Info on Ace-Tone WM-1 Wah Master sought

[Mark Hammer]

A buddy was kind enough to give me a pedal he had hanging around.   It's one of these:  http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/acetone/wm1

This is clearly an early issue wah, having no stomp-switch, just a slide switch for turning the power off.  It uses a spring-loaded cam mechanism, rather than rack and pinion, so it returns to the "ow" position when you take your foot off.  But it also has a micro-switch that is actuated when the treadle returns to the foot-off position.

I haven't used it yet so I'm still in the dark about what's inside it.  Still needs some cleaning up before I go exploring further.

But does anybody have a lead on a schematic, or simply a vague clue about its function and contents?

[armdnrdy]

There is a little bit of info in this auction description.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ace-Tone-Wah-Master-WM-1-/261921763874?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

More info:
"Made between 1968 and 1972 by Ace Electronics Industries Inc. which was part of the the Sakata Shokai Limited of Osaka Japan. The Ace Tone effects line was the predecessor to Roland and Boss. It is very well made and solid. The foot pedal is spring loaded so when the effect is on it won't activate unless your foot is on it. When the effect is off you can use the pedal like a on/off toggle switch to get some tremolo or Ace Frehley style sounds."

Found this too:
When the pedal is in it's resting position--all the way back--it acts as a bypass.

[digi2t]

Sorry, nothing in my library, but should be interesting. TheFM-1, and FM-2 schematics are available, and I'm assuming that the Twin Ace must be a combo of the Wah Master, and one of the Fuzz Masters. I don't have a Twin Ace schematic, but there are trace side gut shots on the net. If a schematic of the WM does emerge from this, I would be interested to see if it fits somewhere into the traces of the Twin.

[Mark Hammer]

Thanks for the info, gents.

Unless it is an absolutely brilliant circuit, I am sceptical of what gets switched in "the resting position".  It is, after all, naught but a mere SPST micro-switch.  This suggests something is disabled, but the signal still passes through the circuit, and experiences whatever loading that circuit provides.

We'll all have to wait for surgical dissection of the internals, though.  Just got my Bassman back from the repair shop in working order late yesterday, for the first time in several years.  My wife's out with the girls tonight, so you'll excuse me if I spend time with my 56 year-old "date" instead.  Once that romance is over, I'll take a look at the pedal.

[digi2t]

  My wife's out with the girls tonight, so you'll excuse me if I spend time with my 56 year-old "date" instead.  Once that romance is over, I'll take a look at the pedal.

Don't forget to bring flowers. They always like flowers.

[Mark Hammer]

    Excellent advice.  The trick will be getting the flowers to my "date" without my wife seeing!

I feel like I should be using some sort of seduction line, like:  Would you like to come down to my basement and see my "pedal collection", my dear?  I don't really have any etchings.

[duck_arse]

how do you make a pcb, mark? they'd count as bait etchings, no?