A few pedal builds/mods

[Enigmur]

Here are a few pics of the pedals I have built and modded.

Vox V847, Red Rocket (NPN Booster), GingerMuff (Germanium Axis Face)
http://a953.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/25/l_2d889f914d71d6dd70539956a11c06c0.jpg

Vox V847 Guts. I have wired in a red and yellow Fasel to replace the stock inductor, they are switchable by a toggle on the side. I have also added 100k pots externally to replace the Vocal resistor, which alters how much the pedal will wah - and also the 1k2 resistor which controls mids and the transition between low and high freqs
http://a895.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/9/l_9314f1ec2a4d8df011088a9aa1a46c7e.jpg

A picture of the Fasels.
http://a48.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/42/l_42fbc0a3e1938ec1a91fb55e27377d37.jpg

The Ginger Muff -
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4606/gmboxkn7.jpg

The GM's guts
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2012/gmgutsmb3.jpg

So that's what ive been up to!

By the way, the Ginger Muff hits Hendrix Fuzz spot on, and can be toned down to really smooth and creamy fuzz.

The wah sounds fantastic aswell - best ive ever played

[markbrad999]

Thats what I might do with a VOX V847.

Were the parts hard to get hold of?

How does it compare to other wahs you have used?

[BKent]

I always enjoy seeing this stuff, man. Thanks.

Any chance of getting some tone samples? I'd like to hear that Ginger Muff.

Nice work.

[Sixstring]

Very cool. Modding pedals is something I really want to get into. Did you work out the circuit yourself or did you get plans somewhere for the mod?

[Enigmur]

I just used the schematic at fuzzcentral for it in the end because the first layout I used was wrong.

It honestly isnt too hard, theres a few good sites for it - http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php

The guy who runs that also runs an online store, the Fasels are $15 US each, he also sells stomp switches for super cheap - he is really fast and friendly.

The wah is awesome because you can set it how you like, so it is tuneable to what song you want to play.

[Sixstring]

I've heard that the Fasels are the trick to killer wah. It seems you support that theory..? And those knobs and the switch on the side of the wah-- that was part of the mod?? Can you tell me what they are/do?

[Enigmur]

I've heard that the Fasels are the trick to killer wah. It seems you support that theory..? And those knobs and the switch on the side of the wah-- that was part of the mod?? Can you tell me what they are/do?

Fasels are pretty close to what I would consider a perfect wah, there are a couple of other really good inductor brands but these one were avaliable to me. The guy Aron at diystompboxes even checks their actual values, so you dont end up with a weak inductor or an overly strong one.

I noticed as soon as I put them in that they really thicken the sound, it makes it really smooth and rich. I had basically modded everything possible in that wah but it still wasnt as smooth as I wanted - there was a sharp change in the sweep of frequencies which I could only guess was the stock inductor.
The inductors got rid of a bit of treble and really creamed everything up, I still wanted some high end at the forward position so I rotated the pot so it would allow more highs, and also switched the Q Cap back down to .01uf from .015uf.

The switch on the side of the wah switches between the two different fasels, the red and yellow. Red is a lot smoother and doesnt introduce gain, so it is really nice for use on clean sounds. The yellow inductor sounds a lot better with distortion and its a bit louder and more agressive, it sounds pretty Hendrix to me.
One knob alters how much sweep the wah has, if I turn it up full it is an agressive wah, but I can tone it down and smooth it up to how I want.
The other knob also controls the sweep, but more in what frequencies are put in rather than how deep the wah effect is. It also adds gain and volume if really turned up.

This is really my frankenstein wah, I'll probably buy a better condition vox, put the inductors in and make them switchable - and just find my favourite setting for the resistors and make do without the knobs.

Every time I play it I'm still amazed how good it sounds, I love jamming with it :)

[Sixstring]

OK, I'm sold. Can you send me the plans you used to add the pots, switch and inductors, please. Any any tips would be appreciated.

[Enigmur]

I didn’t actually use a diagram or plan, once you know what components do what it is very straightforward. I’ll draw you a diagram you can follow tonight – and Ill include the wah mod page I used
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castledine/greenfuz/wah.html
http://home-wrecker.com/wahmods.html
The second link also includes the layout for an output buffer, a must when running the wah into a Fuzz Face or similar pedal.

I’ll try and do the draw up for you tonight, those sites cover the component changes on the board itself, I’ll just show you how to wire the inductors to a toggle, and add pots instead of resistors – easy!

[Sixstring]

I'll be looking for it- thanks!!

[Dude Absher]

Thanks for the PICS,Links and Info here!!!!

I bookmarked them so I can see what I can try to distroy that I have...lol

Take Care:

[Enigmur]

A warning though...

Once I modded my Vox I was addicted -

Sorry I didnt get around to doing the diagram for you, dog/vet problems - I will still get it done at some stage.

[Sixstring]

...still waiting... ;)

[Enigmur]

Sorry about that glitch, Ive been busier than a one armed bricklayer in Baghdad!

Here is a terrible diagram of what I did http://jsguitarforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1195&stc=1&d=1180331103

For the inductor, my stock Vox inductor had 4 pins, the Fasels only have two. Once you remove the stock inductor you pick the two holes closest to that jumper resistor (at the top in the diagram).
The inductors dont have polarity so it doesnt matter which way you wire them.

The toggle switch I used was a 2PDT Mini Toggle.
When it is flicked one way, it selects like this -

|-|
|-|
| |

When flicked down it selects like this -

| |
|-|
|-|

The vertical lines "|" are the tabs on the switch.

So you wire the two middle tabs to the circuitboard, the top 2 tabs to one inductor, and the bottom tabs to the other inductor.
Meaning that at all times the circuit is connected to that switch, but the selected inductor changes when switched.

Im not sure how many pins other inductors have - so check that out before you go buy anything other than a Fasel.

A pot is simply a resistor which increases or decreases it's resistance when you turn it.
Now with the pot, depending what value you want to control, you will need a value of pot that suits.

The resistor in the diagram the pot is replacing is the 33k resistor, having a 100k pot in its place means I can change the resistance from 0ohms to 100kohms.

If you were to put in a pot to change the 330ohm resistor (which controls bass and gain) you would put in a 1k pot.

Pots usually come in 1k, 2k, 5k, 10k, 20k, 50k, 100k ect. See what is avaliable to you.

When wiring the lugs I just wired one wire from the board to the middle lug on the pot, and the other wire to either of the outer lugs on the pot. If the control effects the sound backwards than you expected (for example clockwise turns it down), simply flip the wire from the outer lug to the other outer lug, this should reverse how the pot adds resistance.

I hope this is of help and isnt too confusing (or isnt dumbed down too much), if you have any questions I'll try explain a little better.

Im off to band practise!

[Sixstring]

Excellent- thank you!! I'll let you know if I have any other questions when I tear into my pedal. :thumbs: