Best Software for Generating Guitar Schematics

[col]

Hi all,

Any recommendations for standalone free schematic software? I am not interested in anything which is online (with dubious ownership claims of user-generated schema).

Thanks.

[JohnH]

Hi col

I saw your concerns about the Digikey online software. I understand, though I'm not too worried personally for my amateur use (should I be?).

But in looking for schematic software, the other one I checked out was Tinycad, a free download installed on your pc. Here's an example I did, of my reactive attenuator design:





These are based on doing conventional electronic circuit schematics. But for more visual wiring diagrams for guitars, some of the best are done with Visio, and referencing the 'Guitar Stencils Project', such as those by Phostenix and others.

[col]

Jun 26, 2021 17:25:03 GMT -5 JohnH said:

Hi col

I saw your concerns about the Digikey online software. I understand, though I'm not too worried personally for my amateur use (should I be?).

Hi John,

No, I expect that it is a non-issue for most members here. But because it is an online app, I decided to read the user agreement and thought I'd highlight that clause in case it is of concern to some (the partial loss of copyright and potential for publication before the user is ready).

But in looking for schematic software, the other one I checked out was Tinycad, a free download installed on your pc. Here's an example I did, of my reactive attenuator design:





These are based on doing conventional electronic circuit schematics. But for more visual wiring diagrams for guitars, some of the best are done with Visio, and referencing the 'Guitar Stencils Project', such as those by Phostenix and others.

Thanks for the suggestions, John! I'll try out both Tinycad and Visio.

[col]

Hi again, John.

Which version of Visio do you use: 'Plan 1'($5/month); or 'Plan 2'($15/month)?

[JohnH]

Hi col

I don't use Visio myself. My diagrams on GN2 are generally done using the graphics features of Word, which is free if you already have it! Of course, it doesn't have any specific electronics symbols, but I can group together parts made from circles and rectangles etc to make the symbols I need for pots, switches etc.

[col]

I have come across some - sometimes complicated - graphics produced via Word. I assumed this to be a labourious process so never attempted it myself. Maybe I'll give it a go.

So, have you created your own symbols complied from various simple shapes which you can reuse across diagrams? (Is this possible?)

[JohnH]

Yes you can definitely do that, and its pretty quick and easy too. eg, a dpdt switch seen from the back can be 6 small rectangles, with an large one behind it. Then you select them all, right-click and go 'Group' now that's a combined object that you can copy and move. Add a big circle and some more rectangles and you have a push-pull pot.

Make a page of such symbols and then you can copy them into new drawings.

[unreg]

col, Visio is really excellent:


That’s from:
guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/9043/installed-new-pot-knobs-unreg

Though, to use Visio, I actually 😵‍💫 found a product key on the net… that’s not legal… sigh… the key has been disabled so I can no longer use Visio, but it’s easy and provides excellent diagram creation.


If you are going to make a ton of diagrams I really recommend paying the registration fee; it’s excellent if you aren’t interested in creating your own electronics images with shapes in word. 🙂

[col]

Hi unreg,

Yeah, that looks really good. Thanks for the heads-up. But having said this, I prefer schematics. I'm no electrical engineer, but I can follow a schematic easy enough (even if I do not necessarily understand it); but wiring diagrams tend to confuse me.

[Deleted]

I just use Excel (Logic path) .. Easy EDA (Circuit) and lots of scraps of paper

[unreg]

col, ahh, you said “schematics”… sorry. Honestly I didn’t understand the difference, but now I do. You’re welcome. Thank you for being kind about my mistake.

[JohnH]

For 'proper' schematics, I've also done quite a few of those with Word, but the specialist software looks better compared to what I do. I liked the Digikey online one best for its bolder linework and also it has most of the component parts that we need for guitar circuits built in, including such things as 3 and 5 way rotary switches. I'm sure other software such as Tinycad can do all that but it didn't seem to be as accessible for what I was looking for.

[xlunacy]

DIY Layout Creator for both wirings and schematics : diy-fever.com/software/diylc/

[col]

Thanks, xlunacy