tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46559635642688451892011-10-06T12:38:15.540-04:00A blog of the custom pedal projects completed by Joshua from www.fxdoctor.com.FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-40370040929932709172011-03-04T15:23:00.002-05:002011-03-04T15:26:14.204-05:00

I've decided to move the fxdoctor.com website and the blog over to a different service. You can find a link to the new blog on the main page of the fxdoctor website or click here for a direct link. As of today this blogger account will no longer be updated.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-16005627468080343282011-03-02T15:00:00.003-05:002011-03-02T15:07:41.033-05:00

Occasionally I'll have a request for a Boss pedal to be modded to the point where components will no longer fit into the stock casing. Some people prefer the stompswitch rather than Boss' switch design. Sometimes we just want a discrete or unique looking pedal that doesn't look like every other pedal out there. The predrilled casing pictured above allows for a quick turn around time. This one

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-76483998318003022592011-02-04T09:11:00.004-05:002011-02-04T09:38:32.259-05:00

MXR recently released a copy of their "script logo" Phase 90. This new version is far more accurate to the original than the standard Phase 90. This includes the six opamps instead of two or three in the reissues, full size potentiometer, jacks not mounted directly to the circuit board, and the infamous MXR foam cradle holding the circuit board in place. MXR stuck to the vintage theme and left

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-63340767900253680172011-01-07T16:06:00.002-05:002011-01-07T16:20:13.090-05:00

So after coming across two rare (and original) MN3005 analog delay chips I realized that they had to be put to use. The pedal above is based on the Boss DM-2 analog delay. Some improvements include upgraded opamps, better quality capacitors, and true bypass switching. Now if only I could find a white footswitch...

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-66413021233837913922010-11-19T17:15:00.003-05:002010-11-19T21:30:28.827-05:00

Here's a first run of a square wave tap tempo tremolo design. We're keeping it simple. One LED to flash the rate, one to show when the pedal is activated. The knob controls the depth. Left switch is on/off, right is to tap the tempo. Runs on 9VDC only so no battery. This is available on the fxdoctor.com specials page for $100. Future runs of this pedal may be built.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-79026210961349474342010-11-07T01:50:00.002-04:002010-11-07T01:21:40.033-05:00

This recent build was for Liam from Yellowbirddd looking for a great-sounding reverb and tremolo. The plan was to keep it simple for ease of use and to save space while traveling. The tremolo has depth and rate controls, the reverb has volume and tone controls. I'm surprised more reverb pedals (and delay pedals) don't have a high cut control to better match an overly bright guitar or amp.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-90199469208307494522010-10-11T11:26:00.001-04:002010-10-11T11:39:31.084-04:00

Here's another Cease.transmission prototype this time without an LED to prolong battery life. Same internal circuitry as the original model just with the addition of a volume knob. Currently posted on the Specials page for $75.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-342299459423221892010-10-09T16:01:00.001-04:002010-10-09T16:04:27.847-04:00

The latest addition to the deluxe prototype is the volume knob. There are two more prototypes planned until the actual retail model is released in a few months. This one is still available for the previously posted price of $90. Check out the Specials link on the fxdoctor home page to see if it's still available.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-29920529591413799062010-10-07T23:13:00.000-04:002010-10-07T23:17:09.616-04:00

Here's a recent project to put a Kustom '72 Coupe footswitch into a (much) smaller casing. I like the utilitarian look and the recessed LEDs should provide years of carefree service.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-65498572501753756462010-10-01T01:05:00.001-04:002010-10-01T01:20:01.921-04:00

The cease.transmission was originally developed to be a quirky noise maker for studio and DJ use. Eventually guitar players started snatching them up but quickly found that since the original model doesn't have an input jack that it is difficult to add to their pedalboards. This prototype was designed to fix that problem. The input and output jacks are setup in the same location as most

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-59601208703041282082010-09-11T12:00:00.001-04:002010-09-11T12:20:23.312-04:00

Here's an update from last year's post regarding my setup. I finally picked up "The Pedalhead" from NYC Pedalboards so here's the new layout. This is the final layout although I plan on changing a few things. The plan is:Modded Vox wah (standard overhaul/ true bypass)Dual Scalpel & Temporary Mute for TU-12 tuner    (Artwork borrowed from the incredible Daniel Danger)FXdoctor OverdriveBig Muff

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-22113777805785041792010-08-22T12:37:00.000-04:002010-08-22T12:41:02.422-04:00

Something about the mechanical needle on the TU-12 tuner just works better than the LED indicators. I find myself using the TU-12 over any other tuner but on a dark stage it can be irritating to deal with. Here is a simple mod to add an LED inside to illuminate the needle. You can see how much extra light there is on the right side of the display where the LED was installed.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-8763315090144554232010-08-19T21:18:00.000-04:002010-08-19T21:27:51.639-04:00

This post is for you serious pedal geeks. A common mod for the Danecho is to use a better input buffer to prevent signal loading and retain the clarity. In an attempt to show visually what is actually happening I ran a white noise generator into a frequency analyzer. The image below shows the graphs of first what the white noise looks like, and second what it looks like when run through the

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-65651593546142587122010-08-07T16:15:00.001-04:002010-08-07T19:18:44.304-04:00

Here's an old Cutec flanger which was modified to add a bypass switch for the LFO. This means instead of the swooshing sound the toggle switch allows you to stop the sweep wherever you'd like. It gives all sorts of filtered and metallic tones. The Depth, Manual, and Color switch function in both modes while the Speed control only works in the stock mode. This modification is available for all

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-48342467926503202372010-06-25T17:53:00.000-04:002010-06-25T18:01:27.940-04:00

So I'm sure most of my readers are off preparing for a show since it's a Friday evening, but I'm going to start offering free mod giveaways through this blog. I like to test my new modifications on as many people as possible, and what better way than to offer them for free to my readers. You send your pedal, I mod it and send it back, you tell me your favorite settings.So here we go, the update

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-37424731512339605862010-06-13T00:02:00.000-04:002010-06-13T00:06:50.100-04:00

This is a hand held noise maker which is a smaller version of the Monster Face Organ posted a few months back. Same sound but with only 5 user selectable frequencies. Limited runs will be available at $80 each.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-50547437690247135282010-06-01T15:56:00.000-04:002010-06-01T17:32:19.318-04:00

So if you saw the previous entry you may be wondering what the pedal looks like and get some more details on it. The one pictured above is the first completed prototype that will be for sale. The final controls (as of now) are Intensity (amplitude), Range, and Rate. A few advantages over some vintage Sample-Hold Filters:1. Low noise and updated ICs.2. Runs on a single 9V source thanks to a

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-59486037369965420632010-05-30T20:29:00.000-04:002010-05-30T20:50:14.536-04:00

The Metatron is a project I've been working on for years but never had time to complete. In the video I am using a nearly completed version of the most recent prototype. The pedal is based on the Maestro Filter Sample/Hold pedal which has been discontinued years ago. While sonically they may be similar, the signal path is 100% original and in no way a copy of the Maestro. You can expect

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-49304893809116240762010-05-19T20:59:00.001-04:002010-05-19T21:03:28.583-04:00

Here a second pair of MIDI and power jacks were installed. This allows for every square inch of pedalboard real estate to be used efficiently without needing to change the orientation of the pedal.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-11431321575135799562010-04-22T07:55:00.001-04:002010-04-22T07:57:54.755-04:00

These devices are certainly unique but the fact that they mount directly to your instrument isn't acceptable for many guitarists. Here is a rehousing with the addition of a DC jack and a volume control. The layout allows room for a bypass footswitch to be added in the future if needed.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-8709812055615369582010-02-12T14:34:00.000-05:002010-02-12T14:40:10.334-05:00

In an effort to improve the 8-Bit fuzz (and possibly make it Bass guitar friendly) I started working on this prototype. The knobs are as follow: thickness selector, gain, input bias, - cut, + cut, feedback recovery, volume, and a focus switch. Expect to see add-on options for the 8-Bit Fuzz in the future. Controls to adjust the amount of glitch (sonic stability control) and to increase the

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-12093539817602840902010-02-03T14:23:00.000-05:002010-02-03T14:30:09.330-05:00

After speaking with a client he requested that his tone generator be rehoused from its cigar box into a steel napkin dispenser. The difficult part was fitting everything into a smaller face while clearing the internal springs of the napkin dispenser. This is what I received to work with:A quick scan and some measurements of the internals gave me a layout that would be acceptable. This involved

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-80627176391708981532010-01-24T14:50:00.000-05:002010-05-30T20:28:56.511-04:00

Here's a quick rehousing to fix a few issues with the Blue Icicle, an XLR to USB adapter. This rehousing puts the jacks at the back and controls on front which is important for keeping cables under control. The mic jack was upgraded with a solid metal one. The knob is easier to access and visualize the actual position. The power LED and phantom power LED are now separate. The metal casing is

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-87723858667693225382009-12-17T21:31:00.000-05:002009-12-17T21:36:35.642-05:00

Finally an update of a device posted a few weeks back. $150.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-75157268438027973992009-12-15T15:16:00.001-05:002009-12-15T15:22:43.100-05:00

Confused about True Bypass and why you may want it? Here's some information:Mechanical bypass is a method of physically switching the signal. Above is a diagram showing a common method of bypass switching found in older Electro Harmonix pedals, wahs, and various other pedals. The signal is always connected to the input of the effect's circuitry which loads down the signal. This can cause

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-84327326144829635382009-11-24T12:35:00.001-05:002009-11-24T12:39:06.557-05:00

Fragile, unprotected sliders inches from a footswitch is a recipe disaster; especially on a dark stage. A simple roll cage setup allows access to the sliders while protecting from falling mics, inaccurate feet, and wandering pedals. Going rate is $30 installed and DIY kits are available for $20 by emailing us.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-19578899287598915212009-11-23T20:25:00.000-05:002009-11-23T20:27:45.236-05:00

Surprisingly this pedal was still function despite the significant damage done to the circuit board and part of the power supply circuit.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-25184305270391560742009-11-23T10:34:00.001-05:002009-11-23T10:44:36.857-05:00

Upgrading opamps for better sound quality is very common request. The commonly used (and dirt cheap) JRC4558 may be popular for Tubescreamers but is not be ideal for circuits when you want the most transparent sound. Burr-Brown and other companies make excellent chips to retain sonic fidelity. Above is a photo of their surface mount chip which was used to upgrade the signal path in an EHX

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-50984898410064628412009-11-12T20:06:00.000-05:002009-11-12T20:09:45.296-05:00

I'm not sure what exactly inspired this, but it's a 10 note sine wave generator giving you all sorts of beeps. The fun part is that each button's frequency can be adjusted and playing more than one at a time gives entirely different frequencies. Videos to be posted when time permits. $150

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-46134987943439660122009-09-28T02:29:00.000-04:002009-09-28T02:30:46.680-04:00

Limited run available. Gray empty housing- order your own circuit. Green channel switcher- $65. Blue tap tempo or volume mute- $65.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-31149748993191224402009-09-27T20:18:00.001-04:002009-09-27T20:28:57.127-04:00

Over the years a very common complain has been musicians accidentally bumping their knobs and having to worry about unexpected setting changes. These new rubberized covers cover the shaft and threads to add some resistance when adjusting your settings. Great for touring musicians that don't want to check each setting every time their gear is carelessly moved by band mates. Also a clean looking

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-47450251630890597022009-08-27T20:07:00.000-04:002009-08-27T20:13:41.282-04:00

This has been an on going project which I think finally came to an end. It was a distortion/phase pedal but you couldn't select the effects separately. I added the center switch to control the phaser separate from the distortion. I converted each effect to true bypass and added LEDs. The far right footswitch ramps up or down the rate of the phaser. It's a great idea but difficult to follow

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-9980076449765983892009-07-27T01:45:00.000-04:002009-07-27T01:54:09.533-04:00

New bass preamp in the works- designed for anyone that wants the tone of a bass with active pickups but without the hassle of having the system installed. The design is based on a vintage Music Man StingRay. The prototype pictured has Volume, Bass, and Treble knobs, 9V adapter jack, and a bright blue jewel light when powered up. The pedal above is available for $80, the production model is

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-26512606897535048532009-07-06T15:30:00.000-04:002009-07-22T20:01:20.291-04:00

Here's a custom fuzz similar to the 8-Bit fuzz. More gain and has a tighter low end with better clarity for chord work. Hand painted by a local artist. True bypass with a bright blue LED and a volume control. $140

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-10280946163928911302009-06-29T15:56:00.000-04:002009-06-29T16:01:50.303-04:00

Here's an excellent example of a well-used Ibanez AD-9. When received the repeat knob was about the break off, the dry signal was cutting out, and the footswitch was intermittent. The owner also requested a true bypass mod which is a bit more complicated by the limited space inside the pedal and the dry output jack (separates the dry and wet signal when used). After some careful planning this

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-15020015124149870482009-06-21T15:13:00.001-04:002009-06-21T15:17:16.891-04:00

I just thought I'd share part of the newest ad campaign that we'll be running. It actually started out as a joke due to my compulsion for organizing. I think it came out exactly how I had pictured it. Now it's time to figure out where to print these.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-39564544071177103622009-06-16T12:37:00.000-04:002009-06-16T12:42:15.406-04:00

This is for everyone that runs a vintage Fender amp using RCA jacks. Long cable runs can pick up noise and the lack of LEDs can be annoying. This adapter kit uses relays to switch the tremolo/reverb. This model is available for $60.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-63721109498669358252009-06-15T12:28:00.000-04:002009-06-15T12:31:57.639-04:00

Well that's a tentative name for the pedal, but this is a noise generator that I made about 4 years ago while living in western Massachusetts. The updated version posted here has two frequency control knobs and a volume knob on the left side. This creates its own sound so the guitar input is only there for convenience for live use. Just plug it into your chain and you can run it through your

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-64187590164210656452009-06-11T17:04:00.000-04:002009-06-16T12:43:51.099-04:00

Just a quick one in candy red- surprisingly a close match to the RC-20XL. The LEDs are always on and turn off when the footswitch is pressed. Makes it easy to find on a dark stage.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-22393454909266713812009-06-09T21:15:00.000-04:002009-06-09T21:25:53.735-04:00

One of the most common questions is what actually makes it onto my pedalboard from the massive amount of pedals I've owned over the years. Here's a current snapshot of my rig- the board on the left is mainly for practice, the right is my main rig for shows:1. Vox wah - vocal mod, midrange, California mod, Fasel inductor, true bypass2. MXR dyna comp- dying battery mod, hi-fi mod3. EHX Big Muff

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655963564268845189.post-11051107460363899982009-06-09T17:31:00.000-04:002009-06-09T17:36:03.131-04:00

I recently decided to start blogging about some of the projects that we at FXdoctor are commissioned to assemble. Some of these posts will be restorations, custom-builds, prototypes, and repairs. The blog will be much easier to update in a timely manner and will allow the readers to give any constructive criticism. The input from customers is what helps inspire and refine our designs.

FX Doctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14139149291691697016noreply@blogger.com