I made a switchable volume pedal

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:17 pm

A friend was asking about this FX loop volume box and asked if I would make him one. I started thinking about it and a new possibility came to my head. What if I made one in a stomp box with a bypass switch so it acts like a boost?
I'm not a pedal user myself, I like getting the tone of my guitar from just the guitar and amp, but a boost pedal that doesn't add changes to the overall sound would be cool for soloing. Mine works just like the box in the link above except it's foot controlled and uses just one cord thats wired like an insert.
So I dug through my amp parts box and gathered up the parts I would need and set out to build it.
I used a reverb / tremelo stomp box from a twin reverb, 1 switch from said stomp box, 100k audio pot, mustang knob, a few scraps of wire, 2 mono 1/4" jacks and a length of 3 conductor wire.
First thing was figuring out the switch. After metering it I found that in position 1 it activated the tabs on the left side, position 2 activated the right side and the 2 middle tabs are in and out. So I wired the signal to run through the pot in position 1 and straight through in position 2.
This thing kicks ass!!!
To use it, I plug it into the effect send/return, turn the amp up, switch the pedal on and use the knob on the pedal to lower the volume then hit the switch again and the amp kicks back up to full volume. There are no changes to my tone, it's just LOUDER and It took all of 15 minutes to build.
After I dial it in at rehersals today I'm going to measure the resistance and do away with the pot all together. That way I can mount the next one into anything that can accomodate the switch and resister. Maybe something fun, like a crushed beer can.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:33 pm

Nice one, except that pedal is Volume cut, not a boost. When it's engaged it's reducing your sound (there will be some treble roll off as the capacitance of the cable and the pot form a low pass filter, but it will be very subtle.

Anyway nicely done, I had this idea a while ago for people that use their volume knob to get clean sounds from a dirty amp, you could have a footswitchable clean using this method.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:37 pm

Mike wrote:Nice one, except that pedal is Volume cut, not a boost. When it's engaged it's reducing your sound (there will be some treble roll off as the capacitance of the cable and the pot form a low pass filter, but it will be very subtle.

You are absolutely right, my bad on the terminology.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:42 pm

Pfft, it's just semantics - it does the job and that's all that matters. Neat wiring.

I loll'd at the cloth wire - it would never be any other type with you, Rod.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:44 pm

Mike wrote:Pfft, it's just semantics - it does the job and that's all that matters. Neat wiring.

I loll'd at the cloth wire - it would never be any other type with you, Rod.

Haha, I didn't spend a dime on this and just used what ever was laying around.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:44 pm

You love it, you know you do.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:48 pm

Ya know, I'm kind of surprised how quiet it is. Next time I will use sheilded, at least for the leads. Cloth is just so much easier to work with and once I paint it sunburst with gold knobs it will be period correct.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:55 pm

rodvonbon wrote:Ya know, I'm kind of surprised how quiet it is. Next time I will use sheilded, at least for the leads. Cloth is just so much easier to work with and once I paint it sunburst with gold knobs it will be period correct.

hahah nice. Is Cloth wire quite stiff?

I only use solid core "Bell" wire in my pedals, it's stiff and holds shape, it's fucking awesome for complex builds.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:01 pm

With cloth you don't have to strip it back, just cut to length. The stuff I use comes pre tinned, so it solders easy and will form to shape. It's kind of crutial in amp building because the wires need to run in specific directions to avoid interference.

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:13 pm

Cloth wiring is PURE PLEASURE to work with. I'll stand by that.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:16 pm

I don't get it.

Since when has stripping wire been a hassle. I size it, I strip it.

My builds look clean as your Mum's knicker draw.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:19 pm

It just takes a step out of the process. When you have around 500 solder points it goes quicker. You can just push back the cloth covering, make your solder and push the cloth back.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:20 pm

Mike wrote:I don't get it.

Since when has stripping wire been a hassle. I size it, I strip it.

My builds look clean as your Mum's knicker draw.

Nice work BTW.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:21 pm

I suppose. I haven't built an amp so I wouldn't know.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:22 pm

rodvonbon wrote:
Mike wrote:I don't get it.

Since when has stripping wire been a hassle. I size it, I strip it.

My builds look clean as your Mum's knicker draw.
Nice work BTW.

Practise makes perfect. I cringe at my very first pedal. Luckily Doog wanted a tone control added so I got it back off him and gutted it and rewired the whole thing.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:25 pm

Mike wrote:I suppose. I haven't built an amp so I wouldn't know.

Have you ever had an intrest in it?
I know yer a Marshall fan and there are a ton of places with amp layouts and schematics to build different models.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:26 pm

Mike wrote:
rodvonbon wrote:
Mike wrote:I don't get it.

Since when has stripping wire been a hassle. I size it, I strip it.

My builds look clean as your Mum's knicker draw.
Nice work BTW.
Practise makes perfect. I cringe at my very first pedal. Luckily Doog wanted a tone control added so I got it back off him and gutted it and rewired the whole thing.

I know what ya mean. I built my Twin Reverb twice before I was happy with it.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:28 pm

rodvonbon wrote:
Mike wrote:I suppose. I haven't built an amp so I wouldn't know.
Have you ever had an intrest in it?
I know yer a Marshall fan and there are a ton of places with amp layouts and schematics to build different models.

Yeah, I'm really interested but I've been looking at kits and the ones I'd want to buy (Ceriatone etc) because I doubt I could make a chassis/headshell myself - have fucking stupid shipping costs to the UK, so it's a bit of a non starter.

I am scared by it (heater wiring and interference and all that) but I would love to make a 2204.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:40 pm

My first build was a 2204. I didn't use a kit, to save costs I ordered the parts myself and used the chassis and case from a dead Fender amp. You have skills with electronics and building the amp is soooo easy. I had never done one before and it took me a couple of days. I can read schematics, but found going off a layout to be much easier.
My build came in around 500 bucks (not including the chassis and case).
HERE is an awesome site that lays out everything and has a forum. They even have a 2204 - 18 watt.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:42 pm

rodvonbon wrote:My first build was a 2204. I didn't use a kit, to save costs I ordered the parts myself and used the chassis and case from a dead Fender amp. You have skills with electronics and building the amp is soooo easy. I had never done one before and it took me a couple of days. I can read schematics, but found going off a layout to be much easier.
My build came in around 500 bucks (not including the chassis and case).
HERE is an awesome site that lays out everything and has a forum. They even have a 2204 - 18 watt.

Thanks for that man, I've bookmarked it.

When I have some coin together maybe I'll get 'er done.