Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

[darkshadow54321]

The switchless wah idea sounds fantastic to me. I've never liked having to step on the switch... However, I don't like the sound of morley wahs at all.

So i was wondering if I could convert a Vox wah by making it switchless? Is it easy? Is it possible to still have the Vox casing, or would it have to be a morley wah with Vox guts?

Also, does the switchless system actually work properly? Is there any delay in response when you first step on it? Does it go wrong easily?

Thanks!

 

[Grandor]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

Cool ideas. I'm interested to hear what the verdict is...

 

[Bluesman]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

Me also. I've been looking for that kind of pedal for a long time, at a decent price.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I imagine that it's not that difficult to modify the Vox circuit to respond to the LED instead of the traditional switch. So I guess you could have it in Morley casing.

But I prefer a longer sweep, so I'd love to be able to do the same thing with a Vox casing... probably harder though, since it was designed with the switch in mind.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

How do these switchless wahs work? I believe the Dunlop GCB-95Q is also done like this, but I've never seen one in person to see how it works.

I know the Univibe has a micro switch on the heel, so that when you rock all the way back it shuts off, and it switches back on as soon as you step on it.....I wonder if it's the same idea?

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I have a Dunlop 95Q and I love it. Active only when stepped on and it has variable wah and volume controls plus a 15dB boost swittch on the side. Hit my gear link and you can see it.

 

[AcidBurn]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

You can mod Dunlop wahs to be like that and still keep the original case, there Custom shop will do it. I'm not sure if you can do it to Vox wahs though.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I have a Dunlop 95Q and I love it. Active only when stepped on and it has variable wah and volume controls plus a 15dB boost swittch on the side. Hit my gear link and you can see it.

How does it turn on (please give details)?

Can you leave it half ****ed and just place your foot on it to trigger it?

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

How does it turn on (please give details)?

Can you leave it half ****ed and just place your foot on it to trigger it?

It turns on as soon as you press it and turns off 1 second after you release it. If you hold it down half way then it would be on at that pitch until you step off. It also has true bypass which is cool.

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

Me also. I've been looking for that kind of pedal for a long time, at a decent price.

I got my Dunlop 95Q on eBay for $35. Only thing wrong with it was the battery compartment cover was missing. I called Jim Dunlop support and the sales girl sent me a replacement for free. I even told her I had just acquired it on eBay and I wasn't the original owner. Now that's customer service!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I dunno. The switch never bothered me. I just like a wah that sounds great and has true bypass. I'm jonesin for a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe. Dang near $300, tho.

 

[alfalfasprout69]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I managed to get the optical part to work for a friends replacement circuitboard into a broken Morley Wah shell.

I figured out how to use a solid state relay with and the LED/LDR circuit to trigger the effect from true bypass to effect on but never got around to actually implementing it.

Was a lot of work for what is something that already exists with the crybaby 95q,

Time would have beeen better spent playing the guitar

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TxF73WMmMJY

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I find my Ibanez Weeping Demon wah has a bit of delay (about 1/2 second) turning on and off, and the sound change is very abrupt (probably because the pedal is a fair bit ways down before the circuit cuts in). But I got mine used, so it may not be the case with all of them. I don't use my wah enough (or well enough) to worry about it yet.

 

[Coma]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

I find my Ibanez Weeping Demon wah has a bit of delay (about 1/2 second) turning on and off, and the sound change is very abrupt (probably because the pedal is a fair bit ways down before the circuit cuts in). But I got mine used, so it may not be the case with all of them. I don't use my wah enough (or well enough) to worry about it yet.

No, the issue you're experiencing is inherent in their design. You can set the time delay for auto-off, but it is very much an on/off function, not a fader.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Converting To A Switchless Wah System?

Replace the rubber pad on top of the pedal with a piezo or pressure switch that toggles a bypass of the circuit board. Step on the pedal and the wah circuit is engaged, remove your foot and it's bypassed.

Even a simple 2-piece thin conductive metal contact plate switch should work. Shim stock (0.010), or even shielding tape should be enough. You can keep them separated with a thin layer of foam that easily compresses under normal foot pressure, and then expands when you let off. You certainly don't want the foam to be too stiff, as you'd have to fight to keep it compressed, and it may lose contact if you ease up.