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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 01/12/2009 : 23:51:57
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I just recently modded my Vox wah to be true bypass, among other things, and while I never believed in "tone suck", it made a REAL difference. So I'm looking to make my DD-5 true bypass, and do a few more mods at the same time. I've soldered a bit of stuff, and I at least know what I can do, and what I need to leave for when I've had more practice. I'm not going to touch any surface-mount stuff.
1. True bypass. Here, ashtone did full bypass with a 4pdt switch, and by jumpering some components. Couldn't I just remove the stock switch and jumper the wires to leave the pedal always on? Then, I would install a 3pdt (or 4pdt, if necessary) to create an A/B switch like ashtone did.
2. To replace the stock LED with an LED for my A/B switch, could I just jumper the stock LED leads? Or does that diode need to be in the circuit or kablooey?
3. I'm going to solder a .1uf or .22uf cap to the feedback knob, so the signal degrades with each loop. I don't know what type of cap to use (polar? non-polar? material?) They say "the outside lug", and I'm not sure what that means, and where the other end goes. I'm sure I could find this if I kept searching, but if you have any input, let me know, please. Do I need to lift a contact, or is the cap just bridging two leads?
4. I want to connect the "Delay Time" control to an expression pedal. I'm thinking of drilling a hole for a 1/8" stereo connector to connect to my external expression pedal, and hooking it up to the leads for the delay time knob. My questions follow:
a. Is it just a potentiometer that controls the delay time (eg, the voltage to lead X)?
b. If "a" is true, can't I just wire up my expression pedal in parallel, and just turn the knob away so that no signal is going to lead X, and then use the expression pedal to lead X.
c. If you turn the pot all the way up, is it as if the pot were not in the circuit? If so, I should be able to set a low level of delay at the knob, then adjust from the expression pedal, right? I don't want to blow any circuitry.
If C is true, I'm totally wiring a 5-lead mini-jack into the DD-5, wiring it to both delay time AND feedback, and installing a selector switch on my expression pedal.
Thank you so, so very much. I'm just getting into modding, and looking forward to the awesomeness.
References:
True bypass:
http://www.bossarea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2487
Tone mod:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=1067825
Expression pedal mod:
http://www.analogman.com/dd5.htm
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copper
Bronze Member
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 02:39:18
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I only have an answer to 3.
I would use a film cap. I used a metal film. The .1 and .22 didn't really cut that much high end IMO. I used a 1uf and I finally got a nice result. A way to test this withought soldering to make sure you'll like the results is to open the pedal up and everything (don't let the PCB touch anything metal) and touch the cap to the outer lugs of the pot. This will show what it sounds like. You might need to be tricky and play the guitar at the same time you are testing or you could have someone else help.
This mod was really useful. I modded a DD-3, and I agree with most, it's way to bright. 1uf did the trick for me, but just experiment and find the right one for you.
As for the true bypass, I think it would just be easier to make a True Bypass loop. Go to www.generalguitargadgets.com and they make a kit for $30 that you could actually get for a lot cheaper if you know where to get parts.
Hope this makes sense. Good luck.
URL edited by Moderator |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 01/13/2009 12:01:53 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 08:40:27
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Hi thegnu
Welcome to the forum from Australia.
Regards Dr. Bob  |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 11:40:50
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@copper: thanks for the input on the cap. good tips. i think I'm going to go for the internal A/B switch, anyway, because I've got too much stuff on my pedal board as it is. I just need to continue researching is all.
And for anyone who tries to follow that link, he left an 's' off the end: generalguitargadgets.com
@Dr, Bob: thank you. I've already read quite a few of your posts. I hope to be of some service once I get a little knowledge. :) |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 12:23:45
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So I found this schematic:
http://us.share.geocities.com/glowgloves/dd5.jpg
When I open it up to do the tone mod, I'm going to see if I can affect the delay time with a pot wired in parallel. The effect level pot is being used in a very straightforward fashion, and I'll try to see if I can tell from the PCB + schematic what the heck the other pots are doing.
look, a dancing banana 
EDIT: Also found the schematics for the DD-2 (thanks to the schem thread on here):
http://experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Delay%20Echo%20and%20Samplers/BOSS%20DD-2.png
These pots appear to be variable resistors only, right? In that case, I know that resistors in parallel provide a reduced effect, so would I want to wire them in series? Is there a way to wire them in parallel while adding some more resistors to the expression pedal to match the resistance (or nearly match it)?
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Edited by - thegnu on 01/13/2009 13:23:46 |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 13:08:33
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I just realized that with a straight bypass switch, I would be cutting out any trailing delay effects after I switched off the pedal.
I should be able to both jump the circuitry with the bypass switch, and also leave the circuit output wired directly to the jack, right? Or would this defeat the purpose of true bypass? |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 14:05:01
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quote:
Originally posted by thegnu
So I found this schematic:
http://us.share.geocities.com/glowgloves/dd5.jpg
Hi thegnu
when you located the DD5-5 Schematic, where you able to locate/see the PCB & component overlays,
that are partially shown on the LHS of that schematic?
I did a reverse url search & was unable to get anything else to show up.
Thanks for posting the DD-5 Schematic link.
Would you please make an additional post, to the Schematic links thread, in your name, with this link to the DD-5?
We still have a few classic & new pedal schematics missing from our libraries.
Regards Dr. Bob |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 01/13/2009 14:48:12 |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 15:10:43
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| +2 on buying or making a TB loop for not only your DD-5, but others as well. |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 17:58:03
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quote:
Originally posted by DeFrag
+2 on buying or making a TB loop for not only your DD-5, but others as well.
Yeah, my only issue with that is I've got several pedals that are TB already that I want to put on a the effects loop of an NS-2, GE-7 equalizer (soon to be Monte Allum), and nothing else, really. While I could play around with a TB loop, the only thing that would actually go on it at the moment would be maybe the GE-7, my tuner, and the delay pedal.
I need to think about it, for sure. I just get the impression that a TB loop will irritate and fluster me while I'm playing out.
Plus, I'm thinking of making a super-complicated (oh boy) a/b switch to switch my pedal board from A (guitar > pedal board > guitar amp) to B (keyboard > pedal board > keyboard amp). This may be a horrible idea, and I haven't even figured out how many poles the switch would need (6?), and is worthy of its own thread. I may just run my keyboard through Reason or something to get crazy sounds, rather than do some more ghetto engineering.
Off to post DD-5 in the schematics thread. I don't have the rest of the schematics, but when I take apart my pedal, I'll take pics of front and back of the board so at least the data's out there. I'm looking to put up a site where I've got my projects listed, because this stuff is awesome, and everyone should do it. :) |
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Square Wave
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2009 : 08:05:31
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Another great DD-5 mod: On-board tap tempo.
Find a spst momentary mini-toggle (normally open) and wire it in parallel with the tip and sleeve contacts of the Tempo jack. Easy! |
Edited by - Square Wave on 01/14/2009 08:06:47 |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2009 : 00:28:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Square Wave
Another great DD-5 mod: On-board tap tempo.
Find a spst momentary mini-toggle (normally open) and wire it in parallel with the tip and sleeve contacts of the Tempo jack. Easy!
Yeah, sounds good. I'd seen this, but it had fallen off my list. I may well do it, based on your recommendation (and instructions).
In other news, I got the remainder of my wah mods done (power jack and status led), and built my OSQ kit from generalguitargadgets.com, and I'm pleased. My wah mods turned out ugly but functional, but the OSQ pedal came out very neatly, and I'm getting better with that freaking soldering iron. I also discovered how delicious I am, after I put my burnt finger in my mouth. In retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised that it would taste like seared meat. :)
So, ashtone wrote me back, and gave me some feedback, and I'm going to buy parts in a couple days. I'm modding my bassist's TS5, and I need to talk to him before I buy all the parts for it. This way, I have one more chance to test my abilities before I risk destroying my DD-5.
One question, though. When you turn a pot all the way off, no current is running through it, right? Or are some pots always on at least a little bit? I suppose I can test that with my freaking multimeter, and stop harrassing you guys, but I've already written this whole big rambling post, and I can't bring myself to throw it out.
I'm still deciding if I'm going to do the true bypass after all. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2009 : 00:54:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Square Wave
Another great DD-5 mod: On-board tap tempo.
Find a spst momentary mini-toggle (normally open) and wire it in parallel with the tip and sleeve contacts of the Tempo jack. Easy!
Great idea Square Wave! 
Btw, are you into synths? |
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thegnu
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2009 : 04:53:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
when you located the DD5-5 Schematic, where you able to locate/see the PCB & component overlays,
that are partially shown on the LHS of that schematic?
So I took the DD-5 apart to measure the pots, and from what I can tell, they're almost identical to the DD-2:
http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2215qw8.jpg
When the pot when turned all the way in either direction, I get 2.8 ohms on one side, and no current on the other. It looks like they're being used as rheostats, so I'm pretty sure I can just wire the expression pedal in parallel. (should I add a resistor to the expression pedal pot to compensate for the fact that I'll have those 2.8 ohms in parallel? or is that not how it works?)
One question: Since I want to have a selector switch on my expression pedal to choose whether I'm going to control feedback or delay time, I need to figure out how I'm going to wire this stupid thing. As I see my three options:
1. 5-conductor 1/8" jack/cable, and have switch on the expression pedal
2. two stereo 1/8" cables and jacks, and switch on pedal.
3. switch on DD-5, stero 1/" cable to expression pedal.
The problem with 1 is that the 5-conductor cable is a specialty item, and it will suck to solder a tiny 5-conductor jack into the DD-5. The problem with #2 and #3 is that I'm soldering TWO items into the DD-5. My favorite for ease is 5, I think. For best engineering, #3, but I'm also putting in another 3pdt for the bypass, and an spdt for tap tempo?
Thoughts? I appreciate you guys for reading all my rambling. :)
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Edited by - thegnu on 01/15/2009 04:56:41 |
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Square Wave
Copper Member
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2009 : 06:52:09
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quote:
Originally posted by DeFrag
quote:
Originally posted by Square Wave
Another great DD-5 mod: On-board tap tempo.
Find a spst momentary mini-toggle (normally open) and wire it in parallel with the tip and sleeve contacts of the Tempo jack. Easy!
Great idea Square Wave!
Btw, are you into synths?
Somewhat. I'm actually more of a Rhodes guy. |
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Boss DD-5 mods (bypass, etc)
