ShortScale.org

I have 2 dirt pedals in my set up that have no tone control, what I wanted to know is if it is possibhle to build a passive tone control to use with these pedals? If so would it be simple to do? I have very little skill in the electronics construction department so if someone could build one for me that would be even better, i'd obviously pay.

I did the very same thing to my very bright Mellowtone Wolf Computer, made it much more usable.



I take it you want to put the control in the pedal, rather than having it as a standalone box you'd have to switch on and off with your dirt pedal?

It's nothing harder than drilling the case, and doing 4 solder connections reeeally.

I was actually just after something I could put in the loop I have from my true bypass box that both the pedals are in. Also it wouldn't need a switch as i'd probably leave it on all the time as those 2 pedals are the only pedals in that loop. I just want to remove a little bit of treble from the sound without having adjust the tone control on my guitar. Also the smaller the box I can put it in the better as space is at a premium on my pedalboard.

Should be dead easy then really:

http://www.muzique.com/lab/swtc.htm

I don't quite understand why it has two resistors (the one in my Wolf Computer Mike helped me with is just a cap and a pot which acts as the resistor), maybe someone else can better explain it.

Either way, you'll be able to fit it all into a box the size of a 20 deck of smokes, maybe even smaller.

Thanks for that, however as I know very little about electronics the diagrams mean very little to me - but I suppose I could try and make a (slightly) educated guess on how to do it. The 2nd question now is where can I get the components, inparticular a small box to put it in?

I use www.bitsbox.co.uk

Its a nice cheap shop, sell everything you need.

I've just realised that I don't actually know what parts I need as the diagram on that website seems to be in some kind of secret electronics code. I think the circuit in the first picture will do what I want, if someone could give me a shopping list of what bits I need to buy and even a brief set of instructions on how to build I would appreciate it - i've just realised that I don't understand the diagram after all.

I apologise for being thick when it comes to electronics, I just play the guitar.

Build this, leaving the volume pot out, with these values:
R1=10k, R2=47k (these are resistors- 0.25w carbon film cheapies from Bitsbox will do)
and C1=0.022uF (= 22nF) non-polarised capacitor. Polybox or polyfilm or even ceramic will be fine. You want low voltage caps.

Last time I built one of these a linear taper pot didn't work well so suggest you go for audio taper.

Awesome Tim, thanks.

Just one question, what does the triangular symbol made up of horizontal lines mean?

ground

Nice one Chisa.

Maybe you should just buy an EQ pedal.

That would work but i'm trying to reduce the amount of pedals on my board.

Sorry. It sounds like you want to build a pedal so I assumed that would be adding a pedal.

Presuming Johnny doesn't want a footswitch for this tone box (seeing as it's just gonna be in a bypass loop), it can be way smaller than your standard EQ pedal (Danelectro Fish & Chips aside) plus as it's passive, you won't need to factor in a power cable also.

Doog wrote:Presuming Johnny doesn't want a footswitch for this tone box (seeing as it's just gonna be in a bypass loop), it can be way smaller than your standard EQ pedal (Danelectro Fish & Chips aside) plus as it's passive, you won't need to factor in a power cable also.

You're correct, no footswitch required - just the box + tone pot.

I see. I didn't realize that was an issue.
Well Johnny. If you pick a tone control, I'll help you build it.
Fender, Marshall, BMP, SWTC, etc. Let me know and I'll help out if you need me to.

Thanks Bill. Once I get round to getting the bits and finding the time to build i'll give you a shout if I have any issues.