Amp Footswitch Mod Question

[Milkman]

Hey Guys,

I have a two button footswitch for my amp (connected via TRS cable). One button switches between channels, and the other engages the built in boost.

This amp also has a jack where another two button footswitch may be added to switch the reverb on and off with one button, and to engage or disengage the parallel effects loop with the other button (there is also a series loop, but that is not important right now).

What I want to do is connect a delay pedal in the parallel loop, and have it engaged with the same button used to engage the boost.

My thought is to add a second stereo jack to the footswitch and wire it to the boost switch in the appropriate manner, then plug it into the reverb/loop footswitch jack on the amp. This way, the delay will be enabled/disabled with the boost, and the reverb will be unaffected.

See any problem with this? I'm basically going to use one switch to close two circuits... doesn't seem like a big deal to me, but ohm's law is more of a distant, vague guideline to me.

[mozz]

Could probably do it with 1 diode so they would be isolated as to not interact.

[Milkman]

Could probably do it with 1 diode so they would be isolated as to not interact.

That's exactly what I was wondering. Now, I just have to figure out which wire to attach the diode to!

[mickey]

Any chance of a clue? Like brand and model of amp???????

[Milkman]

Any chance of a clue? Like brand and model of amp???????

Oh, sure… Traynor YCS50.

[LancerTheGreat]

Any chance of a clue? Like brand and model of amp???????

I think that's classified, or at least none of us have proper clearance for that information


Imma follow this thread for the footswitch info though, I think I might be able to apply something learned here to my Peavey VTX Classic that didn't come with the footswitch so I can't activate the clean channel or anything lol.

[andrewsrea]

Here is the manual: https://www.thetubestore.com/lib/thetub ... ematic.pdf

I think page 8 has your schematic and page 10 (labeled "PCBM Notes") has your layout. To plug your delay into the loop and have the boost switch operate both the effect and the boost, you would solder a diode 'band end' facing pin 4 of the 'Ft Sw' ring (left side -middle when looking at this layout). Solder the non-band end of the diode to pin 3 ring (right side middle) of the jack 'RVB/EFF'. Take a piece of shrink wrap and cover the switch contact of 'EVB/EFF' pin 4 so that it doesn't default to 'always on'. This should actuate both by the boost footswitch or the switch on the amp face.

[Milkman]

Thanks @andrewsrea , I have the manual and the schematic, and I’m pretty sure I can make sense of it. I’m gonna give it go… hopefully have time this weekend.

[andrewsrea]

Hope it works for you!

[BatUtilityBelt]

There might be an issue if both circuits don't agree on their preference of normally open/normally closed.

[andrewsrea]

There might be an issue if both circuits don't agree on their preference of normally open/normally closed.

Exactly!

I looked for that in the schematic, when I mapped out my advice. Schematic standards are supposed to be shown in their 'normal' unswitched mode, unless otherwise noted.

[nomadh]

I built the footsqitch for my peavey c50. One of my few successful and finished projects. Dont remember a thing about what I did

[mickey]

{mode=on soapbox}

I wish there was a footswitch standard. I could care less what if they would just all work alike!
There are footswitches that are just on/off switches. But there is no standard as in closed might be OFF and open might be ON!
Some footswitches are momentary contact. Like they are toggling a flip-flop inside the amp.
Other footswitches change the voltage between it and the amp.
There are others but you get the idea.

Just because you have two amps of the same brand does NOT mean you can swap footswitches between them!
I have a Fender DRRI and a a Super Champ XD but you cannot swap footswitches between them,
much less between them and a Peavey or a Marshall, or .......

I like a certain level of standardization!

{mode=off soapbox}

[t100d]

{mode=on soapbox}

I wish there was a footswitch standard. I could care less what if they would just all work alike!
There are footswitches that are just on/off switches. But there is no standard as in closed might be OFF and open might be ON!
Some footswitches are momentary contact. Like they are toggling a flip-flop inside the amp.
Other footswitches change the voltage between it and the amp.
There are others but you get the idea.

Just because you have two amps of the same brand does NOT mean you can swap footswitches between them!
I have a Fender DRRI and a a Super Champ XD but you cannot swap footswitches between them,
much less between them and a Peavey or a Marshall, or .......

I like a certain level of standardization!

{mode=off soapbox}

Yeah, but then they'd sell fewer footswitches—Capitalism 101, and don't even get me started on Fender Fuse …

[honyock]

I am modding my 2 button Orange FS2 switch to work with my SCX2 head, just waiting on the diode and zener diode to show up so I can rewire it and remove the extra jack.

[Jaymo]

There might be an issue if both circuits don't agree on their preference of normally open/normally closed.

Exactly!

I looked for that in the schematic, when I mapped out my advice. Schematic standards are supposed to be shown in their 'normal' unswitched mode, unless otherwise noted.

I bought this footswitch to use with my Crate BT50. Do you know if I will have to mod it to work with that amp, or will it work as is?

[andrewsrea]

There might be an issue if both circuits don't agree on their preference of normally open/normally closed.

Exactly!

I looked for that in the schematic, when I mapped out my advice. Schematic standards are supposed to be shown in their 'normal' unswitched mode, unless otherwise noted.

I bought this footswitch to use with my Crate BT50. Do you know if I will have to mod it to work with that amp, or will it work as is?
image.pngSharedScreenshot.jpg

I don't have the BT50 schematic, but if Crate stayed true to their earlier designs and others I do have from that era, then yes- it will work.

You bought a dual latching footswitch vs. a dual momentary. The latter uses a flip-flop circuit to switch channels and other stuff, to which there are not any designs of theirs I know that use that circuit. They use 'latching' because it is less complicated and reliable.

You know you need to additionally buy a 'Tip-Ring-sleeve' 1/4" (TRS) cable with that, right?

[Jaymo]

Exactly!

I looked for that in the schematic, when I mapped out my advice. Schematic standards are supposed to be shown in their 'normal' unswitched mode, unless otherwise noted.

I bought this footswitch to use with my Crate BT50. Do you know if I will have to mod it to work with that amp, or will it work as is?
image.pngSharedScreenshot.jpg

I don't have the BT50 schematic, but if Crate stayed true to their earlier designs and others I do have from that era, then yes- it will work.

You bought a dual latching footswitch vs. a dual momentary. The latter uses a flip-flop circuit to switch channels and other stuff, to which there are not any designs of theirs I know that use that circuit. They use 'latching' because it is less complicated and reliable.

You know you need to additionally buy a 'Tip-Ring-sleeve' 1/4" (TRS) cable with that, right?

I ordered the TRS cable with the switch. I just forgot to mention it in my post. Sorry.
Yeah, my BT50 is a 2004 and looks like an Ampeg in some ways, on board tuner being one. I remember us discussing this amp before and you confirmed that it was from the era of Crate owning Ampeg.

[Jaymo]

Also @andrewsrea thanks for the quick reply. I sometimes forget my manners.

[Milkman]

Well, there's been a lot of excitement around here since I posted this idea.

My hot water tank gave up all over my basement, my air conditioner kicked the bucket, and the government opened things up a bit, which let me take advantage of a camping trip I had booked but assumed would be cancelled.

During this time, my wife asked a couple of insightful questions.... can't you just conduct this switching using the HeadRush multi effects unit, the Joyo PXL-pro 8 loop switcher or even using the Boss LS-2 Line Selector? The answer is, of course, yes I can. and should.

So, I'll be abandoning this idea to control the loop and the boost with the same switch since I already have multiple solutions at my disposal. I really need to stop tinkering and just play more.

[aullucci]

I already have multiple solutions at my disposal.

You shouldn't let that stop you from chasing even more solutions down the rabbit hole! What if the fourth solution sounds .04% better than solutions 1 through 3? You'll be sorry, then...

[Chocol8]

I already have multiple solutions at my disposal.

You shouldn't let that stop you from chasing even more solutions down the rabbit hole! What if the fourth solution sounds .04% better than solutions 1 through 3? You'll be sorry, then...

I don’t think switching method has even that much influence on tones. He is right to not get into a switch project and to focus efforts on a new guitar instead.

[aullucci]

I already have multiple solutions at my disposal.

You shouldn't let that stop you from chasing even more solutions down the rabbit hole! What if the fourth solution sounds .04% better than solutions 1 through 3? You'll be sorry, then...

I don’t think switching method has even that much influence on tones. He is right to not get into a switch project and to focus efforts on a new guitar instead.

I was joking. I wouldn't assume anyone besides me is crazy enough to seek solution 4 when solutions 1 through 3 already work well...

[Chocol8]

I was joking. I wouldn't assume anyone besides me is crazy enough to seek solution 4 when solutions 1 through 3 already work well...

This is a guitar forum. We don’t have a single sane member here! If we didn’t have wives and or money limitations, we would all be looking at solutions 10 and 11 after 4 through nine worked out well.

[tlarson58]

During this time, my wife asked a couple of insightful questions.... can't you just conduct this switching using the HeadRush multi effects unit, the Joyo PXL-pro 8 loop switcher or even using the Boss LS-2 Line Selector? The answer is, of course, yes I can. and should.

Your wife shows a lot more interest in your passion than mine does. Mine would cut to the chase a bit quicker by lovingly inquire if one of my old stupid pedals could do the same thing as the waste-of-time project.