How to build and Use a Basic Testing Rig

[Bret608]

Hey, I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction here--I've been using one of these basic rigs for more than a year now. However, for the first time I've tried hooking a PNP fuzz up to it, and one powered by a battery no less. Can someone tell me what would be the right way to do this? I had gone with the reversed power and ground leads method before. It worked but the circuit didn't sound its best. So now, I have only the in and out leads from the box attached and have the battery taking care of power and ground duties. Is that incorrect? I'm only getting clean signal through. As this won't be the last PNP fuzz I build, I thought it'd be good to nail down a good methodology now.

[danwelsh]

Hey Jacob thanks for the post.....just one question. Can one use a plastic enclosure for a test rig?

[jkokura]

In theory, you can, you just need to make sure that everything that needs to be grounded gets all connected up. It won't be shielded, but in reality, the circuit is outside the enclosure anyway, so it doesn't need to be metal.

Jacob

[das234]

I built mine in a wooden cigar box and it works fine.  Just had to add a jumper wire to complete the ground connection.

[danwelsh]

I built mine in a wooden cigar box and it works fine.  Just had to add a jumper wire to complete the ground connection.

From sleeve to sleeve right?

[das234]

Correct

[Cortexturizer]

[Cortexturizer]

How have I ever lived without one is beyond me.
It should be a pre-requisit for joining the forum I think hehe.

[jimilee]

I see your problem, your test rig isn't plugged in to the ac!

[AntKnee]

I had some time waiting on parts to arrive and paint to dry, so, threw together a test rig of my own. I used a DOD enclosure from a pedal that is basically trash. Bondoed up the holes and made a few new ones and bam!

[skadogg]

That's a pretty sweet testing rig. I really need to build one for myself.

For some reason I had to figure out what that image was. It's Mr. Spray. Nice one!

[danwelsh]

For signal for probing.....could a guy wire a headphone plug to a 1/4" guitar plug and use that on the input while connecting headphone one to smartphone, iPod, cd player or whatever plays music that has a headphone jack....hit play and probe away?

[jkokura]

In theory, yes. However, you will probably do better with some sort of amplifier on your output to properly amp the signal to audible levels.

Could it work in a jam? Yes. Is it best practice? Most definitely not.

Jacob

[danwelsh]

In theory, yes. However, you will probably do better with some sort of amplifier on your output to properly amp the signal to audible levels.

Could it work in a jam? Yes. Is it best practice? Most definitely not.

Jacob

I should have been a little more clear on my post.....I meant use the homemade headphone patch cord for the input instead of the guitar and my amp as the output(like normal)

[jkokura]

Ah yes, I see what you mean now. I misunderstood earlier.

So if you're saying...

ipod > headphone out > effect in

then

audio probe > Amplifier

Then yes, that should work. Is it best practice? Not really. Should be a guitar level signal hitting the effect to get the best result.

Jacob