Build a Guitar Effect Pedal: Distortion from circuit to box

Mike Beach is an Electrical Engineer, Asylum member since 2012, has taught and co-taught several courses, cares more about how the electrons are feeling than programming, really likes learning about and using all kinds of sensors, and just can’t stop showing how to use that oscilloscope to help you debug (just ask Kevin), and is an active participant and mentor at the Circuit Hacking night held at the Asylum every Wednesday.

Gary is a lifelong scientist, guitar builder, machinist, and educator. He enjoys building solid body electric guitars in his free time and teaching machine shop techniques - Particularly the lathe and CNC milling machine.

This class is intended as an introduction to those interested in learning the essential skills in building their own guitar effect pedals. The class is broken down into two main sections: the electronics, and the mechanical box construction and assembly. In the A2 Electrinics & Robotics shop, students will gain hands on experience in the assembly and learn effective soldering techniques of through-hole electronics components onto printed circuit boards. They will be introduced to the behavior of a classic distortion circuit based on the famous RAT distortion pedal. This versatile circuit is capable of producing tones from mild over-drive to heavy distortion - bordering on fuzz. Use of electronics diagnostic equipment such as waveform generators and oscilloscopes will demosntrate how the circuit transforms the clean guitar signal into a tone monster!

For box construction - students will gain an orientation to the A2 machine shop. Students will learn different methods of how to precisely layout and safely (as well as professionally!) drill and deburr holes for controls, switches, jacks etc. into a classic stomp box shape used to construct boutique quality pedals. After students have successfully prepared their boxes, the instructor will then demonstrate the use of AA’s CNC Bridgeport style milling machine for the engraving of text onto the face of each powder coated pedal. There will also be a limited opportunity for customization of the pedal base with the students name etc. near the end of class if time is available.

After construction, each student will have the opportunity to test and hear their creation in the E&R shop!

The materials fee for this class is $50. This is separate from the ticket price and is to reimburse the instructor for any tools or materials used in this class. This will be paid once, directly to the instructor at the start of the first class meeting. This instructor accepts payments in cash or through Venmo.

Electronics:

• E& R safety practices
• Identify electronics components
• Basic soldering skills of components onto a PCB
• Introduction to electronic test equipment
• How to test functionality
• How to diagnose bad solder joints
• How the circuit works
• Observe signal tracing and transformation through the distortion circuit
• Ideas for circuit modification

Mechanical:

• Overview of AA machine shop
• AA Machine Shop safety practices
• Proper and safe setup of a drill press
• Determine the proper RPM for drilling into metal
• Specialized techniques for sheet metal drilling
• Layout techniques for precise hole location
• Cleanly deburring drilled holes for a professional finish
• DEMO of CNC milling machine for text engraving and customization

Distortion box electronics kit, painted aluminum stomp box

closed-toe shoes, no loose clothes, no jewelry, and hair tied back, if long hair, and bring your own safety glasses if you have them - for machine shop safety

Students must be 16 years old or older. All students under 18 must be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.

Learn more about our class and ticket cancelation policies here.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Artisan's Asylum, 96 Holton Street, Boston, United States