building a footswitch?

[jphilly77]

I have a Hughes & Kettner Edition Tube 20th anniversary.

I'm wondering if anyone has info on how to build a simple footswitch to toggle between lead & clean channels?

I have enough parts lying around to make one (i think) I've just never done it before.

The FS-1 switch costs 40-50 bucks and I'd rather build my own.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[glassman]

Re: building a footswitch?

The footswitch for that amp is as simple as they get...just a mono make/break. Take an old guitar cord and cut one end off. Strip back the outer cover to expose the shield and twist it into a single bundle. Solder this to one lug of a push on/push off SPST switch. Strip the insulation off of the inner conductor. Solder this to the other terminal of the switch. That's it...

 

[jphilly77]

Re: building a footswitch?

Is there a way to make THIS switch work? I actually have one with an led attached as well that's just like this one.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: building a footswitch?

I just looked online at the cost of a footswitch to change the channel on my DSL-100. Thirty bucks. If making it connect and then dead short are the requirements, I can make this pedal out of parts I have laying around also and not have to spend the $30. Why didn't I think of doing this before? I can just use a instrument jack I have laying around and a standard cord (without cutting the cord) to make it do it's thing. I even have a nice aluminum enclosure that is small and unobtrusive and will house it all nicely.

 

[metlking]

Re: building a footswitch?

I just built one using parts from www.pedalpartsplus.com
I went with a simple box with an LED to indicate on/off. It controls my rack Delay and cost me about $11 (I already had the switch) I was using a Boss FS-5L and it worked great for about a year and a half but then the micro switch fell apart..........loss=$29

 

[jphilly77]

Re: building a footswitch?

So I don't know what I'm doing and somehow I got it figured out. Thanks for the help glassman.

I used an old chassis from a 2 button pedal, a guitar cable that I'd cut to length, a red LED to indicate when my drive channel was engaged (placed between the led and the lug on switch) and lastly a DPDT switch.

Works like a charm. Now I just want to add another LED to indicate the CLEAN channel.

Fun.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: building a footswitch?

You shoulda made one like this:

Apologies to Vintage Guitar magazine for stealing/developing their advertising gimmick, and to Xssive for stealing his trademark gear-photo background.

Also, please explain your screen name. Are you indeed from Philly? (As am I). Are you 77? Were you born in 77? (As was Lucid). Graduated in 77? (As did I.)

 

[jphilly77]

Re: building a footswitch?

Ha, great idea. Except I bet I'd have to restart it all the time. I'd rather have a Mac pedal.

My name is Phillips (hence the "philly"). Born in 77.

 

[ErikH]

Re: building a footswitch?

I built a single button footswitch for my Marshall in a small Radio Shack plastic enclosure using a 1/4" jack and a Hoover vacuum cleaner switch. Works great. There's enough voltage coming down the line to power a LED too. I like having the jack because that allows me to use any length of cable I need.