Electric Guitar Setup Guides - know your axe!!!

I'm just a guy, but... I strongly believe anyone who plays a guitar (or any instrument) should understand how it is put together and how it should be maintained in order to get the most out of it.  Whether you need to upkeep your "billion dollar most significant other for life" or the cheap little Strat copy you found in a garbage bin, you should know what you're working with.
There are obvious, hugely impressive differences (which I won't get into details about here) between $5000 "custom shop" guitars and $300 lower quality, mass production starter types, but the truth is, most of us can only afford the latter.  Fear not, however, dear slinger!  The possibility to transform a "cheap" mass produced guitar into your own customized battle-axe of the gods lies in the ability to properly set up, upgrade (if necessary) and maintain your guitar to achieve it's highest level of performance.  The best part is, there are people (lots) on the www that provide guidance, tips and expertise on how to get 'er done.
Before you begin, you'll need to know what all the parts are for and how they can be tailored, within their limitations, to suit your needs.  For the most part, lower end guitars are copies or similar style versions of Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters.  By this I'm referring to the bridge types, nuts, tuning pegs, pickups, electronics, bodies and neck types.  If you learn about the basics for each of these three guitar types, you'll be able to confidently setup almost any guitar - whatever quality - which can upgrade your axe from completely useless to incredibly amazing.  (There are exceptions where more complicated hardware and electronics are used - i.e.: Bigsby Vibratos and Floyd Rose tremolos, etc...)

Here are some links from the "big guys" I use most which I think are both very useful and educational:

Really basic starting point: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/parts-of-an-electric-guitar.html

Gibson style guitars with tun-o-matic bridges: http://www2.gibson.com/Support/Tech-Tips/Basic-Guitar-Setup.aspx (there are also links at the bottom of this page to very useful resources)

Fender Stratocaster types: http://www.fender.com/en-CA/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

Fender Telecaster types: http://www.fender.com/en-CA/support/articles/telecaster-setup-guide

Other Fender guitar types (Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Mustang, etc...):  http://www.fender.com/support/articles/fender-guitar-setup-guide

For Bigsby Vibratos: http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/products/vibratos

Floyd Rose tremolos: http://www.floydrose.com/catalog/tremolos

For pickup height adjustments there are too many opinions mostly because it depends on what guitar the pickups are in, the types of strings on the guitar, electronics and the personal preference for the type of sound you're after.  Most pickup and custom guitar part manufacturers do offer guidelines on their websites so check them out.

Once again, hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Thanks!!! - DDM

The Resurrection of the Blog

It's getting cold, which means - TIME TO RESURRECT THE BLOG!!!!!!
It's been a long time since the last post here but that doesn't mean I haven't been up to anything or haven't discovered anything new and amazing worth sharing, I've just not been so "bloggy" the last little (long!) while.  Anyhow, I'm back and will commence the posting just in time for hibernation - uh, I mean WINTER - so stay tuned!!!!

DIY Effects Pedal Resources

When people see effect pedals that I've built for myself, the first thing they ask is "how did you build it?".  Well, if you're a "not-even-close-to-being-a-pro" DIY pedal geek like me, you'll know that building even a simple boost or fuzz circuit can be a frustrating task.  From sourcing the layout and materials to actually putting the thing together, it can be quite the project.

There are a lot of people DIY'ing effects devices nowadays and there is so much info out there on the internet, but some of it is either too advanced for me or not useful at all.  So, for those of you interested, I've gathered some links to sites and pages I've come to rely on for planning and building pedals which may also be useful to you.

It took a lot of time and effort (read: "a lot of mistakes") to find the right resources for me, based on my ability (how easy the info is to follow), how consistently available the info is and how reliable the info is (nothing worse than reading someone's instructions and then realizing, after going slightly insane from confusion, that they don't know what they're talking about!).

Anyhow, here's a list of the typical project steps I take and links which apply to each:

1. Learn the basics (and a whole lot more):  http://www.geofex.com/effxfaq/fxfaq.htm - The Best info starting point


2. Finding an effect you'd love to build:  http://www.effectsdatabase.com - just about every pedal I've ever heard of and links to samples and information.


3. Finding a Vero layout for the effect:  There are a few different sites but this is my fav: http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.ca - as per the site, "...a collection of vero and tagboard guitar and bass effect layouts that we have put together covering all of the classic and popular effects in ever growing numbers."  (http://www.sabrotone.com is also pretty cool but not as extensive).


4. Sourcing the parts:  http://www.a1parts.com, http://www.sayal.com, http://www.activesurplus.com - the best spots I've found in the GTA, however you can buy components online from a gazillion dealers...


5.  Construction: http://www.sabrotone.com/?page_id=386 and http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.ca/2012/04/vero-build-guide.html - both great guides but Sabrotone wins because of the extra info and details.

Additional info if you (like me) require more detailed or visual explanations:

Wiring diagrams and details:  http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/thoughts/wiring-up-a-1590b - great guide; http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring - great diagram; http://www.sabrotone.com/?page_id=3451 - more options.

Components, guides and info:

1. Resistor colour code guide: http://www.bpesolutions.com/atechnical/resistorqv.pdf


2. Transistor Guide for when you can't source the right transistor and need an equivalent: http://alltransistors.com/transistor.php

Learn to Solder: just listing this because, if you don't know how to solder, well then you won't be able to solder ;)  (If you search the internet for tutorials - there are tonnes.)

That's pretty much everything I need and use for building an effect pedal.  You can also try layouts for mini amps like the Noisy Cricket I built and other useful projects that'll keep you busy and stockpiled on and off the pedal board.

I hope this info is 'You'-sful and helps make your DIY pedal build a more enjoyable experience.  If you have any other suggestions for links to add, please let me know.

Thanks! - DDM

FREE D.D.M. Downloads!!! - All D.D.M. songs available for FREE!!!

All D.D.M. tunes are available to download for FREE so please, help yourselves!!! 

Also, as many of you know, I've LOTS more material that isn't posted so, if there's something from the past that you want (including stuff like the "No Love Lost" Joy Division cover, older dMusik or Dovercourt stuff, etc...) but can't find, just let me know and I'll send it off to you.

Enjoy!!!

New Song Upload, "Stone Wall" - By DDM

this is a song about "the sky that covers imperfection, pure connection protected by the wall" -  the stone wall.  This one goes well with a No. 7 Chablis on the rocks with cherry coloured steak muffins on rye: