Noob: How do I make a footswitch for my MESA Tremoverb? Pics inside...

[dap9]

Hi all,

New here, but I'm excited to start learning about all this stuff.  I have a MESA Tremoverb and I have the footswitch to change channels, but I want to be able to trigger the Tremolo, Reverb, and FX Loop.  And the Prices for the respective switches are ridiculous.  I figure this should be a pretty basic/simple task for my first project (fingers crossed)

Below are links to pictures of the FS I do have.  I'm a total noob here, but it seems like a really simple design.  Ideally I'd like to construct a box that has all four switches  and run a cable like a recording snake to the amp.  Make sense?  Here are the pics:

http://balderdashrecords.com/Images/Footswitch1.JPG
http://balderdashrecords.com/Images/Footswitch2.JPG
http://balderdashrecords.com/Images/Footswitch3.JPG
http://balderdashrecords.com/Images/Footswitch4.JPG

Thanks in advance for any help

[John Lyons]

If you have jacks on the back of the amp for the reverb, trem, FX loop  all you need to do is test out the jacks.
Plug a guitar cable in one jack and take a penny, paper clip, a short piece of wire or anything metal and touch the tip of the plug to the sleeve of the plug, just touch the two sections together.
If the trem, reveerbe, Loop  etc switches by connecting the two parts of the plug  then all you need to do is wire up a switch and a jack into a pedal that will connect or disconnet those two points on the cable.

You can add an LED to the box same as with most FX here. You only need a DPDT foot switch, one  for each thing you want to switch. One side of the switch will control the switching of the amp and the other will turn on the LED.
Put all the switches in one box and you're set. You can get a cable with multiple wire in it instead of separate cables for each function to switch.

The LED in the "real" footswitch is powered another way but this will be easier for you to do.
You can go to gereralguitargadgets.com to see how to wire up the LEDs to the switch.

Actually now that I looked at the picture of your footswitch...Just try out the Plug in the jack on the back as mentioned above and if that works you should be able to just copy the pedal you have and put 4 of them in one larger box.

Does the footswitch you have work for the other jacks on the back?

John

[cab42]

My first post were almost the same question.

I can't find the original post, but here's how I did it. I think this is what basicaudio describes



Regards

Carsten

[JimRayden]

Ah yes, the Peavey TripleXXX uses the same method for LEDs, only it had three footswitches and the connector was DIN5. I've built a replacement switch for it.

The circuit seems to be: jack tip -> latching SPDT switch -> LED -|>|- -> sleeve

THe hard part is sending five connectors to the amp. I recommend hard-wiring the cable to the footswitch, as four mono plugs can prove to be pretty annoying. Use plugs only on the amp side.

So your circuit will be:

1 -> SPDT -> -|>|- ->
2 -> SPDT -> -|>|- ->    all connected to
3 -> SPDT -> -|>|- ->        ground
4 -> SPDT -> -|>|- ->

You will only have one 5-connector cable running out of the box, which's other end you will then divide into several phone plugs either by lots of heat shrink or wire up a B-sized box with jacks, short patch cables running to the amp.

----------
Jimbo

[dap9]

Thanks guys.  I think you have me on the path.  It's still all pretty new to me, but I'll be getting a book or two on intro. to electronics for x-mas so that will help.  I'll make sure to save all this info for when I'm ready.  Looks like I'll need some more tools for this new hobby ! 

Is there a page w/ a glossary of terms and symbols?  That would probably help in the meantime.  I mean, I don't even understand a basic schematic yet (it's been a while since 7th grade shop!).

thanks again.

[jonathan perez]

Thanks guys.  I think you have me on the path.  It's still all pretty new to me, but I'll be getting a book or two on intro. to electronics for x-mas so that will help.  I'll make sure to save all this info for when I'm ready.  Looks like I'll need some more tools for this new hobby ! 

Is there a page w/ a glossary of terms and symbols?  That would probably help in the meantime.  I mean, I don't even understand a basic schematic yet (it's been a while since 7th grade shop!).

thanks again.

check out the faq, tons of great info!

[John Lyons]

Yes, Check out the DIY FAQ (frequently asked questions) above as well at the Wiki. Lot of good link and info there.

John