Hi. Just wanted to introduce myself. I've been messing with electronics since I got my first 50 in 1 electronics kit from Radio Shack in the 1970's. Now that I'm nearly 50 years old, I guess it's time to get serious. 
I've built a few things over the years. I started on a PAIA 5700 synth almost a decade ago ago but got sidetracked by the birth of my son, and the fact that only the LFO on my filter module worked. I'm finally ready to admit defeat and mail it back to PAIA for them to fix it. I just don't have the experience to debug such a complex circuit. At least my Midi to CV (sort of) works and my oscillator works perfectly. Just need to build the VCA now.
Recently I've built some pedals. A BYOC 250+, which worked and sounded great until I replaced the battery. Probably stopped working due to the fact that I used solid core wire. I plan on rewiring it soon. Need to build a test rig. Wish I'd known about them before I got started. I built a BYOC DS-1 clone, which I love due to the mods, especially the variable pre-gain for less distortion. I built a GGG Foxx Tone Machine and an Orange Squeezer. I love the FTM. Nasty and wonderful. Full on Fripp. I love finding intervals that work, or don't work in a cool way with the octave on. Nice. I think I wired it incorrectly. The octave won't engage by itself, but works when the fuzz is on. I'll get around to fixing it. I choose see all of my mistakes as an opportunity to learn instead of getting frustrated. I'm sure there's plenty of that to come.
Now I'm ready to move on to buying parts and boards, instead of kits. I'm excited about eventually etching my own boards (and enclosures).
I plan to build a couple of fuzz face clones. A germanium and a silicon, and a Zombii. I have a fantasy about putting 2 of those in one box. It will probably sound like Merzbow trying to learn guitar, but I approach effects as if they are musical instruments. Whenever I hear the term unusable, it just makes me want to bend the box to my will. I plan on buying many boards from ChromeSpereCom. His yootoob vids have been an incredible inspiration to me. He's so generous with his information. Seems like he must be a great guy.
I also want to build some more complex stuff. Including:
Stage Fright Phaser (if not 2. That Maestro is my favorite)
Lowrider
1776 Multiplex Delay
Musicpcb Meat Sphere
Some drone synths based on 555 chips and eventually some MFOS products and some more esoteric electromechanical stuff, but that's down the road. I just need to start in the best way.
Here are a couple of questions. questions you've heard before, I'm sure, but probably a little different. I am selling a couple of pieces of gear to finance this hobby and I'll have a budget of around $500 for parts, tools and PCBs. I have some basic tools, including a Tektronix 465M scope that a client gave to me. I know for sure that part of my budget is going to a Hakko soldering station and a new dmm. I have 4 of multimeters. None of which have a continuity or diode mode. I'd like a transistor tester too. So, after that I'll probably have $350 left.
My question is this: Should I buy part assortment kits to stock up on the stuff I'll always need, or should I buy parts for one project at a time?
Another question that will probably have eyes rolling all over the planet: I know that LEDs can be used for clipping. Can the LEDs in 7 segment LED's be used in the same way?
Thanks for reading this long post. I look forward to being a productive member of your community.
I've built a few things over the years. I started on a PAIA 5700 synth almost a decade ago ago but got sidetracked by the birth of my son, and the fact that only the LFO on my filter module worked. I'm finally ready to admit defeat and mail it back to PAIA for them to fix it. I just don't have the experience to debug such a complex circuit. At least my Midi to CV (sort of) works and my oscillator works perfectly. Just need to build the VCA now.
Recently I've built some pedals. A BYOC 250+, which worked and sounded great until I replaced the battery. Probably stopped working due to the fact that I used solid core wire. I plan on rewiring it soon. Need to build a test rig. Wish I'd known about them before I got started. I built a BYOC DS-1 clone, which I love due to the mods, especially the variable pre-gain for less distortion. I built a GGG Foxx Tone Machine and an Orange Squeezer. I love the FTM. Nasty and wonderful. Full on Fripp. I love finding intervals that work, or don't work in a cool way with the octave on. Nice. I think I wired it incorrectly. The octave won't engage by itself, but works when the fuzz is on. I'll get around to fixing it. I choose see all of my mistakes as an opportunity to learn instead of getting frustrated. I'm sure there's plenty of that to come.
Now I'm ready to move on to buying parts and boards, instead of kits. I'm excited about eventually etching my own boards (and enclosures).
I plan to build a couple of fuzz face clones. A germanium and a silicon, and a Zombii. I have a fantasy about putting 2 of those in one box. It will probably sound like Merzbow trying to learn guitar, but I approach effects as if they are musical instruments. Whenever I hear the term unusable, it just makes me want to bend the box to my will. I plan on buying many boards from ChromeSpereCom. His yootoob vids have been an incredible inspiration to me. He's so generous with his information. Seems like he must be a great guy.
I also want to build some more complex stuff. Including:
Stage Fright Phaser (if not 2. That Maestro is my favorite)
Lowrider
1776 Multiplex Delay
Musicpcb Meat Sphere
Some drone synths based on 555 chips and eventually some MFOS products and some more esoteric electromechanical stuff, but that's down the road. I just need to start in the best way.
Here are a couple of questions. questions you've heard before, I'm sure, but probably a little different. I am selling a couple of pieces of gear to finance this hobby and I'll have a budget of around $500 for parts, tools and PCBs. I have some basic tools, including a Tektronix 465M scope that a client gave to me. I know for sure that part of my budget is going to a Hakko soldering station and a new dmm. I have 4 of multimeters. None of which have a continuity or diode mode. I'd like a transistor tester too. So, after that I'll probably have $350 left.
My question is this: Should I buy part assortment kits to stock up on the stuff I'll always need, or should I buy parts for one project at a time?
Another question that will probably have eyes rolling all over the planet: I know that LEDs can be used for clipping. Can the LEDs in 7 segment LED's be used in the same way?
Thanks for reading this long post. I look forward to being a productive member of your community.