How to Design PCBs for DIY Guitar Pedals
Master PCB design for guitar pedals using KiCad. Learn Jake Steffes' proven workflow to turn breadboard circuits into professional layouts that work reliably. Stop being limited by perfboard's constraints.
32
Welcome and Overview of Course
Important! Have questions about this course? Ask them here
Updates!
Understanding the Purpose of a PCB
Creating a New Project in KiCad
Building the Input Stage in the Schematic
Adding the JFET Amplification Circuit
Creating the Output Filter and Connections
Building the Power Supply Section
How to Add an LED Indicator to Your Schematic
How to Assign Values and Footprints in KiCad
How to Run the Electrical Rules Checker in KiCad
PCB Layout Goals and Best Practices
Preparing Your PCB Layout in KiCad
How to Create the Board Outline in KiCad
How to Place and Arrange Components in KiCad
How to Route Traces and Connect Your PCB in KiCad
How to Arrange Designators and Label Pads in KiCad
How to Add Ground Planes in KiCad
How to Add Test Points on Your PCB
How to Check Your PCB for Errors in KiCad
How to Export Gerbers and Order Your First PCB
Final Project: Three-Knob Overdrive
Reviewing the Overdrive Schematic and Prepping for Layout
How to Route and Verify your Final PCB Design
How to Use Vias and Export a BOM in KiCad
How to Test and Verify your PCB
How to use these resources
Bonus Downloads!
Still have questions about this course?
Final Thoughts
Like this course? Please leave a review
Justin
Great introduction to Designing PCBs
The course is a great introduction into designing your PCB's and utilizing the available software to take your breadboard schematics to a final product. Highly recommend for those wanting to take the next step into their DIY projects.
Mike
Great Course
Well done Brian and Jake, very helpful course. Have already sent off 2 designs, can't wait for the boards to arrive!
Derek
Schematic Creation
Great introduction to KiCAD and schematic creation, footprints and running an ERC. You need to have a basic understanding of schematics, components, footprints and layouts. Clear concise instructions, not too wordy. All the info you need broken down in bite size chunks. Jake is a great instructor.
Jason
Amazing Course
Such a great introduction to PCB design. Jake was perfect, explained everything very clearly and having the ability to follow along in the software was super helpful. Worth mentioning - the final project with the included files was a solid way to get some practice while still having support through the course. Can't recommend enough.
Kevin
Awesome Course!!!
I have used Eagle years ago with moderate success, I finally feel like I have a good understanding of how to create a PCB. Jake's teaching method is awesome! I can't wait to dig in further with some of my own designs that I've had kicking around for a while.
DONALD W
Excellent presentation and fast guidance!
For me, the best part of the course was the directness - the course goes straight to the point of designing PC boards with KiCad; the suggestions for best outcomes is icing on the cake!
Jesse
Finally! A PCB course teaching me what I needed to know!
I've been wanting to graduate from putting my personal circuit designs on vero and perf board to something more solid for a while now. I've went around on the internet, different YouTube videos, online forums, etc., etc. But I couldn't really find ANY that specifically focused on creating PCBs for guitar pedals. I found plenty of decent sources online with tutorials on basic PCB making, a lot of stuff for KiCad in general. But it was all for more technical electrical and computer circuits (PC building, hobbyist type of stuff, Arduino projects and the like). I did learn a bit about the basics of using some of the different software (including KiCad), and that was a start; but I knew there would be certain things specifically relating to guitar effect circuits that I just wasn't finding. Then this came along and I thought "YES! THIS! That's what I was looking for!" I had already taken the beginner and intermediate pedal building courses and was ready to start putting all that stuff I've been learning into a more permanent and stable form. Much like the previous pedal courses, everything was laid out pretty straight forward. It was all broken down into good, digestible bits and didn't feel to overwhelming or overly technical. Just to the point and focussed on what I needed to know for this specific type and level of circuit building. I don't need to know HOW yeast works, I just need to know how much of it to put in to make the bread, if ya know what I mean. And Mr. Jake was an awesome teacher. Gave out good, clear step-by-step instructions of what to do. Didn't get too distracted or into the weeds trying to show all 20 of the different ways that you can do this or that, just the one, good, quick way. Another win for Wampler! Now I'm ready to really start cookin'!
Stephen
Breadboard To PCB
This course was fantastic. Exactly what I wanted to take a design from breadboard to a circuit board. Kudos to Jake, he is an excellent instructor, well spoken, very logical and easy to understand. Following along with a simple circuit through to a completed pcb ready to populate with components, nothing is left out. Highly recommended course!
Paul
pcb course
exactly what i was hoping for to raise my game.