Turbotrem (Lovetone Wobulator)...mod for one-stomp classic tremolo in mono?

[slowpogo]

This question is pointed @digi2t but may be of relevance to others... and this question assumes my pedal is operating correctly, which to the best of my knowledge it is.  There's a quirk of the original design that I'm looking to mod around.

The issue lies in easily achieving a classic tremolo effect.  By "classic tremolo effect" I mean just amplitude modulation, with amplitude swinging 0-100% with the depth knob maxed. This is possible, but even when using the pedal in mono, you need to engage BOTH L and R switches, and set BOTH L and R depth knobs to achieve this.

This is because the unengaged side just passes a dry unaffected signal.  So with only one side engaged, in mono the result is LFO + dry signal, summed to the Left Output. And obviously you can't achieve a classic tremolo with 50% dry signal in there.  Therefore both sides need to be engaged with depth set where you want.

Which SUCKS, because for all the cool possibilities in this pedal, you often just want a basic tremolo and counter-intuitively, that takes the most effort to achieve.  It's a different story in stereo, but in summed mono all that cool filtering and panning is basically moot. So in mono -- despite the rotary switch -- there are effectively just two modes, classic tremolo and dual trem. (Three if you count LFO + dry signal but I personally don't see why you'd want that in mono)

So I'm looking for a way to achieve classic tremolo in mono with just one stomp, and without having to set two depth knobs. Here is what I've gathered so far.

- the channels are summed in mono via a wire from TSW on Right Out to T on Left Out.  So when nothing's plugged into Right Out, the R signal goes straight to Left Out.  When plugged into Right Out, TSW is lifted and no summing occurs.

- given my preference for an easy classic tremolo (in mono), I only really NEED the channels summed in mode 4 for dual tremolo.

Therefore, I've come up with a few potential ways to eliminate the dry signal from the unengaged right channel when in mono:

- making sure TSW on Right Out is lifted (no summing) EXCEPT in mode 4. Or alternatively, making sure it's lifted just in Mode 1, for example (Mode 1 is classic trem, 2-3 are summed, and 4 is dual trem).  Is there a way to wire between the rotary jack pads and the output jacks to achieve one of these outcomes?

- making sure the Right Output signal always reaches T on Right Out, but only reaches TSW on Right Out in mode 4, or alternatively doesn't reach TSW in Mode 1

- third possibility is using the R footswitch somehow, so that it's basically always on except in mode 4, when you need the option to turn it off

Are any of these solutions viable, or are there other solutions I'm not thinking of? (which don't involve a ground-up board revision)

[digi2t]

How about inserting a dummy stereo plug into the right stereo jack?

[slowpogo]

I thought of that but while a dummy plug works to get standard tremolo, you then lose the dual trem with no summing.  I'm hoping to at least preserve trem/dual trem functionality with the rotary switch.

Maybe I'm missing something though, why a dummy stereo plug? As per the build document I just have tip/sleeve jacks for the outputs, not stereo jacks

[digi2t]

I thought of that but while a dummy plug works to get standard tremolo, you then lose the dual trem with no summing.  I'm hoping to at least preserve trem/dual trem functionality with the rotary switch.

Maybe I'm missing something though, why a dummy stereo plug? As per the build document I just have tip/sleeve jacks for the outputs, not stereo jacks

Sorry, I was thinking of something else. Yes, just a dummy mono plug then. That would stop the dry signal from the right side from summing to the left. In theory.

But, there is a more intrinsic problem with what you wish to get out of this unit. The filtering of the left and right sides are different as well. In reality, I believe it was meant to be used in stereo over all other applications. Even in "mono", there is a recommendation from Lovetone to use both outs to both in's of a single amp to take advantage of the dual filtering qualities. Quite frankly... I find most all of the modulating Lovetone circuits are designed to excel in a stereo setting.

[slowpogo]

But, there is a more intrinsic problem with what you wish to get out of this unit. The filtering of the left and right sides are different as well. In reality, I believe it was meant to be used in stereo over all other applications. Even in "mono", there is a recommendation from Lovetone to use both outs to both in's of a single amp to take advantage of the dual filtering qualities. Quite frankly... I find most all of the modulating Lovetone circuits are designed to excel in a stereo setting.

That is fair and I totally get it.  I realize that using this pedal for vanilla tremolo is like using a steamroller to crack a walnut.  I do use it in stereo with my recording setup, but my amp setup is mono and it seemed like a relatively simple mod might achieve what I'm looking for, while preserving all the stereo functionality.  Even if it's missing the point, the classic trem sounds really nice.

I've been trying to find a few pads on the rotary which short in position 1 but have continuity in the other positions.  If I connected the TSW Right/T Left wire "through" those pads, the idea is TSW would be lifted in mode 1 for classic tremolo but connected the rest of time, preserving all the original functionality except giving me what I want in mono.