Pedal

[matttheguy]

Hey everyone!

I just bought an Epiphone Firefly 30 DSP, and on the back it has a jack 'Aux in' and 'Chan 1/2, DSP on/off'.

First, can someone explain what Aux in is?

Secondly, I'd like to see if it were possible to make a simple pedal to switch between channel 1 and 2. I have no idea if this is at all possible, but if it is, please tell! I'd like to build my own, regardless of cost!

Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[George Brown]

aux is short for auxilary and its what u plug your cd player or metronome into

about the footswitch i dont know if theres a foot switch socket at the back it could be a bit of a pain to do

Edited June 22, 2006 by George Brown

[Primal]

Sounds as if the second jack is stereo which controls both the clean/distortion channel and DSP effects on/off.

[matttheguy]

Yes, I knew that. What I'm wondering is if I can actually MAKE a pedal to control that?

[Primal]

Sure, you just need to find a stereo cable and the appropriate switches (usually just a simple on/off switch), along with a box to mount it all in.

[George Brown]

here are some boxes you may find usefull

[matttheguy]

That doesn't sound very hard at all....

Any idea where I could locate an on/off switch like that, one that you would step on to click it on?

EDIT: George Brown, I was thinking for a box I would probably make my own to match the amp, with the faux red leather and everything:

Edited June 22, 2006 by matttheguy

[George Brown]

heres a switch which would be good, but i think a DPDT would also work and allow you to have an led

edit try here

Edited June 22, 2006 by George Brown

[Mr Alex]

I cant tell you how to wire it, but I made a single switch footswitch for a mate, you've just gotta figure out which terminal in the jack is for what, and run a SPST switch across the terminals. Or a dpdt if you want an led. If its a 2 button you are after, I would assume that the ring is a common for both switches, and the "left" and "Right" hots on the jack go to their respective switches, maybe its an xlr jack I dunno.

To answer your question, YES you can make one, very cheaply too if you get the parts at the right places. Google round, there is a schematic I found very easily last year, for a vox footswitch I think it was. matched most of the switches I've seen.

Edited June 22, 2006 by Mr Alex

[George Brown]

sorry double post

Edited June 22, 2006 by George Brown

[Mr Alex]

WOAH TRIPLE POST!! Do I win a prize?

Edited June 22, 2006 by Mr Alex

[Mr Alex]

WOAH TRIPLE POST!! Do I win a prize?

Edited June 22, 2006 by Mr Alex

[matttheguy]

Well, here's the back of the amp:

http://img328.imageshack.us/img328/7927/inputs0tf.jpg

Sorry for my extremely unsteady hand.

The first jack says 'Aux in' and the second says 'Footswitch' above it and 'Ch 1/2' below and 'DSP on/off' right underneath that.

Would it be possible to wire a one switch pedal that controls just the channel selection? That's optimal for me, but if I MUST wire one that controls DSP also, I can do that.

Edited June 22, 2006 by matttheguy

[Mr Alex]

If you figure out which terminals do what, you could do a channel only switch. I have no idea if this would hurt the amp, but, I would wire a stereo 1/4" plug with the ground leading to the common of the switch, and the"left" hot going to one of the other terminals on that pole, plug it in and test it, if it swtiches the effects, swap the left hot to the right hot.

If you want an led too, wire the led with a 47k resistor(try different values to get what you want, but I wouldn't recommend much below that, one exploded on me the other day) to a 9v battery and wire across the other pole on the switch.

Sorry for the bad instructions, I'll draw you up a quick picture.

Edited June 22, 2006 by Mr Alex

[matttheguy]

Hmmm, I wouldn't want to modify the amp in fear that I might mess something up.

Perhaps a two pedal is the only way to go.

[Mr Alex]

While amps aren't my thing, I don't know what harm you could do it, but hey if I just bought a new amp, I guess I wouldn't wanna mess with it, for at least a few hours

That should do what you are after, sorry about the small size, photobucket started down scaling everything the other day. On second thought, hard wire that to a stereo plug, other wise you'll need a stereo lead I think to amke the jack setup work. If it doesn't work, just rverse the twotip connections.

Before you try it, perhaps someone with more amp experience would know if it would work?

Edited June 22, 2006 by Mr Alex

[Primal]

Not sure about the actual switch wiring, but definately DON'T use a 9v battery. There is absolutely no need. An LED will run for years more than likely on a AAA battery or two.

[Mr Alex]

Well that exact wiring worked on my mates amp, and while you are right with the 9v battery, I usually have at least 20 9v clips in stock. So I use 9v for everything.

[Primal]

Haha, the long term savings are the thing though. For the price of a single 9v, you could probably get a clip and a 4-pack of AAA batteries. But, thats beside the point.

[matttheguy]

Oh man, I'm electronically illiterate.

Can you explain that diagram a bit, please? And if you could, a bit bigger. www.imageshack.us wont resize images, if photobucket is giving you trouble.

[Mr Alex]

Sorry about the bad picture, I was trying to eat breakfast at the same time, the new one isn't much better, that one I as trying to eat lunch while drawing, and now my lunch is cold

If it doesn't work, I'd try swapping the tip connection on the plug. If that still doesn't work, without a schematic I dont think I could do much more, I'll have a looksie for one now, but doubt I'll find anything.

Edited June 23, 2006 by Mr Alex

[matttheguy]

Alrighty! Looks easy enough! That black thing on the top left is the plug, right?

I'm no good at this, excuse my ignorance!

I've found this, http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/5171/resistor5kx.jpg , and was wondering if that could be used?

Edited June 23, 2006 by matttheguy

[Mr Alex]

Yes, it's badly drawn to look like when it is disassembled. I should really put more care in random stuff like this.

Edited June 23, 2006 by Mr Alex

[matttheguy]

Hmm, so this resistor I have is 300ohms, and you said to use a 47k resistor.

From my calculations, mine doesn't make the grade.

I guess a trip to RS will fix this.

Edited June 23, 2006 by matttheguy

[Mr Alex]

It doesn't HAVE to be 47k, but 300 ohms is too small, you can try it : the led will last a few seconds, then make a funny popping noise, as it makes that noise it sprays hot plastic onto your eyelids(if you have quick reactions.) Or it will just stop working, I must admit, hot plastic in the eye is much more interesting.

There is an equation to figure out the resistor value required, but I've never used it, probably never will, you can't go wrong with 47k. My dad says he's been using a 47k as default for like 40 years. Only time you use a different one, is with high intensity leds, more than 2 leds, or if you aren't using 9v.