SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

Leveller

Leveller

New member
Hello! My lovely parents got me a Vox V847 wah this christmas :) And I really like it so far, but I would like to make it true bypass. And I've heard that you can change the sound by adjusting something inside it, without changing components? How? Keep in mind I've never modded a pedal in my life so keep it simple ;) links or descriptions would be wonderful.
Any other tips for getting the most out of it? I've done a forum search and I would really like to get it modded by Stratdeluxe since he really seem to know his stuff ;) But I can't afford it and don't want to hassle with shipping etc :(

Another question, I'v read that the 847 doesn't have an adapter input... But mine has :S Kinda confused about that.

Thank you in advance! :D
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

So to be something of a buzzkill, but I've got to say that if money is an issue for you, it would be pretty darn foolish to try to mod the thing yourself if you don't know what your doing nor have you done such things before.

Its pretty easy to really mess things up with a soldiering iron, I know, I've done it. Luckily on cheap pedals though.

I personally would never try my luck on my RMC wah, I pay the money to have the experts handle such things because its far cheaper than replacing the whole unit or paying them anyways to try to fix it.

Best case senario is you simply get a cold joint and it sounds worse than when you started and you need someone to fix it.

Nothing wrong with modding your own stuff or learning, but do it on a $20 throw away pedal, not a nice new $169 Vox wah.

As I said before as well, especially if money is an issue. If you don't want to pay to have it modded and/or can't afford to, I've got to assume you really wouldnt want to pay to repair/replace it.
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

There is a very simply true bypass wah mod on Fulltone.com

What you can adjust in a Vox wah is the pot...simply move the straight gear out of the wah and adjust the pot to where you want it to get the sweep you want...
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

joelap yeah I though it was wierd too, anyone have an explanation? I haven't worked with pedals before but when I opened it up it look pretty clean and neat ^^

millsart, thanks for the concern but I'm going to take a chance here ;) also my father is kind of experienced with electronics so I'll ask him to help me so I don't make some dumbass mistake :D

Thanks for the link to fulltone chris (is that right), it looks pretty easy though I have no idea where to find a DPDT switch =/ I'll see if I can locate the "straight gear" inside the wah :D
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

Yep I searched and found some sites :) the only problem is getting the components. Thanks for the suggestion to change the Q resistor I'll see what I can do ;)
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

Leveller said:
Hello! My lovely parents got me a Vox V847 wah this christmas :) And I really like it so far, but I would like to make it true bypass. And I've heard that you can change the sound by adjusting something inside it, without changing components? How? Keep in mind I've never modded a pedal in my life so keep it simple ;) links or descriptions would be wonderful.
Any other tips for getting the most out of it? I've done a forum search and I would really like to get it modded by Stratdeluxe since he really seem to know his stuff ;) But I can't afford it and don't want to hassle with shipping etc :(

Another question, I'v read that the 847 doesn't have an adapter input... But mine has :S Kinda confused about that.

Thank you in advance! :D
Click to expand...

The Vox 847A now has the dc adapter...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-V847A-Wah-Pedal?sku=151058

You need a better inductor and a pot with the right sweep to have a really great wah!
 
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Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

okay, i've got two questions:

Whats the best way to resolder a resistor in there?? It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to get it out, you'd just need a good solder sucker... which i would need to get (any recommendations on that?). then, whats the best way to get the new resistor resoldered into there?? My dad said he had seen people do that with a special tool, anyone know what this is or where i could get one?

Second question is, instead of solering a new resistor in for the Q resistor, could you solder in some wires that lead to a pot mounted through the side of the pedal, to have an external, adjustable Q?? Does anyone know if i would need a specific type of pot or how feasible this idea is??


I'm interested in electronics but haven't done much messing with my equipment thusfar.... i think i'd like to start!
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

joelap said:
Radio shack sells a desoldering bulb. Its a red thing that looks like a balloon. Squeeze the air out, heat the solder joint with the soldering iron in your other hand, the let the air back in the bulb and it'll suck the solder into it. Its 5 bucks I think. I also recommend getting some desoldering braid, as the bulb doesnt always work for me on small solder pads. But on the Vox 847, the pads are so big the bulb will work no problem.



Yeah, it is entirely possible. Whenever there is a resistor, you can substitute a pot for it. I'd recommend using a 50k Pot, and putting a 47k resistor in series with it. Below 33k or so, the wah effect is barely audible. I have never tried above 100k or heard anyone use a value above 100k either. As far as what type of pot, alpha 16mm should be fine. Use linear taper. www.smallbearelec.com Go to Pots/trimpots, grab an alpha 16mm linear taper 50k pot. SKU: 1005A.



Don't start then... cause it will consume your way of looking at all your gear :D. Looking into electronic pedal circuits in high school is what made me go into electrical engineering. 4 years later, its been a hell of a ride. Its come to the point where 90% of commercial products dont even appeal to me anymore... I dont bother going to GC or the like because nothing I see there will interest me... I see all the flaws in everything and say "do i really want to by this for $x.xx when I can build it for roughly the same or less and not have to put up with (insert flaw here)". But honestly, I love it, and if I could make a living off of building pedals, amps, and studio gear, I'd be in heaven.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info!!

Only remaining question.... whats the best way to solder the new parts back into the PC board, just use a regular old soldering iron or is there a certain trick or tool to it??

EDIT: i just checked, and the stock Q resistor is 33K... with the setup you suggested, am i correct in thinking i wouldn't be able to get quite the same sound as it is now?? Would wiring a 33K resistor in line with the pot work okay?
 
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Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

alright.

Now, i'm not trying to threadjack by asking all these questions, but i figure the OP can use the info as well.

What would you guys recommend as far as inductors and pots?? i figure maybe a red fasel inductor, i dunno where the best place to get one is however. And i have no idea about different pots.
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

I replaced my inductor to the red fasel, not a big diffrence, it's pretty unnecessary.
 
Re: SIMPLE Wah-Wah Mods

joelap said:
What really gives the sound is the taper of the pot. Any pot with the "ICAR" taper will give you a very vintage sound. I'd start with the pot, and then do an inductor when you have extra cash lying around.
Click to expand...

Oh no, now I will have to try it myself.
I think the pot and the diode is the only things I didn't change in my wah :biglaugh:
 
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