I need someone to critique the logistics of a simple project

[DhanoSuzuki]

Alright, so I know absolutely nothing about pedal building. My dad taught me how to solder when I was younger, but that's about it. So I am actually not planning on doing this completely myself, but am going to see if my guy at the local shop can help with it.

It seems extremely simple to me. All I want to do is rehouse two of my fuzz pedals in a single (med/large) enclosure. One fuzz on each side, with the option of having them both on at once.

Are there any unseen complications that I should know about? On the surface it seems pretty simple to me. I'll just need to purchase a large enclosure, maybe some new knobs. The only thing I am unsure of is powering it, as I am completely stupid on how that would work. Would a single adapter still power both sides?

Any tips?

Just for the record, I am planning on rehousing two cheaper octave-up fuzz: an EHX Octavix, which I believe is supposed to be akin to an Octavia, and a Danelectro French Toast, which I am sure everyone is aware of is a really cheap way to get a decent Foxx Tone Machine circuit (supposedly).

Don't actually have the French Toast yet, its on its way. So I am not sure how the two octave-up fuzzes would sound together, so it may turn out that they just sound horrible.

If that is the case though, I'm still going to want to rehouse the French Toast, because its supposed to be incredibly flimsy.

Also, yknow, it sort of looks like complete shit.

Thanks in advance.

*edit* Also, any suggestions on where I should purchase components? I dont think I will need anything more than an enclosure and some new, spiffy knobs.

But, on that note, while I have the pedal apart, how difficult would it be to maybe switch out some diodes, or any suggestions on replacing any other components on those pedals?

[pocketchange]

this can totally be done, sounds like fun

great place to get affordable quality parts: http://www.bitcheslovemyswitches.com/

switching out diodes or the like can be done, but there is a little bit of risk to it. damaging or blowing out the solder pad isn't too hard to do and if that happens things can get pretty janky pretty quickly. you'll probably want to "socket" those parts if you go that route

as for power, you will want two wires coming from the positive terminal of your DC jack leading to the separate power inputs of the two PCBs. Same goes for the wires from the ground terminal. Though with commercial pedals it may not be quite so easy. I suspect you will have to unsolder board mounted DC jacks and identify what exactly is +v and ground. If you post a pictures i might be able to help

[DhanoSuzuki]

Awesome, thanks a lot, that is really helpful. Once the one pedal gets in, I'll take some pics.

I've heard that rehousing those weird Danelectro pedals can be tricky, but that's what I have the shop guy for.

[spacelordmother]

The other issue could be how old the Dano pedal is -- the older ones were through-hole, but now they're all smd. Assuming the pots, switch, etc are board mounted this could prove a pain.

Sounds cool though, keep us posted!

[DhanoSuzuki]

It is, unfortunately, a newer model. My guy is a pro, though, so I'm really hoping he's got the skills to make this happen.

I mean, it may be a pain in the ass, but not impossible....right?

Because I really hate the way those Dano pedals look, and I'm really wanting to create a mutant double-up octave monster.

[crochambeau]

I stick multiple circuits into the same housing and feed them from the same power supply often.

I'll usually have a protection diode on each, or some similar method by which to decouple them a little bit. If the circuits require regulation or similar, I'll do that locally at the circuit instead of apply that at the entire box. I find dropping some voltage for generators and keeping the voltage as high as possible for boost is my path to happiness. If your guy is a pro, I wouldn't even bother worrying about it, just let the tech work without direction beyond what goes where and any features you crave.

The LAST thing I want to hear when I'm cracking something open is the unsolicited opinion of some dingus (me) from a bulletin board.

[DhanoSuzuki]

Alright, that's the kind of stuff I like to hear. Mainly, just wanted to make sure this wasn't a completely stupid idea before I brought it to dude.

So, now that we have all that established - anyone care to help brainstorm some cool/stupid names for an octave up twofer fuzz?

[spacelordmother]

Yeah, sorry wasn't trying to dissuade at all. I've just had the experience before of time and cost getting out of control because of such things and it helps to be in the know about what you're asking for.

Also - Cro is one smart and helpful dingus.

[DhanoSuzuki]

Yeah, sorry wasn't trying to dissuade at all. I've just had the experience before of time and cost getting out of control because of such things and it helps to be in the know about what you're asking for.

Not at all, it's a relevant concern. From the sounds of it, dealing with the Dano construction stupidity is going to be the biggest hurdle.

But, it's gotta be done.

I'm not really hung up on how my gear looks, looks aren't important.

But I just cannot abide something that looks like that on my pedal board. I don't know what it is, but it seems sacrilegious to put a Tone Machine in such a stupid looking enclosure.

[Jero]

You (or the tech) will also need new pots and foot switch for the danelectro, and a new dc jack.

The Octavix has a few open spots on the pcb for some simple mods. It would be really easy for your guy to wire those up too.

Looking forward to the outcome

[DhanoSuzuki]

Well, since we are on the subject of simple mods, i your opinion what kind of mods would be feasible for a pedal like the Octavix? Would it be possible to add something like a tone control? I may be getting this completely wrong, and thus sound like a complete dumbass, but from what I (think) I read, oscillating fuzz like the Fuzz Factory are relatively simple circuits for how "crazy" they are. Isn't the FF just like a Fuzz Face circuit with a volume or gain boost before the clipping or something?


Could that be considered a "simple mod" for something like the 'vix? I'm probably getting way ahead of myself here, and should just keep it simple. But since the Octavix has room for some mods, I feel like I should take the opportunity to turn this project into something more than just two commercial fuzz circuits in one enclosure. I ended up getting both of these pedals for free (gift cards, both times), so I don't really mind sinking a little bit of cash into it.

Considering that the Octavix is gated, would adding a gate control knob be considered a "simple" mod? Or maybe a voltage starve knob. I should probably just ask the guy when I see him on Saturday, but I'd like to whittle what I want done down to a few simple possibilities so I'm not swamping the guy with questions or possibly confusing him.

If I am coming off like a bit of a noob here, it is because I, well, am a noob when it comes to pedal building and modding.

Anyway, in other news, the French Toast arrived today.

And let me say, playing two octave-up fuzzes at the same time may be the best idea I've ever had.

[pocketchange]

I like to add oscillations to everything. It can be done simply and on probably every pedal every just sending the output back into the input and controlling the intensity with a pot, and either a switch to cut it off or adding a buffer circuit somewhere if the switch is absolutely undesired. It can be done in plenty of other ways too. Voltage sag is a super easy mod and can often times cause oscillations. Tone control, also super easy. I'm sure yer tech can do all that.

The gate control might be a bit more of a task. If a schematic is floating around the web then it's entirely possible that a mod can be worked out. Otherwise making that mod could require some very time consuming reverse engineering, and/or some touch-it-and-see what happens type circuit-bending.

A blend knob could be cool.

Or maybe a blend of your signal passed through just the first octave mixed with the signal passed through both octaves.

Maybe have him point to point a third simple non-octave fuzz like the bazz fuss and a blend control that add that into the mix too. idk haha

[DhanoSuzuki]

Those are all great ideas. If a voltage starve mod is that easy, I definitely think I'll have him do that. I'll talk to him about oscillations as well. Blend knob, too, would be cool - especially if it would result in the original note, one octave above, and two octaves above being played all at the same time.

Maybe I could have him slap my Octave Multiplexer circuit in there and create our own Blue Box.

[crochambeau]

I love how "simple" projects veer into the complex so quickly.

Will it sound like a swarm of speeding bees?

[DhanoSuzuki]

Well, judging from playing the Octavix and French Tone Machine at the same time, it sounds kind of like if you put a flock of bees in a coffee tin, shook the coffee tin really hard, duct taped the bee tin onto a voyager rocket, and then fired the rocket directly at the moon.