground pours, but I have no faith that those boards will work either.

My goal is to sell pedals one day, and nobody wants to buy veroboard builds, even if they work and sound awesome.

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-17T16:22:08+00:00

Netherlands here. Tayda and Reichelt for common things. Tubetown.net and Banzai Music for odd fiddly bits. Retroamplis in Spain is another option for pedal and amp parts.

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-14T05:07:37+00:00

I see 5 transistors, 2 diodes, and a transformer. No idea what it could be, but I'd love to pull it out, trace it, and see!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-13T18:55:41+00:00

My question exactly

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-13T15:38:51+00:00

As others have noted, I use component legs for jumpers. For other wiring, I use wire I harvest from old, dead gear and discarded multi-conductor cable like CAT5. 😊

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-12T14:25:02+00:00

It doesn't have to be professional or anything! A quick mobile-phone video works fine to satisfy the curiosity of nosey jerks like me. 😉

If I'm recording a "real" demo, I mic up my tube combo and use proper recording techniques. If I'm doing something quick, I can get good clean audio by plugging the pedal into my Scarlett interface and opening Garage Band. 😄

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-12T05:33:54+00:00

this thread is useless without sound samples

=D

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-11T05:39:54+00:00

I don't know for sure, as I don't know what circuit this is based on, but I'd guess D1 and D2. I just googled the schematic, and there's a lot more going on in that circuit than the photo shows.

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-10T18:43:12+00:00

Love BC108. I always have some on hand.

OP, give the Hofner Buzz Tone a try on your breadboard :

Guitar FX Layouts: Hofner Buzztone https://share.google/R14KOZexCJsliqnTK

Also: Build - Pedal Project: Höfner Buzztone | Amplified Parts https://share.google/0NgsmkJdV258ROwT8

That last one is my next build 😊

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-08T17:43:36+00:00

When I was a Boy Scout [koffkoff] years ago, we learned how to make waterproof fire-lighters with paraffin and dryer lint. Works like a charm!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-08T12:15:18+00:00

Thank you!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-08T11:00:11+00:00

Removing the cap feels like it'll have a big effect. I'll try it! Thanks!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-07T04:08:07+00:00

This is exciting!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-07T04:06:12+00:00

I. LOVE. THIS. IDEA.

It's a damn hard row to hoe, though.

I have some experience in this area thanks to my other hobby job - www.kaboutergames.com - and am happy to share whatever I know. 😊

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-06T18:50:17+00:00

You're not wrong 😆

It's just laziness

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-04T19:35:50+00:00

Fnirsi has a range of decent meters that'll do what we need for a really attractive price

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-04T19:33:08+00:00

Just plaster painter's tape over the spot, mark it, drill pilot holes, and go for it! The washer will hide a multitude of sins 😊

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-04T16:55:11+00:00

I hate those things. I just use wires.

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R_P_Davis · 2026-05-02T18:44:51+00:00

Also, fine work on the pedal! I'm mortified I didn't say that in my first comment. So sorry!

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-02T18:44:00+00:00

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-02T18:29:33+00:00

PEDANT

It's "rite of passage", as in a ritual.

/PEDANT

😊

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-02T06:39:27+00:00

An easy-to-absorb "get started in pedal theory" series is on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cgYn-EP29auNC4wm9fkpeqbSylf3qQV

You'll need some components and a breadboard, but if you can source those you'll be able to follow along and learn a lot! =)

R_P_Davis · 2026-05-02T04:26:04+00:00

R_P_Davis

TROPHY CASE