Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

Solid State Amplifiers => Preamps and Effects => Topic started by: saturated on October 02, 2025, 07:11:56 PM

Title: A $13 pedal and $2 hone steel
Post by: saturated on October 02, 2025, 07:11:56 PM
I went back to the pawn shop to see if they would discount a pedal they have had for over a year

Does it Doom Aghartha

IMG_20251002_173823517.jpg

They were willing to drop it to $175 I thanked them and said I would maybe come back and get it

Also interesting was this Victory V4 Kraken which looks cool and watched a video of people using it

IMG_20251002_173924538_HDR (1).jpg

I was impressed but unfortunately it seems a little over my head with loops and stuff  xP
If it has more than an input and output and 9v jack I'm lost  :grr  :-X
So moving right along I did jump on this

IMG_20251002_175355636.jpg

IMG_20251002_175332074.jpg

And since I need to hone in a few things I grabbed this too

IMG_20251002_175446492.jpg

IMG_20251002_175456653.jpg

IMG_20251002_175506597.jpg

I've recently started making sushi and need sharp knives
 xP
Title: Re: A $13 pedal and $2 hone steel
Post by: saturated on October 04, 2025, 06:19:36 AM
Since this post is in dire need of some technical content I thought it would be a good idea to take a look inside for people like our friend in Tasmania  :tu: I figured one look and he could categorize the pattern circuitry utilized.  And also I would be able to read the label on a chip and shout out: "aah yes..look...it's the ol IC 4268 dual inline package in parallel with an inverted lcr network 🛜 ":loco

Unfortunately not much was revealed

IMG_20251004_050214827.jpg

Maybe I can slide off the knobs then unscrew the nuts and peel the board back to have a look but maybe I should at least play through it first before I possibly ruin it.  :grr

IMG_20251004_050444569.jpg

 xP

I have to give it credit for being metal that is cool  :lmao:
Title: Re: A $13 pedal and $2 hone steel
Post by: J M Fahey on October 05, 2025, 05:26:53 AM
Oh, a lot can be seen as is.

To begin with: is it a distortion pedal or a Preamp?

The PCB shows a dual Op Amp, think TL072 orm similar.

Even if it didn´t work, there you have (estimated cost):

1590B diecast box: $8

2 Jacks + supply connector: $8

4 pots: $6

3PDT footswitch: $5

4 knobs: $4

bare PCB + components + assorted hardware (screws, rubber feet, etc.): $4

so you already have some $35 worth of stuff.

IF it works and you like it, fine.

If not, junk PCB and build anything you like there.

I´d call it a win-win purchase.

My beef with that PCB and which I am seeing all over the place now is that it´s a "Lazy" PCB design.

Meaning; PCB design software competes with others by offering "better features"  ::)

Basically: "others can put 3 tracks under a resistor, we can put 5"

Which leads to minuscule solder pads and hair thin tracks.

Not bad in a Computer board which stays on a desktop or a cellphone where there is no space anyway, but madness in Guitar stuff which gets transported around, bumping, getting kicked, stepped upon (hint; "pedal") which can´t stand abuse
Proper is to change Factory preprogrammed settings to larger pads and wider tracks.

Remember those old INDESTRUCTIBLE Peavey/SUNN/Acoustic amps with their hand drawn WIDE tracks.