Custom Distortion Pedal

[bloodline462]

Anyone know if it's possible to have a pedal altered to only engage when you hold the footswitch down, and disengage when it's released, like the hold feature on a boss dd3 delay? I want a pedal that will allow me to add one or two heavily distorted notes into my slap lines, similar to the way les claypool does in my name is mud, but dont wanna have to press a pedal twice for 1 note. I'd like to alter something like a Metal Zone pedal, and use the pedals thick distortion on a low slap on the B or E string in the middle of a riff, then release it to continue with the riff. any ideas??

[Akeris]

Well, It's definately possible (more with the other kind of switches...not like boss) to just replace a 3PDT with a momentary switch or somthing. I'm not an electronics guy so I don't know the details.

However, the more cost effective way requires no mods at all. Just turn the pedal on for as long as you want, then turn it off.

[BassJunkie730]

+1 for the momentary switch - just make sure you get a heavy duty one.


But I think the idea would make the pedal a real one trick - seeing as you'd always have to stand on the pedal.

What if you want to throw modulation effect on during the distortion then turn it off? sounds like pedal tap dancing to me.


Oh and the boss pedals use an electronic switching system - relays which means the switch is already a momentary but you'd have to do some modifications to the relay in the pedal - which may or may not be practical considering the existing circuit board.

[Taylor Livingston]

Originally Posted by BassJunkie730

But I think the idea would make the pedal a real one trick - seeing as you'd always have to stand on the pedal.

What if you want to throw modulation effect on during the distortion then turn it off? sounds like pedal tap dancing to me.

It would be pretty easy to have both a latching and a momentary switch. If you want to do this to a Boss pedal, the easiest way would be to either buy or build a true bypass loop box with one latching and one momentary switch for bypass. I'm sure this guy could do it. The upside to this is that your pedal would be unmodded in case you want to sell it, and you could swap in any distortion you want and keep the momentary function without having to mod a new pedal whenever your taste in distortion changes.