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Modify Your Wah Pedal by James Haskin on June 2, 2008
Table of Contents
Modify Your Wah Pedal ...... 1
Intro: Modify Your Wah Pedal ...... 2
Step 1: Research ...... 2
Step 2: True Bypass ...... 4
Step 3: Volume Boost ...... 7
Step 4: Wah-Volume Pedal ...... 8
Step 5: Vocal ...... 9
Step 6: Midrange ...... 10
Related Instructables ...... 11
Comments ...... 11
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Author:James Haskin author's website [email protected]
Intro: Modify Your Wah Pedal After making my talk box I started surfing the web for other guitar related things I could do myself. I found loads of info on the Dunlop GCB-95 wah pedal. This Instructable will walk you through all of the modifications I made to my wah pedal...
*True Bypass Mod *Volume Boost Mod *Wah-Volume Pedal Mod *Vocal Mod *Midrange Mod
After having completed all of these mod and a few others I recommend doing them one at a time and testing in between mods so if you don't like something, you can easily reverse it.
Your gonna need some basic soldering tools... -good soldering iron (mines a Weller WESD51D I got for christmas) -solder -wire cutter/stripper -helping hand (a must!!)
also the to wire anything to the board itself you will need 24AWG wire
Image Notes 1. Stole for my DS-1 I'm working on when I finish THAT instructable I'll change this to a funk colored chicken head knob :]
Step 1: Research I think this is a big step in all of my projects. You don't want to just jump in without input from multiple sources. A few of the site that helped me were... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castledine/greenfuz/wah.html http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm http://www.guitarzone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=176864 http://www.geofex.com/ - click "FX Technology -Technology of the..." in the upper left http://www.geocities.com/overdrivespider/tb.htm http://www.geocities.com/j4_student/schematics.htm
These are some pictures I found useful...
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Image Notes 1. thats the little guy 2. 4.7uF capacitor (Step 4)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Step 2: True Bypass So when your have you pedal off it doesn't affect your sound right? WRONG!! You may have noticed that even when off some of you effect pedals "suck" the tone from your guitar. A better explanation can be found Here .
I chose to remove the input buffer because it seemed to be the most easily reversible and from what I read, sounds better.
1. Open up the case and remove the circuit board. 2. Desolder the components. 3. Desolder the switch. 4. Install the new switch. (i used a 3PDT switch. Check out ebay for good deals)
If you use a 3PDT switch you can also add an LED to you pedal but I didn't want to.
Check It Out
Image Notes 1. You can easily unscrew these with your fingers
Image Notes 1. carefully disconnect the battery
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Image Notes 1. and its free 2. lost one of the black spaces but found it while cleaning my room
Image Notes Image Notes 1. remove 1. before 2. remove 3. remove 4. remove 5. remove 6. remove 7. before
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Image Notes Image Notes 1. You need a lot of this or a solder sucker pump. My kingdom for a solder sucker 1. after pump... 2. Jumper to switch 3. Jumper to switch
Image Notes 1. desoldered
Image Notes 1. desoldered 2. desoldered 3. desoldered 4. desoldered 5. desoldered 6. desoldered
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Step 3: Volume Boost This is one of the easier mods because If you've converted to true bypass, all you need to do is replace the 68K series input resistor with a lower value. I read that too low a value is likely to result in the pedal picking up radio interference. I made the mistake of following That_Pink_Queen 's model almost exactly. Luckily this is one of the ones he made that sounds good.
Image Notes 1. thats the little guy 2. 4.7uF capacitor (Step 4)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Step 4: Wah-Volume Pedal Now I'm sure we would all love one of these here , but if your like me you just need something that works and wont cost you your left nut. By adding a DPDT switch that disconnects the 4.7uF capacitor you can cancel the wah effect and you'll have yourself a volume pedal.
I got 50 of these babies on ebay for $10 w/shipping.
Image Notes Image Notes 1. some fancy shrinkwrapping 1. A MUST!!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Image Notes 1. thats the little guy 2. 4.7uF capacitor (Step 4)
Step 5: Vocal This one is pretty cool because it allows you to treak the sound of wah itself. "Replace the 33K resistor... with a 68K. This gives a more vocal quality to the wah. Some Vox Clyde McCoy wahs had 100K resistors here." - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castledine/greenfuz/wah.html
I decided to go with That_Pink_Queen and use a 100k ohm lin variable resistor so I could dial in the sound I wanted. Or you can mess around with multiple resistors and a rotary switch. Your choice.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Step 6: Midrange "Replace the 1K5 resistor... with a larger value. This increases the midrange and helps if your wah sounds dull and muted when you rock the pedal back. Try 1K8 to 2K7. Higher values than stock also smooth out the bass-treble transition." - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castledine/greenfuz/wah.html
So I replace my 1.5K (1k5 same thing) resistor with a 2.2k. Sounds fine but I since I did all my soldering in one go and the removed what I didn't like I cant say weather or not the difference was noticeable. Try it out for yourself.
Tip: Save all of the components you remove and store them in a container. That way if you want to change something back... you can.
Image Notes 1. My soldeing area. I recently rewired my friend's guitarist's LTD that he attempted (and failed) to switch to EMG Zak Wilds. 2. clipping leads 3. jars are so useful
Image Notes 1. Thanks reno_dakota!!
Image Notes 1. Stole for my DS-1 I'm working on when I finish THAT instructable I'll change this to a funk colored chicken head knob :]
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ Related Instructables
The FXaphone DIY MIDI Foot-on-pedal / DB-01 (Photos) by rinestone Scanner Pedal Expression True Bypass by butthead95 Board by raxel Pedal by SaM crybaby wah Guitar-Mounted HiLL mod by KoenB F/X for $5! by gmoon
Comments
41 comments Add Comment
madrobot3600 says: Mar 23, 2011. 8:28 AM REPLY hey i have gcb-95 too. but i have a problem. the pot in it stopped working is there anywhere i could find a new one?
Jezrael says: Jan 13, 2011. 1:37 PM REPLY Wich resistor do you recommend to replace the 68k resistor? or, wich value did you use? Greetings
thewizard42 says: Sep 2, 2010. 4:42 PM REPLY Do you mean spdt? or does it have to be double pole, because i do not see why you would need the second pole
overdrive555 says: Jun 10, 2010. 3:38 PM REPLY hi boys, why u dont use a trimmer to replace 1.5resistor?
butthead95 says: Jun 3, 2008. 12:41 PM REPLY Buy the Crybaby From Hell it has most of this stuff inclyuding a five selection knob for dif ranges
DrXavierAJones says: May 23, 2010. 7:57 PM REPLY Yeah, its also 200 dollars.
alenchence says: May 22, 2010. 10:01 AM REPLY Hi! I have a problem:when I click on the link for the installation of a new switch,it says the instruction is no longer available,so please help me out!I would like to do this mod,tone sucking is driving me crazy! Tnx
mesaiphoneguy says: Mar 5, 2010. 3:07 PM REPLY will this also work on a 535Q crybaby wah pedal?
stupidityisagift says: Nov 28, 2009. 11:20 AM REPLY hey, can you mod it for volume another way besides the capacitor? i have a snarling dog wah and want to mod it for voume, and i doubt the capacitor switch will work the same
rcrane says: Aug 22, 2009. 7:02 AM REPLY Hey, I am stuck. I have a green board like the one above and it is labeled 'E". I did the following: Removed old switch Removed the buffer components replaced the 33k with a 68k replaced the 1k5 with a 2.8k installed a 3PDT switch My problem is that I only have four wires to attach to the switch: 2 blue 1green 1purple I dont see any pictures showing the installation of the 3PDT usingmy board. Do I need to install wires where I removed the buffer and solder that to the switch? I don't know how to configure the wires on the switch. Help!
James Haskin says: Aug 22, 2009. 9:51 AM REPLY I added a picture from step 3 to step 2. My pedal is also a green E type board but all of dunlops circuits are so similar (except fro maybe Dimebag's Wahs from hell) that the wires from the top of the board to the pot and switch are the same.
Using switch diagram 5 as a reference tool. connect... Both PCB and Pot Blue to 7 PCB Purple to 8 http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ PCB Green to 9 as well as a jumper to 1 Connect the transistor jumper to 2 and the resistor jumper to 3
rcrane says: Aug 30, 2009. 7:31 AM REPLY Got it! Sounds much better. Thanks for your help. I am still experimenting with the pot range. But MUCH more vocal and quiet! thanks again
rcrane says: Aug 23, 2009. 7:10 AM REPLY James, Thanks for the quick response! So that explains how to wire the existing wires. I only changed two resistors and changed the switch, so I will attach the wires like you said and then I just need to add two wires to the area that I removed the buffer and wire them to 3? rcrane
abehughesmusic says: Aug 26, 2009. 9:18 AM REPLY Hey I just did the Wah/Wolume mod, (that's the only mod I did). Admitably I didn't do a great soldering on the board, but all the contacts seem to be solid and the pedal basically does as it's supposed to. The problem I'm having is that in the Volume setting in the pedal doesn't get all the way quiet in the far back position. Did I miss something? This was my first attempt to mod a pedal and except for that one thing, which I'm really not going to loose sleep over, it seems to be working and not giving me any particular trouble. Thanks for this instructable. After I do some more work, I'm going to try a keely mod I found for my tube screamer, and (fingers crossed), try doing the seeing eye/ ultra mod for my DS-1. Thanks again.
James Haskin says: Aug 26, 2009. 3:53 PM REPLY When you move the pedal your actually turning that big greasy pot. the range of the pedal is shorter than the range of the pot. Basically, when engaged, the pot is never fully on or off. Look up how to calibrate a wah pedal and you'll see what I mean. The fact that it doesn't go dead silent doesn't bother me.
somerockenguy says: Dec 10, 2008. 2:34 PM REPLY could you elaborate on this i would love to do this mod (wah-volume mod) but i only partly get how to do it. you think you could do an instructable on just that or point me to a web site that has a how to on it?
James Haskin says: Dec 10, 2008. 7:36 PM REPLY Ok so here the deal, sometimes people say they have "broken" wah pedals. They will say that its only changing the volume. Well that happens when this capacitor blows/dies/goes bad. So what I did was desoldered it from the board and hooked up two wires to it (pic1). Then I soldered the wire next to the gray (negative) to the middle switch. Then I soldered a lead running from the switch to the left hole (negative), and soldered the other lead on the capacitor to the right hold on the board. The only thing that matters is the Polarity . You can have the switch on either side of it. If you still don't get it PM me you # and Ill give you a call. (I just don't fell like taken pictures right now)
mrwonkaland says: Jul 24, 2009. 9:33 PM REPLY hi. i dont know much about fixin these electronics but i can learn pretty fast. i was wondering if you could help me with my dimebag wah pedal. its not crying anymore. and that makes me sad. i thought it was the pot. but on ur blog u say its the capacitor. id rather take ur word over my assumption. id really appreciate it if you could help me out. u say to leave a #. i dont know if you were talkin to someone else or just offering yourself. but in any case, my number is 602.295.0008. my email is [email protected] thx for your time.
stupidityisagift says: Jul 12, 2009. 9:44 AM REPLY hey, im a lil confused. is this mod for switching from the wah, to the volume mod, or is it wah volume combonation? thx
James Haskin says: Jul 19, 2009. 11:46 PM REPLY The switch cancels out the wah circuit and turn it into a wah pedal. The rest of it changes the tone of the pedal.
oweng4000 says: Jul 18, 2009. 6:31 AM REPLY I had an idea for a mod that i hope will work. a switch on the side in order to switch inductorPr
James Haskin says: Jul 19, 2009. 11:43 PM REPLY Sounds like the MXR Custom Audio Electronics MC-404 Wah. Check it out.
trgz says: Jun 4, 2009. 6:15 AM REPLY I've got an old Cry Baby that, way back in the 80's, I modded it to be a Wah/Volume and I only used a couple of parts in the mod, sadly though I can't remember what they were but I suspect I managed it with a simple change to the stomp switch and/or pot (multi-way versions),- it might have shorted out/bypassed a section of the circuitry like above (James H). It's up in the loft but I un-modded it when I went thought about selling it (20 years or so ago).
mabu4237 says: Apr 25, 2009. 9:53 AM REPLY Where does the switch for volume wah switching go?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ spiceyweasel says: Apr 13, 2009. 1:21 PM REPLY Sick! I've got a vintage Morley Distortion/ Wah pedal that also can be used for volume control. It'd be cool to add a few ring-dings to it. Thanks.
psychodeathmonkey says: Apr 11, 2009. 1:25 PM REPLY Hey anyone know what i need to make my wah into a wah/ring modulator like the snarling dogs mold spore or the arctec wish wah? I like the pedal ive got and dont really feel the need to buy another pedal. so anyone know what id need to do it. I pretty much know the basics , pots ,wires, and some kind of resisters, capaciters and all that stuff so. anyone help me out?
ReoTheYokel says: Dec 2, 2008. 2:02 PM REPLY You can prevent "sucking" the tone by using one of those True Bypass pedals. Or something like that. Justin Sandercoe reviewed it in one of his videos on Youtube. But, yeah, this is cheaper.
James Haskin says: Dec 2, 2008. 5:40 PM REPLY The way I wired it, using the switch, this pedal is true bypass.
James Haskin says: Dec 2, 2008. 5:46 PM REPLY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7QL37nKcR0 Oh this is pretty cool. I actually like leaving my wah in a position at times but this it pretty cool. I'll buy one of these for the dimebag wah from hell. It would be great soloing.
mondaymonkey says: Nov 23, 2008. 7:07 PM REPLY I splurged and got myself a Dunlop 535Q. Love it to bits, but need a light to tell me if its on or off. I'm probably just going to have another push switch connected to a small battery and LED mounted on the underside of the foot control pedal
avibank911 says: Oct 23, 2008. 9:58 AM REPLY dono if this is the right place to ask but- how do i add a string of led's to my volume pedal to indicate the postion of the potentiometer
James Haskin says: Oct 23, 2008. 4:03 PM REPLY Idk dude, personally I don't think its worth the effort.
no food please says: Jul 12, 2008. 6:11 PM REPLY I'm looking into doing this, but I have the dime cry baby custom (model db-02). It contains mostly smd components and all of the circuit board traces are covered up and really hard to see. I can't find any pictures of other people working on it, or any circuit diagrams for it. There are some spots that don't have have anything soldered to them, but have traces leading up to them and labels (e.g. "C3" or "TP1").
James Haskin says: Jul 12, 2008. 8:19 PM REPLY http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-DB02-Dime-Custom-Crybaby?sku=151013&src=3SOSWXXA Is that it? Open up the case and remove the circuit board. Take some pictures of the inside for me. I'll try to understand what you mean.
no food please says: Jul 14, 2008. 10:49 PM REPLY That is the correct pedal. I suspect the DB-02 and the DB-01(which has a switch and a potentiometer on the side of the pedal) use the same circuit board(or a very similar one). Here are some pictures of the DB-02: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28577578@N05/2669716865/in/photostream/
James Haskin says: Jul 15, 2008. 1:33 AM REPLY Ooooh. SMD, got ya. Well, I emailed Dunlop asking for a schematic (worth a try?) and private messaged butthead95 who I think has a DB-01. I figure you could maybe replace a few components on yours, drill a few holes and have a DB-02 that does everything the DB-01 does. If you really wanted to you could map out the circuit yourself and play with things but man thats A LOT of work.
James Haskin says: Jul 17, 2008. 6:49 AM REPLY butthead95 made this for us. http://www.instructables.com/id/DB-01/ Sadly idt its gonna help you much. If I was you, I could try to sell yours and buy a DB-01 they seem really cool.
KoenB says: Jun 12, 2008. 5:39 AM REPLY Great mods! I never knew the sound would change so much by just changing caps.
All you need is my foot-on-pedal mod ;) check it out http://www.instructables.com/id/Foot-on-pedal-True-Bypass-crybaby-wah-mod/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/ gmoon says: Jun 3, 2008. 4:52 AM REPLY Hey, nice job! ***** Question: I've got a "Thomas Organ" Crybaby (pre Dunlop), and I wouldn't want to mod it. But the pot is pretty scratchy. Hoffman amps has new replacements. When you were researching this project, did you see any NOS pots for Crybabies?
James Haskin says: Jun 3, 2008. 9:37 AM REPLY If its vintage you want check out this guys tut. http://www.diyguitarist.com/DIYStompboxes/WahTrueBypass.htm
Maybe find out what manufacture made the pot and search for that at whatever resistance it is. or you could rape one for parts http://cgi.ebay.com/Thomas-Organ-Crybaby-Wah-Wah-pedal-model-95- 910511_W0QQitemZ230258290605QQihZ013QQcategoryZ41422QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
gmoon says: Jun 3, 2008. 10:09 AM REPLY Yeah, it's identical to the ebay one. I bought it new, sometime in the mid-70s.
I don't want to mod it at all, other than replacing the pot (which is sealed, so can't be cleaned.) A vintage pot would be best--although I tend not to be a fanatic about such things... Better a slightly-modified working pedal than a totally stock, non-functional one...
Thanks.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-Your-Wah-Pedal/