Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

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I got a well-loved Peavey Mace VT off of craigslist a little while ago, but it was without it's footswitch.

I know I can buy a new footswitch for about $90, but that seems like highway robbery for 4 switches in a box. So my thoughts have turned to making my own. I know that the schematics are easy to come by, and it seems like something I could probably pull off. I don't have much experience with this type of stuff, but I have soldered a few wires together here and there.

The problem is I don't even know where to begin. I assume I need to get a project box, and some switches, but where would I buy the specific parts I need?

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

Sounds like $90 is a bargain. By the time you do the research, gather the materials (and pay for gas!!!), do the switch soldering, do the cable plug; and then spend ten hours tearing your hair out twelve times and saying "****" ninety-six times--it will have been much cheaper to have bought the pedal and be done with it.

I know you don't want to hear it, but bite the bullet and buy the pedal.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

Sounds like $90 is a bargain. By the time you do the research, gather the materials (and pay for gas!!!), do the switch soldering, do the cable plug; and then spend ten hours tearing your hair out twelve times and saying "****" ninety-six times--it will have been much cheaper to have bought the pedal and be done with it.

I know you don't want to hear it, but bite the bullet and buy the pedal.

Good luck!

Bill

Party pooper.

There's gotta be a better way. Vacuum-style switches can't cost *that* much.
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

Party pooper.

There's gotta be a better way. Vacuum-style switches can't cost *that* much.

Oh yeah, that's me! LOL! Don't say I didn't warn you!

BTW, I speak from experience--I tried to modify a 4-button Peavey footswitch to work with one of my Mesa Mark IIIs (Lead/Rhythm; EQ off/on; Reverb off/on; Rhythm 1/Rhythm 2). I had an ELECTRICIAN help me with it, and he had trouble figuring it out. LOL! Never again. My time is too valuable for that!

Come to think of it, there is a guy our here in Oregon that does switch boxes for Mesa amps. I think he is called Voodoo, and he does a lot of E-bay sales. Might want to search E-bay for "mesa" and see if any his toys pop up. He might be able to help you, perhaps even with parts.

Bill
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

Oh yeah, that's me! LOL! Don't say I didn't warn you!

BTW, I speak from experience--I tried to modify a 4-button Peavey footswitch to work with one of my Mesa Mark IIIs (Lead/Rhythm; EQ off/on; Reverb off/on; Rhythm 1/Rhythm 2). I had an ELECTRICIAN help me with it, and he had trouble figuring it out. LOL! Never again. My time is too valuable for that!

Come to think of it, there is a guy our here in Oregon that does switch boxes for Mesa amps. I think he is called Voodoo, and he does a lot of E-bay sales. Might want to search E-bay for "mesa" and see if any his toys pop up. He might be able to help you, perhaps even with parts.

Bill

Oh yeah, he's one of the two makers of replacement switches. His stuff also costs $90.
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

I had an ELECTRICIAN help me with it, and he had trouble figuring it out. LOL! Never again. My time is too valuable for that!

Electricians don't necessarily know anything about electronics. They're usually good mechanics who know their code.

And yes, our time is too valuable for crap like that. That widget that seems like such a ripoff? Usually looks like a bargain by the time you're done making your own. Beware the false economy of looking at a product and seeing only parts or raw materials.
 
Re: Building a footswitch for a Peavey Mace VT

SWITCHDOCTOR is also a builder, i had an LED F/S built by him for my Carvin V3, DOC is very much on the ball, & answers e/mail very quickly, i cant say enough praise for him,you can find him on E/bay.
 
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