Introduction
Everybody loves new gear. We’re addicted in varying degrees to the euphoric feeling that comes from finding, ordering, opening, and putting a new bit of kit to use. Then comes the pinnacle: owning a one-of-a-kind piece, something no one else has. What about building that one-of-a-kind piece? Interested? Read on, my friend.
I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of building my own equipment. Most of us have a soldering iron in the toolbox for making or repairing cables; if you do, you’re just as qualified to build as I was. A while back, I decided it was time to dive in to the world of DIY. As a first project (there will certainly be more) I chose Ray Wilson’s WSG (Weird Sound Generator) kit from musicfromouterspace.com.
This blog is a record of the construction process. If you’ve just ordered or are thinking of ordering your own WSG, you’ve chosen wisely! Perhaps you’ll find some useful information here, or at least learn a few things not to do.
The first thing I did was order the WSG component kit. No problems at all. The box arrived and I opened it eagerly to inspect the contents. Again, no problems- everything was there. Wanting my WSG to have a few unique variations, and being the slightly obsessive person I am, I also ordered a few extra parts: a 4 position rotary switch, a big knob for said switch, some blue led’s, plastic led holders, and a dc jack, all from Action Electronics.
I already had the tools I needed: a cheap Radio Shack soldering iron ( I need to get a real one someday…) a basic multi-tester, a wire stripper, needle-nose pliers, and a diagonal cutter. A vise for soldering is really useful, too, as soldering is a three-hand task.
