Can you convert to 1/4 inch jacks?

[ricks57custom]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this site and I am starting to learn all about making amps and effect pedals. I have question for you more knowledgeable effect and electronic people: Someone recently gave me an MXR EQ that I guess was used for a stereo system back in the day. I was wondering it is possible to replace the 1/8" jacks with guitar friendly 1/4" jacks. Are there any precuations or problems I should know about?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.  

[Peter Snowberg]

Hello Rick (?),

Welcome to the madness.

If the EQ was intended for "stereo system" use it might have low impedance inputs. The output of most stompboxes should drive the EQ just fine, but this is a problem with guitars because it will load down the pickups and you get a dull, muddy sound at best. There is a simple fix luckily.... just add a booster or buffer circuit with a high impedance input and low impedance out.

You could use a good quality opamp for unmodified sound (some say sterile), or use a JFET booster for a slightly "warmer" tone. Just about any clean guitar booster will work great.

If I were in your shoes, I would first switch out the jacks and see what you get. If the signal isn't sparkling clear, then I would try adding a Stratoblaster to the input of one channel.

Stereo EQs are really cool things. I use a 10 band stereo graphic EQ with one channel in front of a distortion pedal and the second one just behind the distortion. The range of available tones from an otherwise "ugly" sounding pedal is amazing. There are gems buried in most sonic landscapes.... all you have to do is get the right filtering to dig them out.

Take care,
-Peter

[petemoore]

Just a suggestion
  To get hookups for testouts and usage fo mismatched jacks...they're easy to make, and as long as you bring 'that' cord, and it's good, ...you should have no technical problems.
  These kinds of cords can also be found at RS etc.