Things You'll Need:
- Soldering Iron Wire stripper Effects pedal kit Screwdriver
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Step 1
Pick out a guitar effects pedal kit to assemble. There are many different types of effects you can have and use on your guitar. One of the most popular types is a distortion pedal. You can also build flange pedals and Wah-Wah pedals as well. These kits can be ordered through your local music shop or purchased online at a variety of music shops like Build Your Own Clone (see Resources below).
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Step 2
Set up your tools and supplies. You will need some type of flat surface like a table or desk to work on, so clean one off that is not currently in use. Set up all the tools you will need, such as a pair of wire strippers, a soldering iron and a Philips screwdriver, and place them all within easy reach.
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Step 3
Connect the components that came with your guitar pedal kit and stick them in the prefboard from the kit. The components are designed with metal prong plugs that fit right into the board. In order to identify each component's proper location, you will need to consult the schematic that came with your kit.
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Step 4
Strip down the ends of the wires that came with your kit. Take the ends and connect them to the terminals located on the components you connected to the prefboard.
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Step 5
Prepare your soldering iron by allowing it to heat up for 10 minutes before using it. Take the heated soldering iron and solder the wire connections to the component terminals.
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Step 6
Use your screwdriver to screw the assembled board down into the chassis, or body, of the guitar effects pedal. Hold the board in place carefully while you secure each screw in place.
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Step 7
Finish assembling the body of the effects pedal. Take the bottom and top chassis and attach them together using screws and your screwdriver. You can power your pedal by using a 9-volt battery or by using an AC/DC adapter that plugs into the wall.
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Step 8
Try out your new pedal to make sure it is working properly. If you encounter any issues, you may want to take the pedal apart and go back over the schematic to make sure that you plugged all of the components into the proper places and that all the connections are soldered correctly.
