Coming soon to GGG: SSS - Super Simple Switcher

[Dean Hazelwanter]

The name says it all â€" this switcher is fairly low-tech for what it does. No PICs or ICs were harmed in the making of this project. 

Eight effects or ‘Loops’ of effects can be switched between the input jack (guitar) and output jack (amp). Eight foot (stomp) switches control which combinations (‘Patch’) of those loops are enabled at any time. Relays are employed to provide true bypass of all effects.

I just sent the files to JD, so it might take a little time for him to post this project.

Enjoy!

[The Tone God]

I was playing with a project awhile back for a remote switching system that employed a primitive serial protocol using shift registers. It would be infinitely expandable and used fairly standard ICs. I had a bunch of different boards that could be used for various functions so people could built exactly the type of system they wanted. I never got around to finishing it as I think the amount of effort that would be required to complete it would overwhelm the usefulness of it to the general public.

I would be curious as to what you guys come up with.

Andrew

[R.G.]

The name says it all â€" this switcher is fairly low-tech for what it does. No PICs or ICs were harmed in the making of this project.

So did you use DIP Switches or programming jumpers?

[Dean Hazelwanter]

Banks of DIP Switches.

[R.G.]

Yep, that'll do it. I did my first one that way.

I noodled around a lot about whether I needed to use DIP switches for easy adjustment or programming jumpers on the theory that you don't do that very often. In the end I went with DIP switches. I think I have some pictures of it around somewhere.

I used a section of the 2 x 6 steel stud 20" long for the enclosure, and mounted the dip switches just below the surface of the flat top side. The jacks went in a row across the back. I was surprised that the row of jacks was one of the things that determined the length. Those things eat up a lot of space.

As an addendum, it's a good idea to use high quality sockets and socket the dip switches... you can probably guess why.

[Dean Hazelwanter]

Are DIP switches that un-reliable? I hadn't planned on socketing them, but that will actually help to bring the face of the DIP switches to the same level as the PCB-mounted jacks.

I had considered using steel studs but decided that to minimize the area of pedal-board surface area, I would have a separate strip of stomp switches and LEDs, and a 'control' module. The Hammond 1444-15 (10"x6"x1") will easilly hold the control board assy, (complete with PCB mounted Jacks and DIP switches to minimize off-board wiring) and can be tucked in under the main surface of the pedal board where the cabling goes - assuming a DIY pedal-board of course. 

As usual, a big thanks to you, RG. I don't know how many times I read all of your articles related to switching! 

[Processaurus]

Wow, thanks for publishing this, it sounds really great for performing pedal addicts, who end sometimes end up in a state of phlanged tremolay when they meant to go for that crunchy compressosplatter verb sound.

I definately like the idea of the switching box seperate from the stompswitches.  It would be super nice having a sloped top, slender metal box about 1"x2"x20" on the front edge of a pedal board with all the switches in it.

Just when I was starting to perfect switching 3 pedals on with my 3 feet