Anyone sell interesting wah mod kits?

[ChrisPtacek]

I was curious if there are any kits that you guys like for modding wahs.  I was thinking it would be cool to get a new inductor, switch and maybe pot... and I guess I have to get a bunch of resistors and what not... I figure there have to be some places that have these things bundled and ready for sale.  Anyone have any recommendations? 

Does anyone know any really OUT THERE mods for vox/dunlop style pedals?  I have a couple lying around, and would like to read up on any really weird sounding ideas. 

[Dave_B]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!  Is there a particular sound you're going for?  Hendrix, Zakk, etc?  The fact is, there aren't that many parts in a typical wah circuit.  Even fewer that you actually need to mess with.  You can change the sound dramatically for less than $1.00US in components.

I'm not sure where you're at with electronics.  But there's some real good info on wahs at R.G. Keen's site.  Follow this link.  If you have a sound in mind, that site will hopefully help you translate it into the changes you need to make. 

For example, you could try unsoldering one side of Rq, and soldering 100k pot in series with it.  That will let you screw around with the sharpness of the filter.  Changing Cf will alter the overall range.  You can change the inductor, of course, and there are a number of places that sell them, including the store on this forum. 

[wampcat1]

Welcome! 
I've heard great things about the 'area 51' mods and replacement boards. I don't know the link offhand, but I'm sure you can google 'area 51 wah' and find it fairly easily.

Hope that helps!

Brian

[ChrisPtacek]

Thanks guys.

I'm pretty new to electronics, but I've done a couple other small projects.  I assumed that there would be someone who sells packs of "try these resistors, and choose one of these inductors, and here, you need this switch!" so I could get it all at one paypal address.  That's what I was getting at.  But it sounds like really all I would need to ORDER is the Inductor, switch and maybe the pot.

I was thinking that I've heard some really non-wah sounds coming from modded wahs before... Adam Jones from tool being an example.  But I think the first project sould probably just be "making a GOOD wah" since I don't have one I like yet.  So if I want to true bypass a Vox wah, and then bring it up to (relatively close to) unity... that's a switch replacement and a resistor replacement, right? 

Then to try to get the tone more "happening" it's an inductor change and another resistor or two, from what I've read?

  What about putting in an LED?  Will that require a different switch? 

And what's the upside to replacing the pot?  The wah I'm going to screw with first is a V847 Union Jack that has barely been used (I bought it new on clearance for $20, but it's a tone sucker, so I don't use it).  So the pot isn't beat up or anything... would there be a tonal impact?

I'll check out the Area51 stuff right away.  The only trick is that ... well, I won't be doing it myself... so that's less fun!