On Board Effects

[Biohazard]

Hi, I am wanting to wire the electronics of a guitar myself, and I am also wanting to build in an effect or two. Is this possible and how would I go about doing it? If anyone can give me some help or guidence I would be very grateful, thanks.

[daveq]

OK, what type of effects? Are you planning on building the effect circuit yourself or just trying to fit the board of an existing one in?

[Biohazard]

I am going to build in existing circuit boards. One curcuit might be an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, and a Fuzz Circuit, not sure which yet. Any ideas how I would do this? I know I will need a 9v battery but what about actually building in the effects with the pickups and pots etc. Thanks again.

[lovekraft]

The biggest problem with onboard f/x is finding room for the boards, controls and batteries. You can literally lift the board and controls out of a stompbox and wire them between your volume pot and your output jack, but you've gotta make room for the pots, board, battery and switches (including a bypass toggle, since you won't have a footswitch). If you're willing to make a big enough hole, it's no problem. Personally, I never liked the idea of adding several more pots and switches to my controls - I have enough trouble remembering where I set my two band tone circuits for that sweet spot.

[JohnnyG]

Atm im planning on sticking a fuzz face in the strat body that im working on, im basically gonna rout out a cavity just next to the middle Pup on the side of the controls and put it in there. im trying to get hold of a couple concentric pots so that the top wont look so cluttered.

ive basically used the fuzz face design off generalguitargadgets but ive designed the circuit board myself to make it a bit smaller

[Biohazard]

Hi, thanks for that information, so just wire it between the pots and output jack. Yeah i'll have a cavity big enough for the circuit, and a toggle switch on the guitar will replace the footswitch, and the extra pot holes I don't mind having. Thanks for that . Hope that Fuzz Face project goes well.

[Snork]

well.... route a hole and mount your power input jack on the outside of your guitar so that you can just plug the 5v into the pedal. it should be interesting. but possibly stupid. either or good luck to you boy!

Cheers,

Sam Fisher

[renablistic]

ya, if you plan on doing this, i would (just by using common sense, not true expierience) use elctro harmonix pedals. They last a lifetime on a battery. (not really, only a few weeks) The last liek two weeks on one battery while staying plugged in. I think thats the only effect i would want built in. I mean I could go from a clean verse to a dirty chorus without moving, or a verse i was playing with a dist footpedal on, and wanted more dist for a solo, again without moving an inch.

[Biohazard]

Hi, yeah, well I think i will possibly build in a Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, and a fuzz pedal, if i need to, have two batteries running the two effects independantly. I plan to have more than enough routed cavity for this. I'l let you all know how it goes when I plan on doing this.

Thanks to all who posted.

[JohnnyG]

go with the fuzz but i would not recomend you try to build a small stone. the PCB wireing for it is a serious bitch and unless you know what you are doing you will either a)get confused or end up with a huge circuit board meaningyou have to rout out alot. i havnt seen the EH fuzz but if its like other fuzz pedals then it should be fairlly small and simple so id just go with that for the moment

[erikbojerik]

[Sobot]

I was thinking of making a ring modulator and putting it in my guitar, and adjusting the speed with a pot... they sound so weird when you do that... I'll just use my Line 6 MM4 for that (with a Exp pedal of course)

[ansil]

if you are willing to use an xlr cable. you could always use it to carry power. and have a stereo guitar jack xlr to stereo adaptor. or a specific box housed on the guitar strap like a wireless unit. with a stereo patch cord could carry all the power and audio.