DIY Instrument Mods & Circuit Bending Projects
This is the “Master Links” thread. It will be edited and cleaned up periodically to keep everything in an easy-to-find order on one page. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed links and information! We appreciate your involvement and sharing of information.
Free symbols for schematic drawing:
http://www.mitedu.freeserve.co.uk/Prac/symbol.htm
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Pedal Projects and Information:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/schematics.html
AMZ Free Effects Projects
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com
http://www.geocities.com/diygescorp/
http://topopiccione.atspace.com/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/thetonegod/
http://www.olcircuits.com/olckits.html
Dennis Havlena instrument building info
http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com
http://www.geocities.com/overdrivespider
Effects Parts Suppliers:
http://www.effectsconnection.com
Banzai Effects - Parts source in Europe
More parts retailers:
http://www.tubesandmore.com/ - Vacuum tubes
http://www.apexjr.com - Surplus electronics
http://www.angela.com/ - Vacuum tubes & amp parts
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/
http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/ - Speaker Building
http://circuitspecialists.com/
http://www.allelectronics.com/
Stewart MacDonald tools and parts
Has some good, easy tutorials on how to mod the TS7 to TS808 specs, and a few other mods. Includes some nice closeup pictures of the circuit board, and shows which components to swap out. Good stuff!
http://www.dominocs.com/ToneWorks/shop.html#pedals
Cheap wah pots, vactrols, and other goodies: http://www.bgmicro.com/
Some good surplus deals: http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
Odds and ends: http://www.debcoelectronics.com/
http://www.mimf.com - Instrument-making Forum
http://www.frets.com - Guitar repair how-to’s.
http://www.lmii.com - Luthier’s Mercantile
Here’s one for you DIY refinishers: http://www.reranch.com
Experimental Musical Instruments
Misc. DIY:
http://www.stf-electronics.com
http://www.harmonicappliances.com
GuitarNuts - Lots of useful guitar wiring tips, tips for amp design etc.
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/casey4s
http://paulrubyamplification.com/info.html
http://www.projectguitar.com - guitar building
http://www.mimf.com - Good forum, offer online classes that are very high quality.
http://www.frets.com - Guitar Repair Superhero how-to’s. Very nice guy, good about answering questions.
http://www.lmii.com - Luthier’s Mercantile: Kind of an upscale Stew Mac. Great wood selection. Their “catalog” is a great how-to book in and of itself, buy it for $20 and keep it forever. They just release new price lists every year.
E-bay can be a great resource, old transistors, pots, and other cool bits. Sometimes the costs are more than from other suppliers, sometimes not, you have to watch what you are bidding on. And never forget http://www.arrl.org , check the link for hamfests. These are used electronics fleamarkets. Often you can get the greatest scores at these.
Some Links to Safety Info:
I recommend everyone who is considering a DIY amp project or trying their hand at mods or repairs read the Tube Amp Safety Info at Drifter Amps
Also, there is a good article on shock hazards we all face when playing through electrified instruments and why we should NEVER EVER defeat the ground lug on a piece of equipment at Guitar Nuts.