UPDATE, Friday, September 23th: Attend the first Tonefiend DIY Club meeting here.
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Can if I make like a zombie and eat pick your collective brain?
One of my key goals for this blog is to promote do-it-yourself experimentation. It’s a topic I approach with the passion of a recent convert, largely due to the influence of the Maker Faire, the unspeakably cool DIY event that has sparked a worldwide movement. (Witness this video I shot at a 2011 Maker Faire, in which hundreds of little kids learn to solder.)
My question: Would anyone be interested in joining a guitar electronics “makers club” suitable for absolute beginners? I’m sure that many of you already have more workbench skills than I will acquire in several lifetimes, but I have a hunch there are at least as many who are curious about making and modding, but just haven’t taken the leap of faith. Am I right?
I imagine an electronic equivalent of a book club. We’d choose a collective project, something easy, but genuinely cool and useful. I’d provide a list of necessary parts and tools, including places to buy them online. I’d post step-by-step instructions, and then we could all commiserate when our homes burn down things don’t work out perfectly the first time. The materials cost per project would probably hover in the $20-$30 dollar range, and you’d need a few basic tools (about $50 worth, if you’re starting from scratch). Again, I’ll provide details and recommendations. Possible topics include pickup changing, volume and tone control mods, buffers and boosters/preamps, freaky fuzz circuits, onboard guitar electronics, and the best ointments for soldering burns more.
Your thoughts? I’m sort of thinking out loud here, so don’t be shy about jumping in with suggestions. Thanks!
Great idea! I’d sign on for that.
Great idea Joe. Can’t wait for this 😀
If I had the cash on me, I totally would. Sadly I haven’t had much time to make money in college and gigs are few and very far between.
Sigh. I hear you. Times are tough all over. But bear in mind that, if you think you’re likely to be creating music for many years to come, you can save HUGE amounts of cash in the long run via DIY. Just a thought. 🙂
Sounds really cool Joe, I’d be in for that.
Yes, please and thanks!
I’d be interested in this so I can do the Jimmy Page mod on my Les Paul!!!
Great idea — and a challenging one!
There’s a schematic here on the SD site:
https://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jp_style
…though according to the Gibson site, the circuit also includes a pair of switches mounted beneath the pickguard:
https://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/Jimmy-Page-Number-Two-Les-Paul/Features.aspx
You’d definitely want a pair of humbuckers with four-connector wire for that operation!
Meanwhile, you can get the requisite push-pull pots from Stewart-MacDonald:
https://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers/Push-pull_Pots.html
I’d love to cover this — but realistically speaking, I’d probably start out with a simpler pickup project!
sounds pretty sweet.
I’m in!
what a great idea i am definately in for this one ..
I’m in!
Joe, traded in my amp and got the ZT Lunchbox. Turned the knobs every which way, hooked up a fuzzbox- bottom line, it sounds amazing. I keep staring at it, wondering how it can sound that big. So, I’m up for building something to plug into it!
Ooh, I’ve had my eye one of those. What are your impressions of that interesting ambience control?
Well, you can see what they’re aiming for with that, it just provides a bit of air to the sound. What’s fun is, if you turn it up far enough, it kind of breaks down and sounds like ring modulation, but without any definite pitch. Like splitting the difference between a Blue Box and an Octavia. Which makes no sense.. huh. Anyway, it’s like a bonus effect.
Wonder how it sounds driving a big cabinet.
I don’t have a cab to run it into, but I suspect pretty good. I have a Vox Tonelab that I’ve been running into it now and it handles all the different sounds I’ve come up with well. Sorry to sound like a shill, but this thing is pretty inspiring!
I’m in!
That sounds great I have been thinking about guitar building and serious guitar repair for a while and yesterday I bought some guitar building and repair books so considering that my journey has just began this seams like a very great idea indeed! Sign me up!
I’ll join your club so long as the hazing is kept to a minimum. Seriously, sounds cool to me!
No, hazing is strictly forbidden!
Okay, let’s get started — where did I put my stompbox snipe? It was here a minute ago! Storm Cow, can you run out and borrow us another snipe? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipe_hunt)
Can’t wait for the first project!
In the meantime, those looking for Page wiring stuff might check this out:
https://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Switches_and_knobs/Free-Way_Pickup_Switch.html
Ran across it perusing the Stew-Mac catalog a while back, and was thinking about trying it out in a Tele with multiple taps on the bridge pickup…
Cool! I’ll take ten! 🙂
Great idea! I’ve got plenty of students who would be sure to sign on!
Epic! 🙂
Of course man, sign me up.
Great idea, I would join!
I’m in! I have experience in modding, building customs and repairing through my business Owen Guitar Shop (www.owenguitarshop.com). I’d be all in for this!
Well then — at least one person here will know which end of the soldering iron to grab! 😉
I am SO IN! Where do I sign up?!?
You just did! 🙂
I’d like to get in on this, provided the project is inexpensive, noob firendly, and not toooo time-consuming.
Sounds like fun.
hells yeah – cheap and nasty diy fuzz pedals, phasers, delay.. bring it on, count me in!
You wish will be granted. “Cheap” and “Nasty” are among my middle names. 🙂
Crap, now I’m going to have to try my hand at more DIY projects than just pedals.