Danelectro DJ13 French Toast LED mod

[Riffster]

Does anyone know where and how to add an on/off LED indicator to a Danelectro French Toast pedal?  I'd like to be able to see when the pedal is active.  Also, if there are any mods for the clipping section on this thing, I'd be interested.
Be gentle with the techie stuff....lol....I am a rookie.
I can follow layouts but my schematic knowledge is very limited.

Thanks!

[Dragonfly]

Does anyone know where and how to add an on/off LED indicator to a Danelectro French Toast pedal?  I'd like to be able to see when the pedal is active.  Also, if there are any mods for the clipping section on this thing, I'd be interested.
Be gentle with the techie stuff....lol....I am a rookie.
I can follow layouts but my schematic knowledge is very limited.

Thanks!

While not "identical", the French Toast is pretty much a Foxx Tone Machine Clone. There is a layout for the Foxx Tone Machine at www.generalguitargadgets.com that may give you some clues. Also, doing a for something along the lines pof "Tone machine mod" or "tone machine" + mod might give you some results. Most here probably haven't looked into the French Toast as far as LED;'s and modding.

In addition....

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=65224.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=11743.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=62257.msg489915#msg489915
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=3586.msg20842#msg20842
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=29101.0

[Processaurus]

Hi, I don't think you need to know anything about the Foxx Tone Machine to do your mod (though it'd be educational).  You'd need to know something about Danelectro's electronic switching, which isn't related to the original FTM (the french toast is an FTM within a CMOS electronic switching system).  Danelectro uses I believe the same switching PCB on every pedal in that series, and it is on the seperate PCB below the effect PCB (which are naturally different in each pedal), and has the 1/4" jacks on it.  Other pedals in the series have an LED, hooked up the universal switching PCB, so I'd guess there is a spot on your switching pcb where you could hook up an LED.

Long story short, you can either find the blank spot on the PCB for the missing LED wires, maybe by comparing it to another dano pedal with an LED, or brute force, on the switching PCB you can wire an LED (with a series 2K to 10K resistor, so the LED doesn't fry) to the output of the 4013 flip-flop IC that drives the 4053 analog (electronic) switches.  That will be on when the pedal is on.

here's an article on the very switching method danelectro uses, if you're interested.  I believe DOD uses a very similar thing.  The whole circuit, and a cheap momentary switch to interface with it ends up being cheaper for big manufacturers than a heavy duty, basic stomp switch like we'd use.
http://geofex.com/article_folders/cd4053/cd4053.htm

You may be able to find info on the LED hookup in the switching board by searching here for: true bypass danelectro
which has come up a lot.

Though, no offense, your band must be pretty loud if you can't hear the difference whether it's on or not!

[Dragonfly]

Hi, I don't think you need to know anything about the Foxx Tone Machine to do your mod (though it'd be educational)

Only reason I mentioned the FTM is this.....

Also, if there are any mods for the clipping section on this thing, I'd be interested.

[Processaurus]

Hi, I don't think you need to know anything about the Foxx Tone Machine to do your mod (though it'd be educational)

Only reason I mentioned the FTM is this.....

Also, if there are any mods for the clipping section on this thing, I'd be interested.

Ah, that's good stuff, I only read the bit bout wanting an LED in there.  That makes sense, I also see you found what will be a very helpful link describing the wiring connections from the generic switching board including the LED.   

I made a pair of FTM's a little while ago for a bandmate and I, one to the original spec's, one french toast style, and like both of them, couldn't say one is better, or that they're particularly different sounding.  the FT doesn't sound "cheap" or anything, and one advantage of the stock Si diodes is it will give it some more output.

Here's some more talk about the FTM and the clipping section, I had an idea for a mod for adding a bit of gain to the output, if you wanted to go with Ge clipping diodes and needed more output, which seems to be a common complaint with this circuit.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=68004.0

[Dragonfly]

Quite honestly, the French Toast is a great sounding pedal.

Nice on bass too.