New pedalboard build v3: refining

[metropolis_4]

Maybe a Carcosa or Fuzz Face variant with a buffer switch, like the MXR 108.

How is that 108? I never really gave that one a fair chance

This is a great deal if you like a big muff

https://reverb.com/item/84866371-barber-electronics-exacta-fuzz-purple

That is a great deal! I’ll keep it in mind, thanks!

What kinda fuzz dude are you, rather raunchy/gnarly/spitty/boomy/honky/zippy/scooped/mellow/bright/dark/dull (etc)?

That's the key question prior to checking out options, imho

I love Fuzz Faces you can leave on the whole show and get everything you need with your volume knob, I love tonebenders, I love Muffs that do the gated thing when you hit them hard, I love octave fuzzes…

For this particular one I think I’d mostly be looking for a great sustaining lead voice with a Strat. So something with lots of body and some midrange push, not too harsh on the top end, not too boomy on the low end

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I know it's similar dna, but what makes it different?

Top end can be tamed a little more, which for a guy that's mostly running a tele into fuzz is a VERY useful thing; Not quite as "get that bias knob JUST right or else" as the Carcossa could be at times. That plus not having a switch that I rarely used just makes it a lot easier to turn knobs and always get a useful-ish sound?

 

[FuzzyAce]

How is that 108? I never really gave that one a fair chance

It's a proper silicone FF. With the buffer engaged it's slightly less gainy overall but has a nice clarity and punch to it. Makes it more versatile that way, even though there's no real substitute running it normal and right after the guitar.

 

[metropolis_4]

Well… this new version of the board was unexpected

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Well… this new version of the board was unexpected

View attachment 57332

Been pawn shopping again?!?

 

[metropolis_4]

Been pawn shopping again?!?

The Fender Switchboard died on me tonight and I’ve got a 9 hour rehearsal tomorrow morning.

So I have to throw something together to get me through tomorrow while I order an MC6 Pro and ML5R from Morningstar and pray they get here in time to rebuild the board before tech rehearsals next weekend

 

[dronerstone]

The Fender Switchboard died on me tonight and I’ve got a 9 hour rehearsal tomorrow morning.

So I have to throw something together to get me through tomorrow while I order an MC6 Pro and ML5R from Morningstar and pray they get here in time to rebuild the board before tech rehearsals next weekend

Oh no. Godspeed!

What happened, died out of nowhere or used error?

 

[metropolis_4]

Oh no. Godspeed!

What happened, died out of nowhere or used error?

Died out of nowhere.

I turned the board power on and was getting some electrical noise and no instrument signal coming out of the board. I started troubleshooting and discovered it’s the Switchboard. There’s no signal passing from its input to its output and it’s buzzing. There’s a weird thing where if I hit the strings really hard it fades in, but it’s really weak and static-y and quickly fades back out.

I’m getting spooked by all the electrical gremlins I’m running into this week. First the ROUS, now this, and yesterday I opened up that wah to put a new battery in and found it full of spiders. I think I’ve been cursed, haha

 

[Chocol8]

found it full of spiders. I think I’ve been cursed,

Oh shit! That definitely sounds like you are going to need an exorcist or witch doctor!

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

Papa Shango might be able to get rid of that hoodoo.

 

[metropolis_4]

Took the whole day, but it’s back… and better than ever. Now to spend the rest of the night programming.

I’m a little proud of my Tetris skills. They came in handy. There’s no room to spare on that lower level! I can’t believe I found a way to fit it all

 

[Dave Lewis]

Took the whole day, but it’s back… and better than ever. Now to spend the rest of the night programming.

I’m a little proud of my Tetris skills. They came in handy. There’s no room to spare on that lower level! I can’t believe I found a way to fit it all

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You did a excellent job of fitting that lot on there

 

[Whizzinby]

Took the whole day, but it’s back… and better than ever. Now to spend the rest of the night programming.

I’m a little proud of my Tetris skills. They came in handy. There’s no room to spare on that lower level! I can’t believe I found a way to fit it all

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Epic build dude!

What’s the single stomp control on the bottom right?

 

[dronerstone]

Took the whole day, but it’s back… and better than ever. Now to spend the rest of the night programming.

I’m a little proud of my Tetris skills. They came in handy. There’s no room to spare on that lower level! I can’t believe I found a way to fit it all

View attachment 57724
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Excellent job!

That nice feeling when everything fits to a T.

 

[metropolis_4]

Epic build dude!

What’s the single stomp control on the bottom right?

Thanks!

It’s my page turner for my music

 

[sashimi]

Took the whole day, but it’s back… and better than ever. Now to spend the rest of the night programming.

I’m a little proud of my Tetris skills. They came in handy. There’s no room to spare on that lower level! I can’t believe I found a way to fit it all

View attachment 57724
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This looks seriously awesome, great job man. I love it when a bunch of big colorful pedals are tetris packed in like this using all the available space. Makes my pedaltrain with well spaced standard size boxes look amateurish. One day I will build a board this cool.

 

[metropolis_4]

I went through an overhaul to take what I’ve learned field testing at gigs and hone in on what works and trim what doesn’t.

I’ve decided to go with less automation and more manual control. I realized it’s not working to try to have every pedal be rigidly set in the signal flow and I need more flexibility to swap stuff around based on what each gig calls for.

So the new approach is basically the top shelf is all in one loop and the front row left of the MC6 is all one loop. So that way I can easily swap pedals around without rewiring the whole board.

I also added the ability to run the front row in front of an amp and the top shelf through an effects loop.

ML5r loops:

• A: Pedal76
• B: PA-1Q
• C: front row -> board out 1 -> amp in -> fx send -> board in 1 -> Deci-Mate
• D: Insert for whatever extra effect I need, or a clean preamp option
• E: top shelf

Then the Switchback goes to board out 2/3. Out 2 goes to a DI for acoustic instruments, out 3 goes to the fx return on the amp.

So I can use my AC30 top boost as an overdrive channel and then use The Bard in loop D as a clean channel option and both use the AC30 power amp. Or I can jumper board out 1 and in 1 to use the whole board in front of the amp.

I’m loving this setup so far! Definitely getting close to ideal state. I love having the flexibility to throw whatever pedals I need on the board and swap stuff around!

The Ripply Fall has been replaced by the PastFX Chorus Ensemble for now because I like being able to footswitch between chorus and vibrato during a show, and I’m not a big fan of the Ripple phaser.

Dark Star is gone. I sold it for a Sunlight because I thought it would be a better fit. Turns out it was worse

Drives are changing between shows based on what the gig calls for. Last show I used eternity -> JHS Overdrive Preamp -> Lightspeed. This show it’s Halberd -> Longsword

 

[dronerstone]

I went through an overhaul to take what I’ve learned field testing at gigs and hone in on what works and trim what doesn’t.

View attachment 62181

I’ve decided to go with less automation and more manual control. I realized it’s not working to try to have every pedal be rigidly set in the signal flow and I need more flexibility to swap stuff around based on what each gig calls for.

So the new approach is basically the top shelf is all in one loop and the front row left of the MC6 is all one loop. So that way I can easily swap pedals around without rewiring the whole board.

I also added the ability to run the front row in front of an amp and the top shelf through an effects loop.

ML5r loops:

• A: Pedal76
• B: PA-1Q
• C: front row -> board out 1 -> amp in -> fx send -> board in 1 -> Deci-Mate
• D: Insert for whatever extra effect I need, or a clean preamp option
• E: top shelf

Then the Switchback goes to board out 2/3. Out 2 goes to a DI for acoustic instruments, out 3 goes to the fx return on the amp.

So I can use my AC30 top boost as an overdrive channel and then use The Bard in loop D as a clean channel option and both use the AC30 power amp. Or I can jumper board out 1 and in 1 to use the whole board in front of the amp.

I’m loving this setup so far! Definitely getting close to ideal state. I love having the flexibility to throw whatever pedals I need on the board and swap stuff around!

The Ripply Fall has been replaced by the PastFX Chorus Ensemble for now because I like being able to footswitch between chorus and vibrato during a show, and I’m not a big fan of the Ripple phaser.

Dark Star is gone. I sold it for a Sunlight because I thought it would be a better fit. Turns out it was worse

Drives are changing between shows based on what the gig calls for. Last show I used eternity -> JHS Overdrive Preamp -> Lightspeed. This show it’s Halberd -> Longsword

That's a legit spaceship you got there!

Decimator be like:

 

[metropolis_4]

That's a legit spaceship you got there!

Decimator be like:

It’s feeling a little lonely since its neighbor is gone right now, but enjoying the extra room to stretch out