Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Mincer

Mincer

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So, how is it done? My Crybaby is from the early 80s. There are kits that are sold (Area51 sells one), but I know the parts can't be that expensive. A switching jack (with 2 positive, one negative connectors), some sort of filtering to stop AC hum and overload protection might be needed.
I could just go with a battery clip AC connector, or just buy the Area51 kit. But if anyone here has done this before, I might even have the parts here to do it.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

i may be wrong in thinking this, but isnt all you need a d/c adapter plug? just use the hot and ground that the battery was soldered to and hook that up to the jack?
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

It should be quite simple indeed.

I take for granted that you don'T mind altering the casing of that old pedal to make room for the DC jack.

Buy a negative centre DC jack from smallbearelectronics such as this one.

Wire it following the instructions on this page and you'Re done.

That way you'll keep the possibility of using batteries (wire the battery clip accordingly) and will be able to use a boss-type power supply.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Dave.....I used to make little circuit boards that I etched as power supplies for the wahs I would mod...You could also use a small breadboard from RS....I do have a nice little hand drawn circuit drawing if you want to see/use it?

This circuit is basically a copy of the earlier Dunlop CBs that had the power supply..It uses the standard negative tip barrel style adapter also...PM me etc..if I can help you further pal.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Dave.....I used to make little circuit boards that I etched as power supplies for the wahs I would mod...You could also use a small breadboard from RS....I do have a nice little hand drawn circuit drawing if you want to see/use it?

This circuit is basically a copy of the earlier Dunlop CBs that had the power supply..It uses the standard negative tip barrel style adapter also...PM me etc..if I can help you further pal.
Click to expand...
John, may I have a copy of that also please?
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Hope this helps? Been doing this way since 2004 in "alot" of wahs!

DSCF6340.jpg




DSCF6341.jpg


DSCF6342.jpg


DSCF6343.jpg
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Haha just saw this! Thanks for the help! I will let you know if I wind up needing any help with it it.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Mincer said:
Haha just saw this! Thanks for the help! I will let you know if I wind up needing any help with it it.
Click to expand...

I think you'll have no problems with it Dave.Just use a regular 9v jack on the side like Boss and everybody else is using...Negative tip...
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Dude just get a battery adapter. They are made by Visual sound who makes the one spot. I have two Thomas Organ Company wah pedals & rather then mod them I use a battery adapter and hook it up to a one spot. Works great. Quiet & reliable.

W420-29557_visualsoundcbat.jpg
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Bludave said:
Dude just get a battery adapter. They are made by Visual sound who makes the one spot. I have two Thomas Organ Company wah pedals & rather then mod them I use a battery adapter and hook it up to a one spot. Works great. Quiet & reliable.

W420-29557_visualsoundcbat.jpg
Click to expand...

that's really all you need
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Actually, I have one of those...problem is that if you want to use batteries, you have to grab a screwdriver, take the bottom of the pedal off and switch in the battery. Not a huge deal, but a pain.
John, what exactly are the components on the additional board for? BTW, I also found a tutorial to make any wah true bypass. I may try this too.
Honestly this wah is one of the best sounding wahs I have ever used- but you hear its effect on the signal when it is in the signal path.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Mincer said:
Actually, I have one of those...problem is that if you want to use batteries, you have to grab a screwdriver, take the bottom of the pedal off and switch in the battery. Not a huge deal, but a pain.
John, what exactly are the components on the additional board for? BTW, I also found a tutorial to make any wah true bypass. I may try this too.
Honestly this wah is one of the best sounding wahs I have ever used- but you hear its effect on the signal when it is in the signal path.
Click to expand...

It's a copy of a Crybaby power supply..Basically resistor,cap and diode..The diode is there probably to keep dc power from backing up and ruining the power supply...

I Like the adapter that Dave shows also..
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Those little 9 volt pigtails are alright but can be a source of noise and hum and if you use a daisy chain power supply like a One Spot or DC Brick and the supply gets a spike the wah might very well bite the dust...
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Bludave said:
Dude just get a battery adapter. They are made by Visual sound who makes the one spot. I have two Thomas Organ Company wah pedals & rather then mod them I use a battery adapter and hook it up to a one spot. Works great. Quiet & reliable.

W420-29557_visualsoundcbat.jpg
Click to expand...


Been doing the same with a couple ancient phase pedals, been very happy with the set up.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Bludave said:
Dude just get a battery adapter. They are made by Visual sound who makes the one spot. I have two Thomas Organ Company wah pedals & rather then mod them I use a battery adapter and hook it up to a one spot. Works great. Quiet & reliable.

W420-29557_visualsoundcbat.jpg
Click to expand...

+1

I power my T.O. wah from my Furman Pedalboard with a battery clip wire.

Bill
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

Maybe you could very slightly notch the side of the pedal,so you could have enough sticking out to where you could easily disconnect the One Spot cable connection.
 
Re: Adding a DC jack to an old wah pedal

the guy who invented fire said:
Those little 9 volt pigtails are alright but can be a source of noise and hum and if you use a daisy chain power supply like a One Spot or DC Brick and the supply gets a spike the wah might very well bite the dust...
Click to expand...

I use about 4 of them on my board(s) due to the power supply on a few are at an odd angle. When I am not playing everything is dead quiet. I have had these adapters on my pedal board(s) for about 6 or 7 years now. Nothing has failed except for one Onespot. I contacted Visual sound & they replaced it under Warrantee. When I say fail it didn't actually die but it did start hissing. I must have kinked a wire in it or something. Other then that minor issue everything has been rock solid. Now if you use a board with 10 or 12 pedals this may not be to power source for you, but I use a CE2, a DD3, an overdrive, wah & tuner. Done!

I have all of my wahs hooked up with these adapters and a couple of other pedals because of the angle of the power connection. I never use batteries so taking the bottom off is really not an issue.
 
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