DIY kits?

[wstephens]

I'm a newbie. There I said it.  The biggest problem I have is learning about all of the componenents.  I've checked out a couple of books to learn about electronics and have some basic understanding now.

What I want to know is why doesn't anyone sell DIY kits for some of the typical popular effects?  I see that this Korean site (http://www.sonixtech.co.kr) does.  Their TS 9 ends up costing about $37.  Fuzz Face is $19.  I would buy that if it were in the US. I would just have to get a box.

I see that Small Bear has a few.   Does anyone else do this?

[guitarhacknoise]

hey,
these might not be the typical "popular" kits but c.a. goes way back!
get the book and a tube sound distortion kit and go!
plenty of mods and different versions of that project
   
      http://www.paia.com/epfm.htm

[petemoore]

What is it  you want to build?
 Your'e best bet is to get the parts online.
 SB makes this very easy, have you seen the online shopping cart?
 Just print the bill of materials text [Guitar Effects Projects has these] or write your own off of the schematic...
 I could put you a kit together but I'd charge you...and it would take more time with two mailings to wait for...
 Email me if you're interested
               petemoore59@hotmail.com    
     ...or private message me

[cd]

If you're a total newbie, your best bet is to pick up a copy of Craig Anderton's "Electronic Projects for Musicians", and maybe "DIY Projects for Guitarists".  The former is written for beginners, and explains all the parts in detail and how they work together, with lots of diagrams.

The problem with a kit IMHO is that once you have a bit of knowledge, they become really, really redundant.  Spend 30 minutes (or less) at Digikey.com or Mouser.com and you can have all your parts together.

[GreenEye]

With places like generalguitargadgets.com (GGG) and smallbearelec.com, they've got all the ready-to-solder boards and components you'll ever need.  GGG has a multitude of effects, many with boards ready to go - more than I'll ever have time to build.  I just got one of his PCB boards and it was really well done.  As I'm getting into this, I see that the "popular" pedals can often be overshadowed by the creations of some of the people that post on this very site: Brown Sound in a Box, Blue Magic, Tube Reamer, the list goes on and on.  I get a lot of my parts at my local electronic stores (Radio Shack, Circuit Specialists, and Antique Audio Supply).  I don't think I'd like a kit as much.  For example, I like mouser's molded plastic battery holders as opposed to just the little snap-and-wire that most people seem to use.  I also found some super-bright LEDs on ebay for super cheap, right from the factory.  If you want a kit, I'd go with one of Small Bear's.  Tubesandmore.com also has what appears to be a Rat kit, called the Rattler.

[aron]

The grandDaddy of them all

http://paia.com/

[troubledtom]

www.commonsound.com
    peace,
       -tom

[Fret Wire]

http://www.bigtonemusic.com/CloneMainPage.html

[GreenEye]

That ain't a bad price at all on Big Tone's Rangemaster clone.

I forgot to give props to Aron for his wonderfully priced foot switches!  Get 'em while they're hot.

[wstephens]

All,

Thanks for all of the info.  I guess it's just time to get off of my ass and do it.