Danelectro Echo re-housing

[charles]

I have this Dano Echo that I got off a guy for a few bucks, and since I don't use it for anything productive I figured could take it apart and put it in something else for practice. I've been looking into this for a few weeks, and found pretty much everything I need, but I wanted to make sure before I ordered parts. Also while I had it open I was going to put in the adjustable delay time mod I've heard about. Does anybody have any experience with this? If so I'd really appreciate the advice.

Also, what should I do about pots? Keep the old ones or get new ones so everything matches? Are they difficult to replace?

Thanks much

[charles]

Nobody? Ah well.

[culturejam]

If you are going to rehouse it, You'll pretty much have to change the pots. They are PCB-mount, and are not directly fastened to the enclosure. Also, they are d-shaft, so normal knobs ain't gonna fit, and you'll also have issues with the shaft height in a difference enclosure.

Have you done many mods or full pedal builds? The delay time mod requires soldering of surface-mount components, and it might be tricky if you aren't really handy with an iron and really comfortable with desoldering.

[charles]

If you are going to rehouse it, You'll pretty much have to change the pots. They are PCB-mount, and are not directly fastened to the enclosure. Also, they are d-shaft, so normal knobs ain't gonna fit, and you'll also have issues with the shaft height in a difference enclosure.

Have you done many mods or full pedal builds? The delay time mod requires soldering of surface-mount components, and it might be tricky if you aren't really handy with an iron and really comfortable with desoldering.

I haven't really done anything above very basic soldering, this the first time involving pedals, and this mod just seemed simple, but I guess not. Thanks for the information though Maybe I'll just rehouse it without the mod for the hell of it.

[devnulljp]

I don't think it's such a simple thing to do due to the way they use multiple boards for the effect and for switching too. As well as the crappy components and all. Best bet would be to build a bypass loop and use that. Or just chuck it away and get a decent delay

[charles]

I don't think it's such a simple thing to do due to the way they use multiple boards for the effect and for switching too. As well as the crappy components and all. Best bet would be to build a bypass loop and use that. Or just chuck it away and get a decent delay

Eh, I might as well practice on something I won't be using in the end anyway. Even if the board doesn't survive, at least I'll have learned something. Are bypass loops easy to build? I'm really just looking for a good first project here .

[eatyourguitar]

I am on my first rehouse right now. its a behringer. I never thought it would be this hard to desolder things. add to that you have to trace the board a little when you eliminate the battery. there are top and bottom traces connected to the input jack in 4 places. so 8 pads on the input jack. I have to trace it to see if connecting all 8 pads is even necessary. I found it was easier to slide the plastic off sideways and the entire input jack falls apart. then you just desolder each metal piece individually. the pots are connected on 5 legs and 2 of those are bent metal that cant be bent without the iron. cutting or drilling is not really possible as the components are so close together. the pot values were screen printed though so that was easy even if you destroy all the pots. one slip of the hand and you could pop a component right off.

[charles]

I am on my first rehouse right now. its a behringer. I never thought it would be this hard to desolder things. add to that you have to trace the board a little when you eliminate the battery. there are top and bottom traces connected to the input jack in 4 places. so 8 pads on the input jack. I have to trace it to see if connecting all 8 pads is even necessary. I found it was easier to slide the plastic off sideways and the entire input jack falls apart. then you just desolder each metal piece individually. the pots are connected on 5 legs and 2 of those are bent metal that cant be bent without the iron. cutting or drilling is not really possible as the components are so close together. the pot values were screen printed though so that was easy even if you destroy all the pots. one slip of the hand and you could pop a component right off.

That sounds scary. Have you made pedals before? Would you say it's easier then re-housing them?

[Teej212]

i did a dan echo earlier this year and it was a bitch. dont even bother trying to true bypass it, i think i fucked something up on the switching board. i think you might be better off building a fuzz or somthing. or a bypass loop would be easy as pie.

[charles]

i did a dan echo earlier this year and it was a bitch. dont even bother trying to true bypass it, i think i fucked something up on the switching board. i think you might be better off building a fuzz or somthing. or a bypass loop would be easy as pie.

Damn. I guess I'll just throw it back in the closet for another day then.

Anybody have any other suggestions for a good first pedal build?

[bubstance]

.

[charles]

TGD?

Hmm?

[Teej212]

i dont get tired of recommending the bazz fuss. best beginner project possible

[eatyourguitar]

if you have a multi meter, buy the germanium transistors from small bear and build a fuzz face. you can learn about biasing germanium. you can play with mods on a simple circuit. lots of mods and documentation. much easier to understand than a modded DS-1 for example. low parts count. its only 4 resistors. you can even build it on perf, tagboard, vero anything. even if you dont have a meter, you can get a transistor pair from smallbear that comes with the 4 resistors already biased. most people will say not to do germanium as your first project but I think if all the biasing is already done by small bear then it really doesnt matter. I suggest reading through some of the sticky threads here in DIY. lots of information but it is totally worth reading. its free and it will save you a lot of time and money to get it done right the first time.

@bassfuzz, yes. even less parts.

[charles]

i dont get tired of recommending the bazz fuss. best beginner project possible

if you have a multi meter, buy the germanium transistors from small bear and build a fuzz face. you can learn about biasing germanium. you can play with mods on a simple circuit. lots of mods and documentation. much easier to understand than a modded DS-1 for example. low parts count. its only 4 resistors. you can even build it on perf, tagboard, vero anything. even if you dont have a meter, you can get a transistor pair from smallbear that comes with the 4 resistors already biased. most people will say not to do germanium as your first project but I think if all the biasing is already done by small bear then it really doesnt matter. I suggest reading through some of the sticky threads here in DIY. lots of information but it is totally worth reading. its free and it will save you a lot of time and money to get it done right the first time.

@bassfuzz, yes. even less parts.

Thanks, I'll look into them.