Stompbox builders - bypassing/moving looper switches?

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

There is something fundamentally retarded about a stomper that has a couple of big footswitches - AND a whole lot of little knobs that you have to twiddle by hand. Or they're building them for 21-year-old contortionists. I have a Boss RC20XL looper, and I am wondering how hard it is to build a separate floor switch and wire it to bypass the first switch that turns the effect on and off. There are jacks in back to attach extra foot switches - but only the ones controlling "reverse" and rolling through the loops!

And every other looper I look at has the same issue, which is you can't make it do things just with your foot, and you can't make it start and stop with your hand without inserting a "rest" into your loop to reach over and pound it with your fist.... Crying or Very sad

You can use the overdub feature to play through the "rest" and get something resembling a continuous bass line, but I'm just wondering how hard it is to physically re-route the connections that do the main function down to a new switch. You certainly do see a lot of youngsters crawling around on the floor dicking with their pedals, but I have my dignity to consider. The best would be a box that could use an existing, standard two-button, stereo-cord footpedal.

Helmut Gragger · From: Austria

I have built many stompboxes.

I am not quite sure that I understand what you are driving at. Do you want to bypass the whole thing? Or do you want a different switch but same function?

In the first case, build a true bypass box. Schematics are around. Or buy one if one is available.

In the second case, usually they have momentary switch contacts beneath those big buttons, and the electronics remembers the state. You could well solder one in parallel. You would of course void any warranty.

I doubt if the small Boss has enough space for an add´l jack, apart from the fact that it would look ugly, but you could sacrifice one of the existing ones if you don´t need them, provided it is not directly connected to the print, in which case it would be a bit fumbly.

have fun,

-helmut
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Steve Collins · From: Alaska, USA

Go over to DIY Stompboxes and ask around, there are always creative bypassing and switching ideas being shared over there.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

I needed an easily accessible remote manual activator for the fast/slow soft touch stomp switch on my Line 6 Rotochoir.
I inquired to L6 (someone who I know there to whom I could explain that yeahyeahyeah--don't worry about warranty voiding and kids don't try this at home) and he described the circuit board access points to tap wires into to a switch--I now forget if it was momentary or not--and it worked like a charm. I used a roll-over type lever switch.
I was able to access thru the battery hatch and do no harm to the box but I'd have hacked the case if I needed to.
The wiring is just tacked on to two points of the board mount of the stomp switch and is parallel so it does not in any way affect normal operation.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Yeah, I'll have to the DIY site, this is such an obvious problem - the intermingling of hand and foot controls - somebody's thought about it at least. The problem is compounded by the fact that the switch does something else when you hold it down for a bit, and then something else when you push both pedals. I have an older Tascam disc recorder that lets you do "punch" recording with a footswitch, which is I'm looking for here. Another problem with moving the switch to another box might be getting enough power through a longer set of wires.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Just correcting my statement--it is a Tech 21 Rotochoir, not a Line6.

Michael Hummel · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jon -- how do you like the RotoChoir? I'm a sucker for Leslie sims. I have an old original Tech21 SansAmp which is great. They make great products and the reviews are pretty good, but how much does it sound like a real Leslie?

Mike
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MSA Classic 5+4
Too many 6-strings and amps to list

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Mike--I have never played (steel) thru a Leslie so I can only review the RotoChoir in comparison to other sims.
I have an H&K Rotosphere, a Line6 Tone Core Roto Machine, a Podxt and now the Tech 21. I like it. A lot. Each of these have pros & cons and things they do a bit better than the other.

One of the strengths on the RChoir is the mic placement pot that takes you from a 'sitting in the mix' more distant mic'ingto a deep throb with strong proximity effect (the sound almost drops out as the rotor goes off axis).
This box is mono which might matter for some (not me). I have not tried the Neo Ventilator or the Strymon, the two serious high end units, but I'm satisfied enough that I'm not jones'in for something better. I'm selling the H&K--great box but I'm not using it.

Michael Hummel · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hi Jon:

Thanks for the reply. I know you said that you don't care, but the RotoChoir is stereo out. Sounds like you have as many Leslie sims as I do! My favourite to date is an old Roland multi-effects unit, the SE-50. It is quite an old unit and the Leslie effect isn't too adjustable, but it's the only one I've heard that gets that smoky, earthy, midrange sound of a real Leslie.

I don't use Leslie on steel either -- my setup is pretty standard and safe -- reverb and a little delay.

Cheers,
Mike
_________________
MSA Classic 5+4
Too many 6-strings and amps to list

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Hmm--so the single output jack takes a TRS stereo plug? How 'bout that!
Just a clarification--I DO play steel thru the sims. I've never played steel thru a real Leslie is what I was saying. Played B3 thru a Leslie but not steel.

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