Can I Daisy Chain All Of These Pedals?

Ginsly · #1 09-19-2010, 06:56 PM

I'm finally setting up a proper pedalboard, and I'm looking to switch from batteries. I know that carbon zinc batteries are supposed to be the best thing for fuzz pedals, but I can't stand having to unplug all of my effects constantly so the batteries won't drain.

I have a Boss TU-2 and a daisy chain, but I'm wondering if any of my pedals will be fried if I power them through the TU-2. I'm going to buy a One-Spot for the Big Muff, too. Here's my list, but not all of them will be on the board at once (probably five or six of them, though).

Green Sovtek Big Muff
OLC Chunky Cheese
Wattson Superfuzz
Woolly Mammoth
Devi Bass Fuzz
Devi Dark Boost
Xotic X-Blender
VT Bass
Xotic Bass RC Booster
(plus the TU-2, though it's not in my signal chain)

I did some research, but the whole pos/neg tip thing kinda confuses me. I'd really appreciate some help with this - thanks!!

Matt

http://www.myspace.com/darkfog

Jake of Bass · #2 09-19-2010, 07:02 PM

From what I hear 99.9% of pedals are negative tip.

As long as all those pedals are 9v (if they need a battery then they're 9v) you *should* be fine.

My name is Mudd · #3 09-19-2010, 07:56 PM

Both Devi pedals and the VT are definitely neg-tip, but the Muff may need a slightly-oddball pos-tip if it uses anything other than a 9V battery, and I'd power all of them with the 1 Spot rather than thru the tuner, but that's just me...

schmeng · #4 09-19-2010, 08:00 PM

green big muff doesnt have a 9v power input, so you'd need a battery clip converter, which runs from a negative tip

Ginsly · #5 09-19-2010, 08:09 PM

Thanks everybody! The One-Spot I had mentioned was just the battery clip converter. Mudd, what is the One Spot you're talking about? And what are the advantages of using that over the Boss pedal's power?

Ginsly · #6 09-19-2010, 10:35 PM

Just looked into the One Spot power adapter.. seems like a safer bet than the TU-2. Thanks for the tip!

Jake of Bass · #7 09-19-2010, 10:58 PM

1 Spot is rated at 1700mA, which is considerably greater than a Boss power adapter's 500mA. It means you can run a lot more pedals from it.

NateS · #8 09-19-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginsly

...I know that carbon zinc batteries are supposed to be the best thing for fuzz pedals...

i'm curious about this...

Headless Llama · #9 09-20-2010, 05:14 AM

Buying a 1-spot is the best thing I have done to simplify my effects. For around 30 bucks you really can't go wrong! Plus they come with most every adapter you are likely to encounter. And it comes with a little book that tells you what pedal needs what adapter.

Ginsly · #10 09-20-2010, 07:12 AM

Sounds great, I'm gonna pick one up right away!

My name is Mudd · #11 09-20-2010, 11:28 AM

Short of going with a full-blown power supply, the 1 Spot's hard to beat. The only thing I'm not totally sure of is whether it's regulated and if you want to be SURE in that, I'd suggest getting a Fulltone wart (can't link directly to it...go there and look for 'AC adapters' in the lower links on that page).

Ginsly · #12 09-20-2010, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the heads up, Mudd. I checked out the Fulltone wall wart (the FPS-1), but it doesn't look like I'd be able to power more than one pedal with it. Is there a way to do that with this Fulltone wart, or is there another one you were thinking of? Sorry, I'm kind of new to this stuff...

My name is Mudd · #13 09-20-2010, 01:18 PM

I use a Fulltone with an 8-plug daisy-chain to power my main board (which is only six pedals total right now)...just connect the chain to the wart and then your pedals to the chain.

- edit - if you have unused plugs in your chain, put tape or something on the unused contacts to keep them from grounding on anything.

Ginsly · #14 09-20-2010, 01:32 PM

I'm just not sure how that would work. It seems like the tips on the daisy chain are the same as the tip on the Fulltone adapter, so I'm not sure how you would plug the daisy chain into the Fulltone. Would I need some sort of small adapter for that? Thanks Mudd!

NateS · #15 09-20-2010, 01:33 PM

nope, the start of the daisy chain is a female barrel plug. you can connect a daisy chain to another daisy chain if you want.

My name is Mudd · #16 09-20-2010, 02:25 PM

Not the greatest pic, but go here...the socket/barrel plug/thingy on the left end of the chain will connect to the Fulltone (or 1 Spot, or any other) plug, the same as if you were plugging it into a single pedal.

- edit - the battery clip for your SovTek Muff will also connect to the chain in the same way.

Ginsly · #17 09-20-2010, 02:37 PM

I see, it's just a different daisy chain than I have right now. I got one long ago to power pedals from my TU-2, and all of the tips are the same. Guess I'll have to pick up a new daisy when I get the power supply (unless there is a little adapter I can stick on the end of my existing daisy chain). Really appreciate the help, guys.

Ginsly · #18 09-20-2010, 02:39 PM

Oh, and bassk - carbon zinc batteries are supposed to make your fuzz pedals sound a little more "vintage", but I'm not sure how much difference it really makes. Guess I'll find out once I start using an adapter..

audiophile21 · #19 09-20-2010, 02:40 PM

i have a 1 spot powering my whole board right now and t works wonders

My name is Mudd · #20 09-20-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginsly

I see, it's just a different daisy chain than I have right now...

Ah HAH...that explains it, and you're welcome.