Hey guys! This is my first post here. It's nice to see some familiar people. :)
This is my first build with a Madbean board. Actually, it is my first build with a commercial PCB-- I usually like to do my own layouts and etch my own boards.
I wanted this to be a special build, so I used premium parts, like fancy-pants sausage resistors (mojo parts of the future!) and a 1590TRPB, which gave me a bit of extra space. I used KK-style connectors for the volume pot and the LEDs, which made it easy to stuff in the box. The build was easy enough, without much difficulty. I imagine it would be a bit more difficult in a 1590B, but probably not much.
There is a story behind this pedal. It is a tribute to my cat, who we had put down in December after 16 years. My brother originally adopted him in 1998, and named him Jerry Garcia. Our vet sent us a card, and inside the card was an inking of Jerry's paw. I decided to commemorate him by building a special pedal with an etch of his pawprint. The cat's name was Jerry Garcia, so I didn't have much of a choice but to build a Mu-tron III, something I have wanted to do since I first started building pedals back in 2009.
I present to you, the MEOW-TRON:
(http://www.justonemorebuild.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/meow-tron-front.jpg)
(http://www.justonemorebuild.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/meow-tron-guts.jpg)
I have only played it for a little while, but it sounds great. I am most impressed by the nice, even release. My previous experiments with LDR-based filters always had a glitchy release. This one is nice and smooth.
Mike
Your pedal is MELTING!
That's a cool story and a great build. Well done!
Really awesome!
Thanks. :)
I think I am going to polish the enclosure, and then flood the etch with some paint to add more contrast. Gonna keep it black and white, to match my kitty (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eaKjcdt-j_8/Ro8ge2qisrI/AAAAAAAAALQ/QVghSaeh0ao/s800/P8140039.JPG) (Jerry is the bottom one).
My wife (who plays bass) is really happy that I did it.
What a great way to remember a furry friend. They really do become part of the family. Very cool build as well!
Has your wife played it on bass yet?
Super awesome enclosure. Great looking etch also.
Cody
Quote from: thesameage on January 28, 2015, 06:35:26 PM
Has your wife played it on bass yet?
Nope, I finished it up after she went to bed, and we won't have a chance to play until tonight. I'm sure she will want to try it.
Report back, please!
I love every single thing about this!
Great pedal, and a nice story behind it.
OK, got to play it tonight on both guitar and bass. On guitar, it is everything you would expect. Since you asked about bass...
We used a Fender P Bass Jr, which is an MiM P bass in every way, but with a 29.6" scale. The amp was a Rumble 150 (I think, maybe it's a 100... it's big and loud). The most usable setting was LP, up, LO. In HP and BP, the signal was really thin. HP was particularly not good. BP had some effect, but I can't imagine it is usable without a clean blend. There were some interesting sounds to be had with the down option, but we both liked up much better. I couldn't find any usable sounds with the range set to HI, except in the LP mode.
Obviously, this is a sensitive effect that needs to be setup for each instrument. I think it is even more touchy with bass than with guitar. I built it for guitar, though, so I'm completely happy.
Mike
Awesome! Very creative use of the enclosure and nice etch to boot!
Very nice and cool build, fantastic! 8)
A truly meaningful etch for a great build.
Awesome build man! I would love to know where you got those LED covers though, I've been trying to find them but I don't know what to call it.
Quote from: rsampaio on January 29, 2015, 12:36:28 PM
Awesome build man! I would love to know where you got those LED covers though, I've been trying to find them but I don't know what to call it.
I think you can get those from Mklec. I've gotten similar ones from china on ebay as well.
Quote from: Mike on January 29, 2015, 04:14:43 AM
OK, got to play it tonight on both guitar and bass. On guitar, it is everything you would expect. Since you asked about bass...
We used a Fender P Bass Jr, which is an MiM P bass in every way, but with a 29.6" scale. The amp was a Rumble 150 (I think, maybe it's a 100... it's big and loud). The most usable setting was LP, up, LO. In HP and BP, the signal was really thin. HP was particularly not good. BP had some effect, but I can't imagine it is usable without a clean blend. There were some interesting sounds to be had with the down option, but we both liked up much better. I couldn't find any usable sounds with the range set to HI, except in the LP mode.
Obviously, this is a sensitive effect that needs to be setup for each instrument. I think it is even more touchy with bass than with guitar. I built it for guitar, though, so I'm completely happy.
Mike
Good to know... puts my experiences with my older madbean mutron clone into perspective. I wanted it to be really fat and full on bass, but maybe that's just not what it does.
Quote from: thesameage on January 29, 2015, 02:17:35 PM
Quote from: Mike on January 29, 2015, 04:14:43 AM
OK, got to play it tonight on both guitar and bass. On guitar, it is everything you would expect. Since you asked about bass...
We used a Fender P Bass Jr, which is an MiM P bass in every way, but with a 29.6" scale. The amp was a Rumble 150 (I think, maybe it's a 100... it's big and loud). The most usable setting was LP, up, LO. In HP and BP, the signal was really thin. HP was particularly not good. BP had some effect, but I can't imagine it is usable without a clean blend. There were some interesting sounds to be had with the down option, but we both liked up much better. I couldn't find any usable sounds with the range set to HI, except in the LP mode.
Obviously, this is a sensitive effect that needs to be setup for each instrument. I think it is even more touchy with bass than with guitar. I built it for guitar, though, so I'm completely happy.
Mike
Good to know... puts my experiences with my older madbean mutron clone into perspective. I wanted it to be really fat and full on bass, but maybe that's just not what it does.
It really needs a clean blend for bass. Like the Meatball. Even in LP it can't get as fat like the Moog LPF.
Thanks for the nice comments, guys. :)
Here are the exact LED holders that I use:
5mm clear - http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=CLB300CTPvirtualkey59300000virtualkey593-3000C
3mm clear - http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=SMB200CTPvirtualkey59300000virtualkey593-2000C
I also like using these:
5mm GLO - http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=CLB300GLOvirtualkey59300000virtualkey593-3000GLO
5mm GLO (raised lens) - http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=CLF280GLOvirtualkey59300000virtualkey593-2800GLO
The 5mm ones are really nice and easy to use. They fit in a perfect 1/4" hole, so drilling is a snap. They are sealed from the top, so moisture can't seep in through the LED mount. The LEDs are held in place by friction, although you can buy retaining clips for extra security. The Fresnel lenses expand the viewing angle of the LED.
Here (https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/559x419q90/r/52/phaserangle.jpg) (assuming it loads) is one of my builds with a GLO lens, which are quite nice. They are translucent white, with a Fresnel lens under the top. The raised lens one has the best viewing angle out of any LED holder I've seen.
Mike
Smallbear as well:
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/led-lenses-low-profile-5mm-plastic/
sweet finishing dude, ultra clean guts too
Thank you for the reply on the bezel guys!