Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts

JHS Superbolt clone PCB and the missing JFETs

Hello solderers and pedal maniacs!

Here is my last build: a JHS SuperBolt clone! As you may know, I have already did a clone of this pedal, but I have finally designed a PCB for it!

Here are some pictures:

JHS Supebolt clone 

I used a Supro logo that was laser-cut with some double tape to make the "Supro" sticker. I think it makes a really nice look!

JHS Supebolt clone

End of the crowdfunding campaign: what's next?

Here it is! The crowdfunding campaign is over, with a lot of success!
Thank you all for your support, Coda Effects is on the good tracks thanks to you!


crowdfunding ended

Let me show you some numbers:
In this post, I want to present you how I am going to schedule everything. As mentioned on the project webpage, I will write blog posts about the perks and pitfalls of making a series of pedals. One the pitfalls if to make an impossible-to-follow delivery schedule for sure!

Here is my schedule:
  • Receiving the money (one to two weeks): I will be then allow to see how much is left after the Ulule, Paypal, and French state taxes are off the collected amount of money. Indeed, almost 23% of the money will go to these different taxes. (No worries, I made the calculations before :) ). It should take one to two weeks to get all the money ready for ordering the parts!
  • Ordering the PCBs, enclosures and components (one to two months): one of the most crucial step! Thanks to the prototypes I have already made and my experience, I already selected a list of reliable suppliers. However, the delays can be quite long due to their localizations (USA, China for the PCBs, which can cause delays due to customs). At this step, some "surprises" can also happen and delay the shipping of the PCBs / kits / pedals. Everything should be fine with the suppliers I selected, but you never now! One to two month seems like a reasonable delay for ordering and receiving all the parts.
  • Drilling the enclosures, making the kits & effects (two weeks to one month): the fun step! I will do my best to make it as quick as possible, but always with great care about the project. I will have 27 pedals to make, and everything else will be kits (which implies only drilling). I already thought about tips to make it easier and quicker, which I will share with you in a next post.
  • Making videos and build doc (one to two weeks): before sending the kits, I really want to make a tutorial video to show you how to assemble your kit. It will prevent a lot of mistakes I think, so I think it is worth the wait! 
  • Shipping everything (one week + shipping time): I am currently evaluating which shipper I should use, for now I am considering the French post offices, which are quite good regarding tracking, delays and costs.
There it is! It is quite a lot of work to do. The maximum delay time is around 4 month (February 2017). I know it is quite a long time, but I hope to make it as quick as possible!

You will of course be informed about how it goes on a weekly basis.
If you have any suggestion or comment to make, do not hesitate to post a comment!

Finally, in order to follow the project daily, like the Coda Effects Facebook page, or follow Coda Effects on Instagram or Twitter.

Crowdfunding campaign for the Montagne Tremolo and Dolmen Fuzz

My crowdfunding campaign for the Montagne Tremolo and the Dolmen Fuzz is finally out there!

The Montagne Tremolo is my final version of the tremolo prototype I showed you in a previous post. It is an analog optical tremolo with tap tempo and 6 different waveforms available, thanks to the TAPLFO digital chip.

The Dolmen Fuzz comes from my love for EHX Big Muffs and especially the green russian version. I tried different prototypes and circuits, and it is quite close to a previous build I made as well.

Create your own pedal company: good or bad idea?

If you already have made a few pedals yourself, you surely have thought about selling them or at least build some of them for other people. Create your own guitar pedal brand seems like a good idea on paper, however there are many pitfalls.... Lets talk about it!

Disclaimer: I make effects myself, and this post is not intended to "kill competitors" (with my 30 pedals a year...)! On the contrary, I think it is way better to be transparent and to talk about it: this is only my opinion, and feel free to express yours in the comments section :)

It is a complex matter that is not always easy to discuss peacefully because of money, and there are many different opinions on the subject. It is also the source of really long yet exciting threads on DIY forums (check this one!). The simplest option for me is to discuss it from my point of view as a builder. Thus, I will talk about Coda Effects, and well, just once will not hurt, about me, and give you some tips if you want to jump in it!

Early 2013, I started to show interest in guitar pedal building: after opening a Fuzz Face, I was quite astonished by the simplicity of the circuit (there is almost nothing in there!), and I realized that building guitar effects might be simpler that I thought.

Fuzz Face inside

Big Muff PCB available!

The Big Muff PCB that I conceived finally arrived in its final version... And it is alive! I also wrote a detailed build document.

Big Muff PCB 

It is a double layer PCB to make your own Big Muff! I added a fourth optional knob: the mids knob. Mids are a huge turn off for me with Big Muff: all your medium frequencies are scooped! 

When you use one in a band, you always disappear in the mix, quite boring when you want to use the loudness and sustain of a Muff and be heard! I made it optional in case you want to stick to the original design. Thus, you can make any Big Muff variant that you want, including "boutique" variants that often use a mids knob!

EHX Big Muff Russian PCB

I made it usable for a 1590B, so quite a small enclosure compared to the original Big Muff, ideal for crowded pedalboard purposes! But you can use it in a bigger enclosure, allowing a lot of mods.

Ready to make your own Big Muff? Get one here:

 Buy


The quality is maximum with this PCB: it has been made using an immersion gold process that ensure easy soldering, and long lasting connexions. The PCB is lead free, so it can be used in any country (Europe does not allows lead in solder or electronic devices). Pads are quite spaced, and are big enough to allow easy soldering.

Big Muff circuit board

I used he same components name than in The Big Muff page. This is very useful, you can just pick the version you like on the Big Muff page, and make it yourself quickly! It also makes mods easier to do, and you can relate quickly between the excellent circuit guide from the Big Muff page to the PCB.

Electro harmonix Big Muff circuit board PCB

Example of a pedal made with the PCB

Here is a Ram's Head I made with the PCB. It is made wit a "replica" spirit: I used the exact same values as a 73' ram's head. I always wanted to know exactly what it sounded like, so this was a good time to try it!

Big Muff Ram's Head DIY

This pedal was made to test the "optionality" of the mid knob, really easy to do. I used my "Dolmen Fuzz" logo, made by HPM laser. I used a standard 1590B Hammond enclosure, that I polished with sand paper like my other Big Muff.

Big Muff Ram's Head DIY

As you can see, it fits perfectly in the enclosure. I tested my drill template, it is perfect! As you can see, I made the wiring easy:

Big Muff Ram's Head DIY

I also tested the compatibility of the PCB with Wima MKP2, which are really good capacitor for audio. Works well and gives a niche red touch to the circuit!

Big Muff Ram's Head DIY circuit

With my PCB and the detailed build doc I have written, you should be able to make your own Big Muff easily!

Ready to build yours? Get one here:

 Buy