$7 tap tempo switch

[FretFire]

I wanted an external tap switch for my DD-20, but didn't feel like dropping $20-30 on one of the huge Boss switches. There are some small metal options out there, but I need one this week. So, I stopped by Radio Shack and picked up a couple of parts.

1) Small project enclosure (3" x 2" x 1")
2) Momentary on/off switch

Total - $6.36. I had a 1/4" jack already, but add a dollar or two if you don't have one. Just drill a couple of holes, then wire it up (it's super easy), and it works great with the DD-20. I can easily tap in ridiculously quick speeds nearing 600bpm, so it's plenty responsive. We'll see how well the plastic enclosure holds up, but it should be fine for quite a while.

[guitarkid]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Awesome!! I might have to try that!

[ratherdashing]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Love it.

I also love Rich_S's tap tempo switch made from a Microsoft mouse.

[TheLivingDead]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Shweeeeet.

[FretFire]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Playing with my board layout, and it looks like I can stick this guy right under my M9. That'll make it easy to sync up my delay and modulation times with the same taps.

[Tune-O-Matic]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

A cool little tip for tap tempo pedals is to put multiple jacks in the same enclosure. You wire all the jacks to the same switch and run separate cables to each tap tempo enabled pedal. You can sync up all of your taps with one single pedal.

[Rich_S]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

The plastic enclosure will be fine, it's the plastic switch that's going to break. My friends and I used that switch on model rocket launches in the '70s, and they've never been durable.

IIRC, Boss really wants a normally-closed switch, I think with normal-open, it's going to trigger on the release rather than the stomp. Still workable, but a bit strange.

Here are some switches fom Small Bear that will hold up long-term.

Normally Open SPST
Normally Closed SPST
3PDT Momentary Wired to multiple jacks, this one could sync up to three different pedals all from the same switch. I've read about guys who do this with, say, a pair of DD-7s off the same tap switch.

BTW, it's me that made the switches out of mice. These are actually tremolo/reverb switches, but with a momentary switch, they'd make a great tap-tempo switch. IIRC, Boss really wants a normally-closed switch. I think I have one of those NC switches from above in my parts box; I keep meaning to convert another mouse I have lying around to a tap-tempo for my son's Boss looper.

[Tune-O-Matic]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Those mice crack me up.

You dont need a 3PDT Momentary to hook up multiple pedals, a normal SPST works just fine. I have hooked up my Modfactor and timefactor this way with 1 Carling SPST(Just like the first one you listed from Smallbear) and it worked perfectly.

I don't know if you guys have any electronic surplus stores in your area but they are a great place to look for these types of switches and lots of other misc. things. I used to live right down the street from one and I found NOS Carling SPST momentaries for $2 a piece.

[FretFire]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

A cool little tip for tap tempo pedals is to put multiple jacks in the same enclosure. You wire all the jacks to the same switch and run separate cables to each tap tempo enabled pedal. You can sync up all of your taps with one single pedal.

The M9 only has jacks for expression pedals and MIDI, not sure if an external tap will work with it.

[ratherdashing]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

BTW, it's me that made the switches out of mice.

Whoops, sorry about that.

[ErikH]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

Very cool. I used that same enclosure to make a footswitch for my Marshall. Single button, LED and a jack. Works great and the enclosure has held up fine. The footswitch I used is a little more sturdy though, a Hoover vacuum cleaner switch.

[Kam]

Re: $7 tap tempo switch

That's a great idea! Lately I've been kinda wishing the tap on my DD-20 wasn't so freaking awkward to use, so I might cobble one of these together myself. Thanks for posting.