Does anyone make an on-board resistor selector?

Started by Juan1, November 21, 2024, 11:49:19 AM

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Juan1

Background:
I'm making a BSIAB2 for a friend, which is a noisy circuit.  The dilemma with this pedal is that you can either have low gain that is controllable, or the stock, high gain.  This is controlled by a single resistor.  This friend wants a pedal that can get "apocalyptic", but I'd like him to be able to dial in AC/DC levels of gain too.  Normally, I'd put the resistor on a switch, but this is a noisy circuit with multiple stages of gain and clipping.  In other words, minimizing wiring is ideal. 

Question:
So what are my options?  Does someone make a mechanical, on-board resistor selector?  Is there a super-log tapered 500k pot I can use?  Is there a micro push-pull pot I'm unaware of that will fit in the 125B enclosure with the other 3 knobs?  Right now I'm thinking I'll just use an external toggle, but it isn't ideal.

R.G.

Given the high gain involved, I would be very tempted to use a semiconductor switch. The idea is to put the actual switching element as close to the circuit as possible. Not running wires off board will help in keeping things quiet. Something like the Toshiba TL174 LED-to-analog switch would let you mount the two pins that actually do the switching on the board, and run two wires off to any kind of mechanical switch you can find that fits the mechanicals. Even if you have to mount it hanging-garden style, you could firm up the DIP-4 package above the board and set it in place with some hot glue.
R.G.

In response to the questions in the forum - PCB Layout for Musical Effects is available from The Book Patch. Search "PCB Layout" and it ought to appear.