DIY Foot Drum

[jugglindan]

Lots of old drum machines with a trigger input out there!

While that would take a lot of the mad scientist fun out of it, it would also be pretty cool having the ability to program in different drum sounds.

[Andy40]

Out of this whole thread, I heard.....

I am hatching a plan for a new pedal build, but something different this time.

I only have one amp,......... Any advice or suggestions?

You need to build another amp and experience that radness.

[Woltz]

What size enclosure? I have some scrap timber which may be large enough and I have a possible solution for you for making the box.

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[jugglindan]

Thanks Woltz. I don't know what size yet, need to do some prototyping with books 'n stuff. Also trying to decide on the right profile. For playing seated I think a wide but fairly low box would work nicely, but should it be a wedge, or a flat rectangle?

This project will probably move fairly slowly since I have some other pedals and my tele to work on. I am getting very impatient with the tele, I really really want to play it! Oh, and I am also trying to find time for that other thing we do sometimes - playing guitar.

About the only other idea I have had for this one is the name. Either "Stompy", or "Monster Mash".

[jugglindan]

Out of this whole thread, I heard.....



You need to build another amp and experience that radness.

I was thinking about building one of the Lamington amps later this year, but it won't be for bass either.

[Simon Barden]

I'd go for a wedge shape myself. Something reasonably heavy to stop it moving around, as well as rubber foam underneath for grip.

[jugglindan]

I just tested using a few books I have around, and found one that fits perfectly under foot, is a comfortable height, and is high enough for the potential electronics and wiring.


Two people have generously offered to help with the box construction, so please let me know if those dimensions are OK. Otherwise I am sure I can knock something together with BGS pine.

The generous size is so I can fit my whole foot on, and to leave room for a speaker.

Plan 1 for the speaker is to fit the piezo transducer, a small amp and the speaker all in the box, to see if an all in one solution can be made. I suspect the thump would be less than satisfying, but it might work for home use. Feedback might be an issue though. OK, ditch plan 1.

Plan 2 for the speaker is that some people have used a small speaker as the microphone instead of piezo pickups. Some claim they give a better thump. For example, here is a simple design that doesn't even use a preamp. Not sure if they have something off-board or run straight to amp or mixer:

[jugglindan]

For the electrical side of things, if a speaker works well enough without a preamp then I would probably fit a passive tone and volume control, maybe something like the Fender Greasebucket - the high and low pass controls might be nice, but then it might be better to have separate pots for bass and treble.

If I use a piezo or if the speaker-mike needs an amp, then I will probably use a simple preamp on stripboard along either a 2 or 3 pot tone circuit and volume. The box dimensions should have room along the top edge (150mm) for 4 pots, DC jack, and 6.5mm output jack.

Or, I could keep Mr Stompy simple, and build a very cheap combo amp from this Ikea box and a noisy cricket:


And yes, I tested that box as a stomp. It's much too high for comfort.

[FrankenWashie]

Those dimensions are not an issue, JD. There’s a couple of options for it, I’ve a couple of blanks that could be hollowed out to suit, or a spec box built to house what you want.
are you going to stick with the flat format or did you want to wedge it a bit for ease of use?

[jugglindan]

A bit of taper might be nice. Even 1 cm difference would work, so 50mm at the back and 40mm at the front.

I had no specific plans for how the box would be constructed, beyond "box, with lid screwed on the bottom". I think in my mind it was sort of a wooden pedal enclosure. But I know almost nothing about building things out of wood, so please suggest whatever you think might work.