Dunlop 105Q-Modification Potential?

Thunderscreech · #1 09-12-2009, 09:28 AM

What is the modification potential of this wah? Can I install a clipping circuit? add more flexibility to the frequency sweep? Make it suck tone less?

J. Crawford · #2 09-12-2009, 09:29 AM

Thunderscreech · #3 09-12-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

.

Another underwhelmed user?

Just a note to everyone, There are other threads, most of them revolve around Thunderscreech Bypass modding, but I'm not interested in that at the moment. I just want to change the way it sounds.

J. Crawford · #4 09-12-2009, 09:40 AM

I remember OptimusPrime did an awesome mod of putting a blue light in his that coreesponded with the amount of work the pedal was doing.

But yes, the volume spike drives me frikkin insane..

Thunderscreech · #5 09-12-2009, 09:42 AM

Maybe I should gut it, remove the spring, and get the Chicago iron Drop in to make it into a Tychobrahe, so I can do the Geezer Butler in style...

oh wait that costs over 900 dollars never mind.

jumbo_steelie · #6 09-12-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Maybe I should gut it, remove the spring, and get the Chicago iron Drop in to make it into a Tychobrahe, so I can do the Geezer Butler in style...

oh wait that costs over 900 dollars never mind.

+1

Sometimes the truth is also hilarious....

SFjonstarr · #7 09-12-2009, 12:35 PM

I got some great results on my friend's by swapping out the output electrolytic caps for better ones. It sounds much thicker/bigger now. We were both very impressed by how much better it came out, and the mod only came out to a couple bucks.

smo · #8 09-13-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFjonstarr

I got some great results on my friend's by swapping out the output electrolytic caps for better ones. It sounds much thicker/bigger now. We were both very impressed by how much better it came out, and the mod only came out to a couple bucks.

Cool.
So was that just using a better component electrolytic - or swapping the cap for a different uF value?

SFjonstarr · #9 09-16-2009, 10:10 AM

It was just subbing in better electrolytics of the same value. We put in Rubycon Black Gates which are expensive and kind of a pain to track down. The whole mod came out to like $5 though and the difference was astounding. They were bigger than the ones that were in there physically but it wasn't too hard to arrange them to fit. We had to adjust the mechanical throw of the pot once we put the pedal back together, but that was from taking the pedal apart. It sounds great now, I kind of want to grab one for myself.

7XL · #10 09-16-2009, 04:34 PM

Do you have a05Q or are you looking to buy one?

I personally like standard Crybaby's and just mod those. You can find lots of info on the web.

SFjonstarr · #11 09-16-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7XL

Do you have a05Q or are you looking to buy one?

I personally like standard Crybaby's and just mod those. You can find lots of info on the web.

I'm actually bidding on a guitar wah on Ebay. On bass I've been using the Oberheim band pass filter from a Studio Electronics synth and haven't looked back. I did the mods with my friend's unit. I ordered the replacement parts for him and he did the soldering (a half hour's elbow grease). When he busts it out it sounds like Rage Against the Machine but thicker if that means anything to you. He's got a big pedalboard and it seems to combine with his other stuff better after the mod. We could probably swap out the resistors but I don't think it would make nearly the difference that changing those two caps made.

smo · #12 09-23-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFjonstarr

They were bigger than the ones that were in there physically but it wasn't too hard to arrange them to fit.

Cool. Thanks for sharing!
What version of the 105Q?
Was it one of the recent ones with all the miniature parts?

I have one made back in '98 - looks like this below.
Did your look like this one?

SFjonstarr · #13 09-23-2009, 10:42 AM

I think it was a newer one with the smaller parts. I remember that it was mostly surface mount mini parts that I didn't want to mess with. The two electrolytics were the biggest things on the board. I only see one on there with the LX on it. There might have been just one but I seem to remember two of them. That one probably sounds better than the newer ones with all the full sized film caps.

smo · #14 09-27-2009, 09:53 PM

I hear a lot of the 105Q = tone loss.
But either I'm not as anal as some on these boards, or my 105Q was made before they started to get made more cost effectively. I have no idea. But the tone loss noticeable with mine is so minimal I just don't care.
But the new ones have the knobs on the side - not the bottom.

I'm just curious - thanks for the reply!