Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Schematics, layouts & other technical mumbo jumbo.

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Radiotron
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Radiotron »

Hey guys, I hope you are all doing well.
Things have been a bit quiet on my end, so I thought I'd give you a little update and ask for your honest opinion on something I've been working on.

Things are slowly moving forward, which is probably all the better since it also took me a good while to get used to the new life here in the mountains.
It's good to be back building again, I've been playing guitar more than ever before and I'm having fun but I'm still very much getting used to the whole Insta game to be honest.
Orders are coming in, pedals are shipping out and the first reports of happy customers have me excited to get going again, which is what it's all about in the end.

I've been mainly using up my old stock of enclosures and now that the end is getting near I've been looking into having some of my own design.

Ant has always been more than gracious towards the DIY community and pedal builders alike, but now that I've taking a more serious approach, I've been feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of not only using the original circuit design, but putting them in a replica case as well.

Time to get out some pen and paper and start drawing! I've been wanting to do this for way too long so now is as good a time as any.

The design I came up with is something of a mix between the Mk-I enclosure and the Zonk-II but is a clone of neither.
It's roughly 90% the size of the Mk-I but has a shorter control panel and a sloped back not unlike the Zonk-II.
The enclosures will be made out of 1.5mm galvanized steel, laser cut and fitted with PEM nuts.

My questions for you are:
1) please give me your honest opinion on the new design, what do you like about, what would you change?
2)Given the choice between a replica enclosure and, let's call it a vintage inspired one, which would you rather get?

Thank everyone! Looking forward to your replies, don't hold back.

Please excuse the rough edges and visible cuts in the folds, the proto was made by hand.
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Radiotron
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Radiotron »

And some more for size comparison
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innerflight
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by innerflight »

Personally I really dig it :badlove:

Something a bit different yet very familiar is always going to work and I love the way you do the hammer job so I’m sure the final pedal will look pretty awesome

Looking forward to seeing them
’brutish in character but not thug like’
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simonm
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by simonm »

Yeah - Looks good and really well-made!
Has it's own personality but you can see the lineage. Having the pots mount on the same piece as the rest is smart, and makes wiring neater/easier too.
Handmade, high-impact, great-looking radical queer germanium fuzz. A different approach to 1960s-inspired fuzz pedals, no clones, check them out at https://goodfuzzysounds.com or on YouTube https://tinyurl.com/GFS-YT
sledz
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by sledz »

Do your stuff, this does looks cool and I'm sure it will be good. Great idea with these internal threads/nuts! I'd rather use locking washers instead of tabs if I was worried about pots going loose, but I guess you know what you're doing with these ugly holes :wink2: (faceplate?)
Last edited by sledz on Mon May 24, 2021 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Spook
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Spook »

innerflight wrote: Mon May 24, 2021 4:35 pm Personally I really dig it :badlove:

Something a bit different yet very familiar is always going to work and I love the way you do the hammer job so I’m sure the final pedal will look pretty awesome

Looking forward to seeing them
I second this :party:
:pazuzu:
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Zuff-1A
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Zuff-1A »

Looks solid and great! Test also round knobs, maybe
they looks even cooler than chicken heads?
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Radiotron
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Radiotron »

Thanks for the input guys! :cheers:
Sometimes you just need an extra set of eyes, really appreciate it!
I'm glad to hear you like the design, it's safer to stick with the tried and true but it feels good to do something a little different.
sledz wrote: Mon May 24, 2021 6:14 pm Great idea with these internal threads/nuts! I'd rather use locking washers instead of tabs if I was worried about pots going loose, but I guess you know what you're doing with these ugly holes :wink2: (faceplate?)
You're right, I was initially planning on using faceplates on these but I've done away with tab holes in the last revision as I might go with screenprinting in the end.
I've been thinking of offering some enclosures to DIY'ers as well and I can imagine not everyone would want to those or use a different brand/size of pots.

Here's another design I've been working on.
Hasn't made it past the paper prototype stage yet but I hope to have a metal specimen made up shortly.
I've taken inspiration from the Park Auto Wah and Dizzy Tone enclosures, but again, it's a clone of neither.

I like the idea of having the knobs fitted on top for easier access and I'm really enjoying the esthetics as well.
The enclosure measures 16*10*5.5cm and is big enough to fit a Buzzaround style tagboard and 3 pots in single file.

Let me know what you think :tu:
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Lach
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by Lach »

I love it! Looks great. I really dig the more of a tribute route rather than replica when it come to enclosure, like how Antti did such a stunning job with the Thunderbird enclosures.

Just to add, I think you're doing a fine job at your Instagram game! Have enjoyed seeing it in my feed.
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HorseyBoy
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Re: Introducing, Blunt Force Audio

Post by HorseyBoy »

^ Second Lach's endorsement of your Insta game. I love seeing and reading and listening to your posts.

And I love what you're doing with your enclosures. Mostly I dig that you're really thinking about them from different angles (pun may or may not be intended). I have a love/hate relationship with a lot of enclosures. I love the shape and look of the old Sola enclosures, for example, or Colorsound wahs, but they give me conniption fits whenever I want to open them up. Ideally, enclosures need to look good, be easy to work with (including replacing batteries and switches) and wire up, and be strong enough to take repeated stompings and punishment. You're ticking all the boxes. :tu:
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