[sdiy] beginner

[Scott Gravenhorst]

To 'modulate' what I wrote earlier, I also agree with
Paul et al.  I couldn't really tell what level of
experience the poster had, but he seemed to have done
enough research to know about the ASM-1.

Soldering is a tech/art that does take some practice and
if never done before, simple kits as mentioned, are great
because often the parts are a little farther apart and
tend to be easier to solder.  The instant gratification
of seeing it work, even if it's just a noise maker or 
light blinker, will encourage the builder to do more.

And then guitar effects are good as a next step, and they
aren't all just for guitar.  A distortion box, for example,
can be used with a VCO or synth output etc.  So even if one 
doesn't play guitar, these devices are still useful.

And now I'll be whore a for PAiA's FatMan synth again:

http://home1.gte.net/res0658s/TekLab_FatMan_WebSite/FatManProsAndCons.html

Is my 'Pros and Cons' page for the FatMan.

http://home1.gte.net/res0658s/TekLab_FatMan_WebSite/index.html

Is my general FatMan page for mods and add-ons.

-->  The FatMan is not the only synth kit out there.

It's just the one I know the most about.  I would try to list
them all here, but I might miss one or two.  When that happens,
I feel like crap, because all of these kits are good stuff
and made by good people.

Maybe we need a web page for that, a collection of kit maker
URLs that represents the people on SDIY.  That way, this question
might be easier/better to answer with a simple URL.  If there's
interest, I have space on Earthlink for at least a simple page 
that has a collection of URLs to those sites.  Talk to me off-list.

ElmacacoX at aol.com wrote:
>I agree with Paul here,
>
>start with radioshack kits or something, something that's cheap solder 
>practice and that it doesn't matter if it doesn't work because it's some 
>useless blinky light thing.  It'll help you understand the basics of 
>soldering ( I did about 3 kits before I tried anything synthy) also it helps 
>to learn about what componants are and how to handel them.  
>
>Then move on to what you think you can handle, something with good 
>instructions and support I'd imagine.
>
>so get and know your soldering iron first, then jump in....
>everybody here will help alot!
>
>Eduardo

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-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
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-- FatMan: home1.GTE.NET/res0658s/TekLab_FatMan_WebSite/index.html