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Copyright
2008 FiveFish Studios
www.fivefishstudios.com
SC-1mk500 Microphone Preamp Kit
SC-1mk500 Parts Kit
I’ve taken the time to individually package and label every component used in the kit. Just read the part # printed on the zip
bag.
Some bags will contain 2, 3 or 5 different components. Other bags will contain just one part#. I want you to be able to build
this kit, without sorting through hundreds of parts and not know what to do. This will save you a lot of time, and headaches!
Some of you may not even have a multitester (buy one, okay?) so I’m assuming even if you don’t have one, or don’t know how to
use one, you’d still be able to figure out which is the 680-ohm resistor from the 6K8 resistor. It’s all labeled!
Assembly and Soldering Tips
Use a clean soldering iron tip. Heat the component lead and PCB pad, then apply the solder to the component lead while heating
both with your iron. Do not apply the solder only to the iron.
Do not remove all the parts from the zip bags until you are ready to solder them. I’ve taken the time to sort them out; do not
make a big unsorted pile out of them.
The holes on the PCB are plated through. This is also a double-sided PCB. Solder needs to make good contact inside the holes
and on both sides of the PCB. Check that some solder flowed on the other side of the PCB, or that the holes are completely filled.
Be careful that you do not solder resistors in the wrong locations. For example: Resistors R9 to R20 form the gain staging
resistors. It is important not to swap the locations of any of these resistors. Otherwise, your gain steps will be out of order
depending on which resistors you swapped locations with each other… For Example: 6dB, 12dB,
24dB, 18dB
, 30dB The
resistors for the 18dB and 24dB were swapped with each other in this example.
Note the orientation of diodes, and electrolytic capacitors. There is only one correct way to mount them. There are (2) non-
polarized electrolytic capacitor nearest IC4. The orientation of these (2) capacitors does not matter. But the rest of the
electrolytic capacitors need to be mounted in the correct orientation. Do NOT mount electrolytic capacitors backwards.
When soldering multiple-pin devices (like IC sockets, jumper pins, Grayhill switches, DPDT, Pots) solder one leg/pin first. Then
check if the device is still flushed to the board, straight and not crooked. If crooked, re-heat the leg and straighten with your
fingers while the solder is still soft/melted. (DO NOT STRAIGHTEN THE PINS AFTER THE SOLDER BECOMES HARD. You’d risk
ruining the PCB or breaking the part.)
I sometimes use masking tape to hold the component in place on the board, while I solder the leads on the other side. This is
very useful when soldering resistors, inductors, jumper connectors, IC sockets, small parts, etc…
Use a magnifying glass when soldering. This prevents you from using too much solder and let’s you see what you’re doing. Also,
the Grayhill switch has very fine pin spacing. You need good eyesight to solder all pins properly without shorting them together.
