by Mike » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:55 pm
Looks like I made my first order for DIY parts in January 2009. The reason was that I had a Valve Junior that I wanted to modify. I had read enough warnings about tube voltages that I was scared into building a few effects before cracking open the amp.
I have found that many DIYers can be put into one of two categories. One is circuit-by-number builders, building kits, or on PCBs, or maybe on pre-made Vero. Most people seem to start in this category. The other category doesn't have a semi-insulting name like circuit-by-number builders, at least not one that I have come up with. People in this category (like me) start as circuit-by-number builders, but realize that it gives the equivalent amount of satisfaction as... well... paint-by-numbers.
There are a lot of circuit-by-number builders who create perfectly fine results and are perfectly satisfied, and there is no fault in that. I wasn't one of those people, and it seems that neither are you.
My recommendation is to build, build, build, even though you don't really need to build anything to learn. In three years, I think I have built maybe 8 effects. Eight. But, the effects that I built for myself are exactly what I wanted. I don't build until I have spent some quality time with a schematic and a breadboard.
Start with the beginner project over at DIYSB. It's a good boost, it will force you to learn how to order parts, and it will force you to learn how to use perfboard (which I think is key to learning how to take something from a paper schematic to a working circuit). As long as you have a positive attitude, you will find that people are eager to help get you going.
From there, look up a few of the "Technology of" articles that R.G. has written. Read them, again and again and again. Then, build them, at least on your breadboard. Then, read them again and again and again. They will eventually start to make sense.
Doing these two things will cause you to learn in a hands-on way, but with accurate and helpful references.
From there, the sky is the limit. Want to learn about low pass and high pass filters? Find one. Breadboard it. Tweak it. Take notes. Learn. Want to learn about LEDs and current? Breadboard it. Blow up a few LEDs. Take notes. Learn. The more you breadboard, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you will understand when you read your books. You will soon find yourself making your own layouts, etching your own boards, and having a great time.
Good luck!
Mike