Build Your Own Golden Gizmo™ Zero Volt Pickup Booster | DIY Scratch Build Effects Pedal

No Power Required! Build Your Own Golden Gizmo™️ Pickup Booster, one of the Best DIY Scratch Build Projects ever!
Works great for Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and even Bass
- Golden Gizmo™ V2 Pedal
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- Golden Gizmo™ V2 Schematic
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Waylon McPherson Guitar
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[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Hope you build this, if you want to check out the Golden Gizmo™V2 it's here. mcphersonmusic.site/product-category/pickups/the-green-gizmo%ef%b8%8f/

[@commonsensehill372]

If you wanted to, you could mount this inside a cavity on your guitar and have the knob and perhaps a toggle switch coming through the front. It could work that way if done right.

[@mattfleming2287]

Fascinating. So your trading low end, which requires a lot more power, for volume in the upper mods. This may actually solve an issue I’ve had forever. 2 guitar band, I provide the low end, the other guitar is giving definition for the riffs with strong mids. I do the solos which obviously doesn’t work well with a low frequencies.This may be just the thing!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Cool, That could definitely be the ticket!

[@LUCASAMERICOMAZINI]

you could easily add it in the guitar as well, just build a simple op-amp buffer and put the transformer in front of it, then change one of your pots for a push-pull one for the bypass. add a stereo jack w/ the ring connected to the battery negative, and you'll have a circuit that powers off when you unplug the cable.

[@gtranimal]

Cant tell from the vid, is the bufferd Boss pedal seiched on or off when used before your pedal?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

It's off, we just need the bypass buffer not the effect, even though that can be cool to :)

[@johnstitt2615]

The schematic for the Golden Gizmo V2 does not have the true bypass switch drawn in the circuit. It is simple enough but I thought I would mention it. I had fun building the Green Gizmo and find it quite useful. I shall build the Golden Gizmo as well. ✌️

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks, I just added it. Stoked you liked the Green Gizmo :)

[@johnstitt2615]

@@WaylonMcPhersonGuitarSome guitars needed a good tweak. Some just needed a tiny nudge. ✌️

[@richardlynch5632]

The passive transformer in my Yamaha Revstar RSS02T is huge in comparison. Very useful tonally with volume control along with a boost.😎👍👍

[@allenmitchell09]

This would be cool to do under the pickguard.

[@oddshot60]

LOVE your projects. After 73 years of studiously avoiding electronics, you are turning me into a boffin ... or at least a nerd of sorts. Any chance you could do up a nice lush, yet simple Hawaiian sounding spring reverb for lap steel guitars?

[@thesoundpurist]

I was like booster with no current??? Then when he came up with the buffer I went aaaaaaah… gotta get it somewhere else isn’t? Edited. Still it’s a very good idea

[@MB-st7be]

Yeah, needing no power is of limited value if it only works when something ELSE has power, like another pedal.

[@davidp158]

Thanks for this video. Your solder joints look perfect, and details about cleaning the screw holes for reliable grounding and details that most folks (like me) would overlook. Good stuff.

[@bluzmansix]

Awesome my friend. I love your thinking behind these. Right let's warm up the soldering iron!

[@simonkormendy849]

Essentially, the circuit uses a small-signal transformer to step-up the voltage signal from the guitar's pickups, the signal voltage gets stepped up by the turns-ratio of the transformer, so, say the transformer's turns-ratio is something like 4:1, i.e. 4 secondary turns to every 1 primary turn, so theoretically if we feed-in a 1Vpp signal into the primary we should see a 4Vpp signal on the secondary winding, but transformers are, in general, about 80% efficient, 20% of the signal is lost in the form of heat, we still get an increase in signal-level though.

[@Ma_X64]

There's slightly more complicated processes. Due to impedance changes frequency response changes too. Also phase characteristics moves slightly in different frequencies.

[@martysradioshow5979]

Wow i will try this my question is what is the volts of the transformers

[@freesiaboysince]

!?!?!?!?!?!? really!?!?!?!?!?!?!? is it passive? no use 9v-battery and transistor? unbelievable、、、awesome!!

[@1mdlmusic]

Looks like a fun and useful project. Could you eliminate the pot and just wire directly to the jacks, so that when you step on the switch you get a 100% boost?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Yes, that would work great, + you would also get a tiny bit more boost, cheers!

[@PearHellforge]

what do i do if i want to build it without on/off switch? this video is awesome btw, keep it up!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks! , just wire the input jack to the transformer and the output jack would go to the Pot wiper, cheers!

[@ten4goodbud2313]

Awesome love passive electronic projects.

[@JamesFord-g5e]

Cool idea using a transformer for as the pickups providers voltage to drive the transformer that gives more voltage output in the signal chain

[@kevinmackfurniture]

Ive opened a few " boutique" pedals in my day... The wiring was Never this pretty...

[@jagr9228]

So it looks like you are connecting the guitar output which is a relatively hi impedance say 50Kohms into the low impedance 600 Ohms side of the transformer. Does that work? I can hear it here in your video but it would seem like a huge impedance mismatch . It sounds like there is some loss of bass frequencies which may be good in some applications or mayby not so good in others. Just a thought.

[@Incountry]

Put a boost pedal in behind this pedal and you’re all set….

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

It does sound really cool driving it with other pedals, even modulation, cheers!

[@DenariusHaveNarius]

LOL😂

[@CaptainErn]

This is a great idea! Would it work with a fender tbx pot? Like for the 1meg side controlling the boost and the 250k side acting like a volume control?

[@simonhawker9277]

i prefer the sound of a compression sustainer but very useful thing you got there, in a studio, cool

[@thejoetandy]

would chucking this in an effects loop work, in lieu of a buffered pedal before it?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

It should work straight up in most effects loops as they are already buffered, some use a Tube Buffer which would be pretty sweet!

[@anthonyb5279]

I just got a desktop class A tube amp and some reference monitors for my computer. It was super cool to hear the nuance of the different tones you got from that gear.

[@Rob-wg9nz]

You can make a pretty decent JFet buffer with 7-8 components, then you either put it in the pedal (then it's not passive anymore) or make separate a buffer pedal to use if you are running a passive guitar. A Jfet buffer also leaves the frequency response almost intact. A passive guitar cannot drive this pedal because the secondary of the transformer is effectively a small resistance that goes to ground, so since the power generated by the pickup is constant and equal to V_out/R_out^2, if you put a low output resistance since the power has to remain constant (because there is no buffer) the output voltage goes down. So pickups and piezos work well with high output impedances.

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

I love your channel, it's always an inspiration. I have some plans to build me a cool pedal with parts you can get for overdrive, suboctaver, fuzz and others, but this booster pedal is really great, because it's simple to build and works great. Thank you for this video! 😊

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Stoked you like it, cheers!

[@alexisvargaszapata9368]

I find the explanation interesting and super understandable but I have a question, I don't understand much about electronics. What potentiometer value are you using? Sorry, there are errors, I'm using the translator haha Greetings from Peru

[@Joseph-y6p]

Hey man, this channel is awesome!! Really love these pedal videos! Subbed!

[@gabrielvargas2459]

Your work is wonderful man! Your explanation of how does it work and the outcome makes it really easy to understand I've had studied electronics before to the point of achieving an associate's degree, but was always scared of some kind of messing with guitar pedals, (tried building an overdrive once but the capacitors didn't quite like the project) your channel has inspired to retry messing with pedals again, thanks a million for your videos man, keep going!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Stoked this has helped, it's such a cool thing to get into :)

[@robertpaddack9506]

This gives me an idea, wire into a guitar coil split circuit to boost the output on your single coil tones

[@Joseph-y6p]

To add another transformer, are you wiring those in parallel, or series?

[@JulioBergo83]

It's a reamp box with buffer. Nice!

[@16GHunter]

You’re awesome man. Been watching your videos all week

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks a lot!

[@Holiss]

Love your videos . I bought your schematic but I can't find these two types of transformer. can I use any alternative???

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks! Mouser.com is where I get them, cheers!

[@therewasascene]

Alright, time to try this with the old Boss tuner into the 5150 2x12 combo and see how what it does for the boosted high gain amp thing. Dangit - the tl019 is on mouser not tayda and I’ve got a tayda order going :/

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

I think that would work great! Yeah, I'm with you, Love Tayda, you could always put in a product request, cheers!

[@therewasascene]

Good idea! Didn’t even think to put in a request - I never have. ..til now. Done.

[@jamesrobertson5025]

Knob end 😂😂

[@LGPhotoArt]

Nice !! Thanks.

[@TorySlusher]

As someone who mostly uses the neck pickup for jazz applications, and single coils in that regard as well..... it would be useful to solder this little circuit between the neck pickup wire and the switch (assuming that's where it would go)....

[@42ronty]

omg. I just discovered a kiwi guitar-tuber by luck!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks mate!

[@42ronty]

@@WaylonMcPhersonGuitarAlso thanks for not being a JAFA!😁

[@SimonArmiger]

Really enjoying your channel and pedal ideas. Also love your enthusiasm. Clearly enjoy your work !

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks!

[@pegasusstation4977]

without watching for the answer yet, I'm guessing it uses a transformer to boost the signal ?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Yes correct! But there are some really important extra info you need to know before building :)

[@pegasusstation4977]

@@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar I have since watched the whole video. Some really great stuff on your channel. Good work, keep it up.

[@peterschmidt9942]

So what is V2 doing different to V1?

[@georgeirabor6715]

Would it be possible to have this built in to a guitar like a Jazzmaster? To replace the rhythm circuit

[@georgeirabor6715]

And to make it “active” it could rectify the voltage signal of the pickup to have a voltage source. I don’t know if this makes sense haha

[@Mr.Monster1313]

You ever think of doing cheaper fun basic pedal kits to build ?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Yes totally, that would be really cool, just super time strapped at the moment with the workshop being super busy with guitar/amp repairs etc.. Definitely something on the list though :)

[@thomaslthomas1506]

This is similar to what Yamaha did it the latest RevStar range. This would be slick to put in my crap Strat along with your revoicer circuit. Now I just need the time.

[@RJsCave]

Could this be put on / in a guitar and work properly? I'm looking to build a guitar with an onboard boost feature. A battery free option would be preferred.

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Hi, Thanks for checking this project out! Have a look at the video just after the build section, the answers will be there, cheers :)

[@Splattle101]

Nice toy!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks :)

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

This could be added directly to any guitar without being a pedal

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Unfortunately, that would not work, I explain it in the video, cheers!

[@V081WLBlue]

Just turn your amp up?

[@Zharkov1969A]

I have a quick question for anybody here. When I looked up that transformer it said it was obsolete and I could only buy it on import (I’m in the UK) with a £12 postage charge which is six times the value of the transformer. Is there an alternative that is more widely available?

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Did you try these guys? www.bitsboxuk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=277_351&products_id=3907

[@Zharkov1969A]

@@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar excellent thank you. I didn’t want to buy the wrong specification.

[@terryeaster1]

Completely awesome man!! Thanks a million

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

No problem :)

[@Ma_X64]

You can also move the transformer's core in and out to change the frequency response (not the easy way actually but still passive). Another trick is to use a DC magnetization of the core to add some saturation to the sound. Permanent magnet works too but again, you need to disassemble the transformer. And if you find a transformer with two primaries then you can connect two parallel back-to-back connected germanium diodes in series with another potentiometer to get some distortrion.

[@zezohc]

After some multi-effect like POD or Boss Gt10, does it also work?

[@TheRealcdawg22]

It should. Basically, any active device will provide enough signal. Passive guitar pickups probably won't. I want to try it in an FX LOOP. I don't think that was ever mentioned.

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Yep, it would work great in a Buffered effects loop, cool idea!

[@RulgertGhostalker]

I just finished watching the whole video on prep for it... so it needs a buffer, to give the signal enough current ....so it's Not going in my guitar.

[@Andreas_Straub]

The price is completely nuts for a transformer and a few passive parts! 😱

[@thesoundpurist]

I went there… 225$?!!?? Take an old pedal, find the transformer, done.

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Thanks for checking it out, the V2 is quite different from the V1 + it's $225NZD (not USD), cheers :)

[@thesoundpurist]

@@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar oh,ok thanks

[@simonkormendy849]

Looks easy enough to build, I'll have to try googling the datasheet for the transformer to see if I can buy a similar specced one from my local Jaycar electronics store.

[@peterschmidt9942]

They're a 600:10K transformer although seem to be a little hard to get a hold of (at least in Oz)

[@pablorages]

Why would you need a boost if you are using a guitar with a strong signal ... wouldn't you need it more on traditional guitars ?

[@celestialgamingxd]

Could you not technically wire this INSIDE the guitar too?

[@lunarpollen]

this seems like something that could just be built into a guitar, no pedal required... just a switch, a pot/knob, and a transformer

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

That would be great but unfortunately it would not work, check later on in the vid, cheers :)

[@MrFlint51]

If you use a plastic box rather than metal, you will need to join the earth lugs on the 2 jack sockets

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Definitely do not use a plastic box, the pedal will be super noisy unless you line it with Copper Tape or similar, cheers!

[@FACTUALITY-1]

The pickups make power. Thats what powers the pedal.

[@Mark70609]

Pass, I would sooner have an active boost.

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Fair enough, I really like the TC Spark or the McPherson Flux Drive, cheers :)

[@jeffrowlette]

The rest of the world needs to get it together and start using the imperial measuring system 😆 I know metric is better (base 10) but I'm an Aerospace machinist in America.... It's all the same to me 👍

[@assnut1000]

definitely checking this one out be fun little project.

[@TheRealcdawg22]

That is too cool! I like not only how you get a boost, but how it focuses the sound. It seems perfect for leads. Great episode!

[@WaylonMcPhersonGuitar]

Glad you like it!

[@TheRealcdawg22]

@@carnage77 It is more of a trade-off.