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Got Bored: Made Channel/Reverb Switch

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 4:56 pm
by euan
Got bored and finally got around to making a channel and reverb switch with LEDs for my amp. Laney doesn't actually make a footswitch with LEDs for some reason. The manual gives a nice diagram of how the switching is done which is quite helpful. The one counterproductive thing however is that the drive channel must be on before you can do channel switching, more on this later.

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Here are all the basic parts I needed. Two DPDT switches so I can have LED indicator as well, battery compartment and a box. There is a lack of LEDs, because apparently Maplin considers LED bezels web only parts. Anywaybelow is the switching diagram. Notice for the channel switching, when the signal is connect to ground the LED is off. This is because channel 2 is selected by default, so when the signal is disconnected then that channel is on.

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My trusty Unibit. Makes drilling holes in cases effortless.

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After twenty minutes or drilling and soldering (plus a burnt pinky)

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Minus the LED's of course but that is just a quick mod when I actually get the parts. The space between the two switches is exactly enough to put the battery compartment in, its actually tight enough that I wouldn't need to glue it in place. I one thing I did not realise I was lacking was a second stereo jack, so I've soldered the bare cables at the moment.

I'm actually surprised that the channel switching is quiet and pretty instantaneous. Enough that I can't notice it.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:13 pm
by Thom
nice work

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:19 pm
by Mike
Indeed, nicely done. Will look ace when yuo have the LEDs in there too.

Lol @ teh Ghetto wiring the cable to the jack socket.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:31 pm
by euan
Mike wrote: Lol @ teh Ghetto wiring the cable to the jack socket.
Beauty of these Switchcraft style jacks that you can just feed the cable through and do that. They are more compact as well, so I could be changing over to these sometime soon.

I when I went into Maplin I was thinking I needed a stereo jack, but I totally forgot and picked up a right angled minijack for another powerjack conversion instead.

I think I'm going to spray it glossy black and stick on some silver bezeled blue LEDs or something just to make it look classy. I've already spent more than the Laney footswitch costs, why stop.

edit: Actually glossy black would look shite considering the hammertone finish.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:38 pm
by Mike
Yeah I replaced both jacks on my RAT2 with switchcrafts when I fixed it, one of the encloseds ones got fucked. Those enclosed jacks are shithouse.

Leave it unpainted, blue LEDs will add transparent bass boost

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:45 pm
by euan
Mike wrote:blue LEDs will add transparent bass boost
Totally what I was thinking.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:47 pm
by Mike
Also add a toggle switch to roll of highs and make the repeats sound more analogue.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:48 pm
by Doog
And a dial for ROCK TOOOOOOOOONES

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:48 pm
by Mike
Let's hear a couple tones..


In fact give us clips of your new channel and reverb switching Laney you fuck, euan.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:56 pm
by euan
Need. A. Fucking. Microphone.

And a mixer

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 5:59 pm
by Tweez
Mike wrote:Yeah I replaced both jacks on my RAT2 with switchcrafts when I fixed it, one of the encloseds ones got fucked. Those enclosed jacks are shithouse.
I've had exactly the same problem with mine, are there actually any benefits of enclosed ones?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:00 pm
by Mike
They're cheap and you can build a pedal less well as you don't have to worry about shit shorting with the jack connections of the grounding ring as much.

Euan, ffs you should have got a cheap mic at maplin you donkey.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:13 pm
by euan
Mike wrote:They're cheap and you can build a pedal less well as you don't have to worry about shit shorting with the jack connections of the grounding ring as much.

Euan, ffs you should have got a cheap mic at maplin you donkey.
I have access to a mic and desk or a recorder with mic inputs. I've got Friday off, I'll see if I can get hold of it by then.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:15 pm
by Mike
Good man, you can't be in teh club until you record and post.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 1:58 pm
by euan
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Added the LEDs, a glow in the dark sheep and deghettofied the jack.

By the way kids, daddy was right always be safe and use a template.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 2:02 pm
by Thom
Sweet :) Sheep switch...

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 2:05 pm
by euan
lamp wrote:Sweet :) Sheep switch...
Wooltronics Channel Switcher, coming to an eBay action near you.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 2:54 pm
by gaybear
hahaha, i love the sheep

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 3:08 pm
by euan
gaybear wrote:hahaha, i love the sheep
I got given like 30 of them for my birthday. I need to find a use for them somehow :D

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 9:14 pm
by Mike
FUCK YEAH, nice work homie.