New Pedalboard = New Order + Build vs Purchase?

[Ian Perge]

After receiving a DigiTech JamMan for the holidays along with a two new pedals (a DigiDelay and Bass Multi Chorus - the reason I did so was that DigiTech was running a "Buy 2, get 1 free" promotion at the time, I could use the delay for loops and in my case an extra chorus never hurt) and after playing around for several day I unhappily discovered there was no way I could fit everything onto my Pedaltrain/Jr-SC. For my birthday (I'm one of those lucky "right after Xmas" people ) I was able to use the Musician's Friend 20% off "We screwed up our warehouse transition royally which included some of you orders" coupon and decided to upgrade to the Pedaltrain/2-HC. Not that I gig a lot these days, but the Significant Other is working on her Doctorate, we'll have at least 2-3 moves ahead of us and I'd feel much safer having all my pedal in a lockable ATA case as opposed to the very nice-but-not-moveworthy softcase.

So, the question becomes what order shall I place all of them in. I know the basics of arranging the basic types of pedals, but my situation is somewhat unique. Firstly, however, a list of the pedals in the order I previously had them in;

• Dunlop Volume Pedal
• Aphex Punch Factory
• Electro-Harmonix Micro POG
• Xotic RC Bass Booster
• Xotic BB Bass Overdrive/Distortion
• Tech 21 XXL Bass Distortion
• DigiTech Bass Multi Chorus (new)
• DigiTech DigiDelay (new)
• DigiTech JamMan Looper (new, in Effects Loop. Explanation next paragraph)
• Korg DT-10 Tuner (side-chain fed from preamp's "Tuner Out"
• Dunlop DC-Brick (under pedalboard)

Now to answer what must be the first "Huh?" question that's come up, the reason I plan on running the JamMan through the Effects Loop is that my preamp is an SWR Mini Mo' with 5 studio quality effects built in (in order: Overdrive/Distortion, SubWave (Octave), Bassynth, Mo' EQ (an extra set of shelving equalization), and Chorus). What I believe is that simply running the JamMan through my Front-of-Preamp pedalboard (what I call the Pedaltrain 'board with the single units on it, as opposed to the integrated "Mo' Control 2" pedalboard that comes with the Mini Mo') gives me no use of the Mini Mo's effects in the looper.

So my plan became to run the FOP pedals as they're listed minus the JamMan, and run that through the preamp's effects loop for the ability to run all of my effects through the JamMan. However, I wanted to check with the experts here to see if there's either a better way or some reason this wouldn't work.

A few other random questions for you as well:

• Volume Pedal Placement - first or last? I was running it first in my chain to control the overall volume, but the more I think about it the more I think last would be better as I could then create effected volume swells to send to the Looper.
  
• Volume Pedal *Physical* Placement? It would make life so much easier in terms of wiring to have the volume pedal first (pedalboard right) Unfortunately with my disability comes a fair lack of balance, and having the Volume pedal under my left foot would be much convenient, easier to use as my left is my "better" side, and to a good degree safer (less balance issues = less chance of a fall) although it compliments the wiring to a degree. And now that I think of it, if the above question (volume pedal last in the chain) is the better one it then becomes a moot point.
  
• Micro POG placement? I always thought of this as the effect equivalent of a (doubled) 10-string and in that case, it would be best to have it as close to the beginning as possible and have distortion and chorus after like a real-world instrument would have. Good call, or alternate suggestion?

I also have what I wouldn't term a problem but more of a dilemma. I'd like to pick up the FS3X footswitch to be able to switch between loops hands-free, but the general consensus is that $39.99-$49.99 is a complete rip-off for 3 switches in a metal casing. I have the grossly simply circuit diagram for it (attached) but as an apartment-dweller have neither the space nor the tools to build a little something like this. Is there anyone out there that would either be interested in building it "on spec" or can direct me to some type of generic counterpart. I also think the above price is outrageous but due to the above can't make my own at this point and time in my life. If anyone's interest, post or PM me and we'll come to some sort of arrangement that will leave us both happy.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have, asked for or otherwise. I'll take any info people are willing to contribute.

[Stuggi]

I could probably build that, but I would need some specs on the diodes.Though it wouldn't be much cheaper than the 50 dollars, since you would need to pay for shipping from Finland.

[rakirksey]

No help on the switch, but I think that the price isn't that bad considering. I actually live in a studio apartment myself and I do some pedal building. I just don't do any drilling of enclosures, but as soon as you buy a predrilled enclosure get your stereo switchcraft jack, diodes and a little board etc. you're not saving that much.


On the volume pedal placement ... if it is better on the left put it on the left. That is the one thing that is great about the Pedaltrain. You will need some long patch cables to patch it to the next pedal, but just route it underneath the pedalboard through those handy dandy holes.

One other thing you might think about is this Pedalboard Patch to make the routing easier to just plug your bass in and your amp out in one spot.

[Tomass]

+1 on the fact that the foot switch is probaly only going to be $10 more than building one, there may be more components required than just 2 diodes. I say check out eBay if you havent already for em, there may be one of them for cheap on there.

[Sir Edward V]

I was just trying to figure this out today, and I was messing around with my multimeter and a wire and couldn't quite figure out this up switching part, so thank you very much! Now I can build myself one quite easily once I get the parts, and I would like to offer up to make one for you as well.

The schematic posted works perfectly.

I will send you a PM to see if you are still interested. Shouldn't cost more than $10 + shipping for the parts.

[Sir Edward V]

I pose a new question:

I want to build this circuit but with only two switches. One makes the number go up, the second makes it go down, but when you press both, the mode switches.

There are other ways to make this only a 2 switch dealy, but I am not interested in them, I know how to do them, and they are pretty simple. but I think I need some help figuring out how to do it the way I explained.

edit: ehhhhh screw it, unless someone feels like designing it, I think I will just force the three switches on there, and let the switching be potentially awkward... its not worth the trouble I don't think!