How To Wire A Guitar Pedal DC Power Jack
June 26, 2024Although it’s important to correctly place and solder in every guitar pedal component, at the end of any pedal build, perhaps the most important thing to get right is wiring the power supply. Sure, there are passive pedals out there that don’t require a power supply, but most of what you’re building is going to […]
Should I Make Guitar Pedals On Stripboard Or PCBs?
June 18, 2024Whether you’re new to making guitar pedals, or if you have a few builds already under your belt, you’re probably wondering about the best way to pursue the hobby. One easy way to start building guitar pedals is building then on PCBs (printed circuit boards). You can often get a guitar pedal PCB kit for […]
What Is Stripboard And How Do You Read Layouts?
June 13, 2024Also called Veroboard, stripboard was originally made for prototyping electronic circuits. It’s still called Veroboard a lot because it was originally made by a company called Vero Technologies, but a lot of people (like me) use the generic name stripboard. Stripboard is made of a non-conductive top layer where you place your components and a […]
What Is A PCB?
PCB stands for “printed circuit board,” and that’s pretty much what it is. Using special printers, all connections needed between components are created and the holes needed or each component are also put in place. In this way, all that’s needed to build a guitar pedal (or whatever you’re making) is to populate the PCB […]
How To Wire 6.35mm (1/4″) Socket
June 4, 2024Before launching into this quick article on how to wire a 6.35 mm socket, I’m going to tare the band-aid off and talk vernacular. The thing pictured here goes by many names: 1/4 inch jack or socket if you live in the U.S.A. 6.35 mm jack or socket if you live anywhere else. Guitar jack […]
Potentiometer Wiring: How To Wire A Potentiometer
May 20, 2024Potentiometers are an electronics component that are essentially used as variable resistors in guitar pedals and other electronics. I have an article on how potentiometers work and the different types if you want more information, but if you’re already pretty familiar with potentiometers but need information on how to wire them, you’re in the right […]
How To Wire A Guitar Pedal Foot Switch (3PDT)
April 24, 2024The typical foot switch for a guitar pedal, the 3PDT, is a component that goes into pretty much every single guitar pedal. It’s needed to turn the guitar pedal off an on. Well, in actual fact, it’s needed to swap the signal from bypassing the pedal’s circuit to going through the guitar pedal’s circuit. It […]
Ultimate Guide To Transistors In Guitar Pedals: What They Do And How They Work
January 20, 2024Table Of Contents: What Is A Transistor? How Do Transistors Work? Clipping Transistors In Guitar Pedals What Are The Different Kinds Of Transistors Used In Guitar Pedals? What Is A Transistor? Transistors have a variety of applications in electronics, not just in creating guitar pedals. While the use of transistors in guitar pedals is relatively […]
Ultimate Guide To Potentiometers In Guitar Pedals: What They Do And How They Work
Table Of Contents: What Is A Potentiometer? How Does A Potentiometer Work? Types Of Potentiometers Used In guitar Pedals Linear Versus Logarithmic Potentiometers How Are Potentiometers Measured? What Do Potentiometers Do In A Guitar Pedal? What Is A Potentiometer? Firstly, if you haven’t read my guide to resistors in guitar pedals, I highly suggest you […]
Ultimate Guide To Diodes In Guitar Pedals: What They Do And How They Work
Table Of Contents What Is A Diode? How Do Diodes Work? Clipping Diodes In Guitar Pedals Diodes In Series What Are The Different Kinds Of Diodes? Choosing The Right Diode For A Guitar Pedal What Is A Diode? A diode is a semiconductor that behaves a lot like a resistor, except it also doesn’t. That’s […]