Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
I could just bookmark these in my browser, but hey… here they are. If you struggle with complex explanations of how valve amplifiers work, here’s a collection of easy to understand valve amplifier basics from Uncle Doug. Don’t let the pets and other distractions put you off – there’s really good information in these videos. … Read more
I know I could probably pay Tayda to do this, but they don’t always have the enclosures that I want, and part of me likes going down the hillbilly route with a hand drill and a file. Here’s my process for cutting out holes for battery draws. It’s actually pretty easy to do. STEP ONE: … Read more
I was boxing up a circuit recently and the heights of my spacers weren’t working out – then I had a minor brainwave. Well I thought it was anyway, you may disagree. You can thread the little hexagonal metal spacers on top of the nylon ones. It’s a very tight fit and feels secure. … Read more
Ok – next level nerd alert. Apart from being distracted by valve amp related things, I’ve recently started to use cable lacing to keep the wires looking tidy. Cable lacing was how it was done before cable ties appeared, and I believe it’s still used in some areas of aeronautics and space programmes. Sure you … Read more
I’m sure we’re all familiar with these enclosures from GapCo, just jotting down some notes for myself, as I found a drawing with dimensions (sorry Reverb seller). GAPCO VINTAGE ENCLOSURE Plain unfinished steel, arrives lightly oiled, may have light rust (will need a very good clean) Holes for pots are 6mm, which suits 16mm … Read more
I have a couple of dual pedals planned, so time to jot down some off-board wiring plans. SWITCHED JACKS First off, I probably should touch on switched jacks – I’ll stick to the Cliff style, as these are the most common type used for guitar pedals. Switched jacks are great, as much as I … Read more
I saw a post today about leakage and temperature, so I thought I’d do a quick test myself to see how close it came. The test distinctly lacked scientific conditions – for starters I wasn’t even wearing a white coat at the time, but the results seem to match the theory. For germanium transistors, leakage … Read more
A short guide to off-board wiring for positive ground effects. It’s not as complicated as it’s sometimes made out, but I do get that it’s confusing. If you want all the details, head over to the tech section of Amplified Parts – it may hurt your brain by the end, as it’s very detailed. Note #1: … Read more
I’ve had a few questions lately via Instagram about some basics on my vero layouts – while this doesn’t cover everything, I hope it helps clarify a few things for people just starting out. Essentially, my vero layouts are functionally the same as many others, the key differences being the use of colour coding, and … Read more
22AWG and 24AWG are what most pedal builders use, but depending on where you live, these values may not be readily available from your local store. Of course, online is always an option, but shipping a bunch of heavy copper reels can be expensive. 22AWG and 24AWG are not available in the most common electronics … Read more