Tee-hee - - - cameo.

Pot Maintainence: Before & After

The Victim: used Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz
The Culprit: hair, dust, dirt, and grease stuck in slider pots
The Solution: WD40/rubbing alcohol + cotton swabs and toothpicks












bye

Fuzz: The Sound That Revolutionized the World

A very interesting documentary on the popularity of fuzz pedals, DIY noise culture, and the resurgence of the boutique pedal market including an intimate view into Death By Audio Factory/Showspace, and interviews with ZVEX, analogman, and Robert Keeley.

stream here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x79gto_fuzz-01_music

DIY resources

I have been spending a lot of time on the web searching through DIY resources lately (there is no lack of them) so I'll list some of the better links I've found down below. Extreme linkage to follow:

Components stores (just say no to radio shack)
futurelec: http://www.futurlec.com/index.shtml (best prices on resistors, 2-3 wk shipping)
smallbear: http://www.smallbearelec.com/StoreFront.bok (2nd best prices, bigger audio selection)
diystompboxes: http://www.diystompboxes.com/zencart/ (best deal on switches)

Full Kits/instructions/schematics/etc
General Guitar Gadgets: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/ (free instructions if you already have the parts, also sells full kits and/or ready to solder PCBs)
BYOC: http://www.buildyourownclone.com/ (ask allen)
diyStompboxes forums: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/ (awesome forum + parts store)
experimentalists anonymous: http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/index.php?dir=Schematics (schematics for every pedal known to man, and forums)
tonepad: http://www.tonepad.com/ (free layouts, they sell ready to solder PCBs too)
4ms pedals: http://4mspedals.com/ (advanced expensive shit. free layouts + kits for sale. each pedal has like 20+ knobs)

Commercial Modding
BossAREA: http://www.bossarea.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=10 (best BOSS mod reference, and great BOSS history site with every BOSS pedal every made)
analogman: http://www.buyanalogman.com/ (he will fix your pedals)
keeley: http://www.robertkeeley.com/home.php (that compressor dude, but he does a ton of other mods too like the ds-1 mod)
Death by Audio: http://www.deathbyaudio.net/ (not mods but the sickest noise makers you will find)

I'm waiting for parts, but once I get everything I'll be embarking on a few adventures of my own:
1) Adding a feedback loop to my DD-3 delay (each repeat adds more of the looped effect, flanger/chorus/whatever pedal/etc)
2) Shin-ei companion fuzz fy-2 clone, the harshest noisiest fuzz ever created...see jesus and mary chain psychocandy.
3) DBA total sonic annihilation clone: saving myself 200 bucks on what seems like a great beginner project.

-guess