Mike's Pedal Thread

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 2:38 am

Mike wrote:Rhys' pedal is done:

Cool Pedal. Nice kitty too.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:34 am

Yup, tis a crunch box. The toggle on the side flips the order of the pedals so you can have the saltbooster adding gain (toggle up) or volume (toggle down)

Rhysyrhys · Post by **Rhysyrhys** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:37 am

Mike wrote:Rhys' pedal is done:

Holy shit!! WOW. It has been a really long time since I've been this excited.

Ok ok, now we need to work postage and payment.

FUCKING COOOOOOL. YAY!

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:48 am

No worries, whenever you're ready mate. This one turned out cool, you can melt faces and boost super loud. Shit gets CRAZY

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 6:35 pm

Mike is god.
I'm only using MBM from now on.
I've got 3...
how many do you all have?!

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:08 pm

ZenJenga wrote:Mike is god.
I'm only using MBM from now on.
I've got 3...
how many do you all have?!

I have just ordered my first 2 MBM pedals. I ordered a Saltbreaker/Saltbooster Combo with a custom decal and a Gold Fuzzface. It's hard to not get excited about it when you see the build quality that Mike puts into each pedal and how much everyone likes their MBM pedals. The customer satisfaction was a huge selling point for me to take the plunge, not to mention that they sound great. It's also cool when get to pick details (color, LEDs,knobs,etc.) that normally are left up to the manufacturer.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:34 pm

ZenJenga wrote:Mike is god.
I'm only using MBM from now on.
I've got 3...
how many do you all have?!

two.
actually one that works.

i need to send my HP back to you mike. i've lost whatever component it was that popped out.
left it on my windowsill next to the pedal and then left for four months. there's no sign of it anymore.

how much'll it be?

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:43 pm

I have 3 MBM Pedals - Saltbooster - "Lamp's Crunchy Distortion" - Single Bypass Loop. My distortion has not been off my board since I got it and the Saltbooster is continually swapped in and out with my SHO.
The bypass loop is brilliant for bringing back my top end when I use a big board.

Seems like an age since you started your pedals Mike! And it's been really cool watching the progression - they look really professional now (not saying anything against your early ones!).

Do you still have the list of who got those first Saltboosters? I think mine is #9

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:00 pm

Ahem - four here: Fuzzface, Os Mutantes Fuzz, Machine and a modded Rat.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:50 pm

Reece wrote:
ZenJenga wrote:Mike is god.
I'm only using MBM from now on.
I've got 3...
how many do you all have?!

two.
actually one that works.

i need to send my HP back to you mike. i've lost whatever component it was that popped out.
left it on my windowsill next to the pedal and then left for four months. there's no sign of it anymore.

how much'll it be?

Yikes that sucks! It was a transistor that fell out of a socket. It'll cost you nowt and I'll cover your postage also. Sorry that's happened mate. Also you need to get on designing your DLS...

Thanks for the kind words people, it's the reason I do this.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:55 pm

Thom wrote:Seems like an age since you started your pedals Mike! And it's been really cool watching the progression - they look really professional now (not saying anything against your early ones!).

Do you still have the list of who got those first Saltboosters? I think mine is #9

hahah yeah it's gone really quick though.

I believe it was some time in May 2008 that the first Saltbooster (#1 Doog) was born. I made 28 in all I believe, I think BenWalker, Fran, Proggie, Hurb, and James were some of my first orders but I could be wrong, if I thought about it I'm sure I could make a list...

That was a lot of fun and you guys gave me the confidence to take it to the next level. Everything I'm doing now is only possible because of you guys.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:06 pm

Mike wrote:
Thom wrote:Seems like an age since you started your pedals Mike! And it's been really cool watching the progression - they look really professional now (not saying anything against your early ones!).

Do you still have the list of who got those first Saltboosters? I think mine is #9
hahah yeah it's gone really quick though.

I believe it was some time in May 2008 that the first Saltbooster (#1 Doog) was born. I made 28 in all I believe, I think BenWalker, Fran, Proggie, Hurb, and James were some of my first orders but I could be wrong, if I thought about it I'm sure I could make a list...

That was a lot of fun and you guys gave me the confidence to take it to the next level. Everything I'm doing now is only possible because of you guys.

Mike, given I've read this whole thread over the last few days I can agree it has been an amazing journey and can see the progression. I'm starting to look at making some pedals myself and I have picked up a lot of tips along the way and you are a real inspiration. Even before I read this and saw your vids and website and thought, I must get me some of that pedal love. Let me know when it's not so busy for you and I will place an order.

Also, if you don't mind. I might direct a few questions your way with helping me with me pedal work.

Keep it up Mike. Especially the great demos

Post by **Doog** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:09 pm

Mike wrote:I believe it was some time in May 2008 that the first Saltbooster (#1 Doog) was born.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:12 pm

Of course mate, if I can help in any way I will. There are some great websites out there also that I got some hints, tips and stuff from: BeavisAudio, DIYstompboxes and freestompboxes.org are all great for various things, I share all the layouts I do on freestompboes so other people can build them for themselves.

It's incredibly fun and rewarding (nothing beats the feeling when a circuit board fires up first time and sounds great), but there are frustrating moments (I perenially struggle with the finishing aspect, I'm completely cackhanded and aesthetically challenged, but I do my best - and help from people like Benecol et al is invaluable).

Ironically the demos have had to take a back seat since I've been so busy recently, but as and when I have something new worth demoing, I shall be sure to do so.

These days I'm just rammed busy between my day job, the pedal stuff, two bands and just my own relaxation time, there ain't much left!

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:12 pm

Doog wrote:
Mike wrote:I believe it was some time in May 2008 that the first Saltbooster (#1 Doog) was born.

ROLF.

23/5/2008, seems like Yesterday

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:31 pm

Mike wrote:It'll cost you nowt and I'll cover your postage also.

ah thanks.

i forgot about the DLS. honestly the second i got home i basically switched off and i really haven't done anything since then.
have you got the templates or shall i send a PM benecol's way?

i also really need to get on that fuzzface thing. i could only find a handful of photos so i just kinda left the slidehow thing and never came back to it.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:33 pm

Reece wrote:
Mike wrote:It'll cost you nowt and I'll cover your postage also.
ah thanks.

i forgot about the DLS. honestly the second i got home i basically switched off and i really haven't done anything since then.
have you got the templates or shall i send a PM benecol's way?

i also really need to get on that fuzzface thing. i could only find a handful of photos so i just kinda left the slidehow thing and never came back to it.

Just add random Doogfest ones haha

Yeah get that pedal to me and I'll get it fixed and back to you ASAP matey. Top Priority.

Benecol is the man with the guides and stuff, if you ask him for the stuff we made NickD's DLS with that will give you a good layout template (his was this awesome Dukes Of Hazzard design - couldn't post pics as it was an Xmas present from his folks)

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:44 pm

Mike wrote:Of course mate, if I can help in any way I will. There are some great websites out there also that I got some hints, tips and stuff from: BeavisAudio, DIYstompboxes and freestompboxes.org are all great for various things, I share all the layouts I do on freestompboes so other people can build them for themselves.

It's incredibly fun and rewarding (nothing beats the feeling when a circuit board fires up first time and sounds great), but there are frustrating moments (I perenially struggle with the finishing aspect, I'm completely cackhanded and aesthetically challenged, but I do my best - and help from people like Benecol et al is invaluable).

Ironically the demos have had to take a back seat since I've been so busy recently, but as and when I have something new worth demoing, I shall be sure to do so.

These days I'm just rammed busy between my day job, the pedal stuff, two bands and just my own relaxation time, there ain't much left!

Cheers Mate, well starting in with a fuzz kit and seeing how it goes. It's been a long time since I did my electronics and sound engineering course back in 1990 and I feel that I need to try and I need to try and and remember some stuff from a long time ago. The world of new media grabbed me in the mid 90s from music and I'm just returning. I take a look at some of the sites you mention and post some stuff on here as well.

As I said, let me know when your backlog dies down after the recent trip and I will look at placing an order.

Cheers

Chris

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:51 pm

A kit is a great way to start out - all the parts will be there for you and you'll learn firsthand how everything is wired up in a stompbox, just simple stuff like pinouts on DC and audio jacks, and the 3PDT switch etc.

You'll be surprised how quickly it comes back, I graduated in 2003, but have been doing Digital design with VHDL and Verilog since, so my analogue stuff was really rusty, but it doesn't take much to jog the memories and there is tons of good stuff out there on the net these days.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 8:22 am

It's all drilled up, primed and painted and just waiting for a decal from Benecol now. The circuit board is built and tested. I really like the look of the Portrait Layout.

The only issue I'm having is with the paint, it's been fucking cold here and my painting room is my shed, where all my paints live. My solid colours are fine, but the Purple Metallic for yours was spraying on fine but then separating the drying process, making it look washed out. I tried something different and took the paint into the house overnight to warm up and sprayed again this morning, in the hope that would work better - if it doesn't work I'll need an alternative solid colour to paint your pedal?

Painting in these conditions is a nightmare