Aw well in that case it sounds like a great and very useful volume mod, and very simple to do too. Thanks!
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Bass Big Muff volume mod
- Thread starter dannybuoy
- Start date
I can't really put a number on it, but as fat as pedal mods go, it's pretty simple. Obviously you need to be fairly comfortable with drilling holes, sawing down the pot shaft to the correct length, cutting and stripping wires and soldering in tight spaces! To pull this off, as well as the pot, knob, switch and wires, you will need:
- A soldering iron (read up on some soldering advice such as choosing the correct bit, tinning your bit as well as the wire ends and pot terminals, and use lead solder if possible, silver solder is difficult to work with!)
- A hacksaw or similar plus a file for cutting the pot shaft down to size.
- I have a 'helping hand' moveable clamp stand, which I found invaluable.
- A drill with the right bits! I needed 7mm and 12mm bits designed for cutting metal. If you're having trouble cutting through, you're probably using bits designed for cutting into wood.
- Heatshrink tubing or insulation tape.
- A craft or Stanley knife for cutting and stripping the ribbon cable.
- A soldering iron (read up on some soldering advice such as choosing the correct bit, tinning your bit as well as the wire ends and pot terminals, and use lead solder if possible, silver solder is difficult to work with!)
- A hacksaw or similar plus a file for cutting the pot shaft down to size.
- I have a 'helping hand' moveable clamp stand, which I found invaluable.
- A drill with the right bits! I needed 7mm and 12mm bits designed for cutting metal. If you're having trouble cutting through, you're probably using bits designed for cutting into wood.
- Heatshrink tubing or insulation tape.
- A craft or Stanley knife for cutting and stripping the ribbon cable.
ok, i'll do some research before i go sawing and drilling things (although i'll likely take it to someone who knows what they are doing and watch them)
Good Skills dannybuoy!
We need more people with the ability to see solutions like this.
I wish I was one of these people.
As opposed to simply flipping a pedal, or putting up with a pedal you don't like.
A quick tinker with a soldering iron can unleash all sorts of fun... given the knowledge and willing of course!
I've got one of these pedals that isn't getting used, that feedback mod looks like simplicity itself so I will definitely be doing that to mine.
In use, does it sound and work in the same way as the Earthbound Audio Beast's feedback?
Same interaction with the vol/tone knobs on the bass ?
Once again, good work and thanks for taking the time to post your findings.
We need more people with the ability to see solutions like this.
I wish I was one of these people.
As opposed to simply flipping a pedal, or putting up with a pedal you don't like.
A quick tinker with a soldering iron can unleash all sorts of fun... given the knowledge and willing of course!
I've got one of these pedals that isn't getting used, that feedback mod looks like simplicity itself so I will definitely be doing that to mine.
In use, does it sound and work in the same way as the Earthbound Audio Beast's feedback?
Same interaction with the vol/tone knobs on the bass ?
Once again, good work and thanks for taking the time to post your findings.
Very interesting. In the other modes, how does it affect it? I'm guessing you are just dealing with two masters.
All I can say is Wow! I modded my pedal while waiting for the singer to show up at practice last night. I think it took me all of 20 minutes just to do the volume mod.
One thing to mention...be sure to use a mini pot.
I didn't think about it and picked up a full sized pot, because that's all the store had. At least I realized before I drilled that it was not going to fit in the same corner Danny installed his. I removed my battery foam and drilled my hole in that opposite corner. I reused the foam and the battery is now sitting sideways at the bottom, fits perfect there. And the knob actually works better for me on that side because of the angle of my cables. And yes I will be getting a power chain soon enough. 
Works fantastic! I thought the pedal was rad before, but now it's really cool to dial up alot more overdrive into it. It's no longer just a fuzz pedal. Thanks Danny!
-Mike
One thing to mention...be sure to use a mini pot.
I didn't think about it and picked up a full sized pot, because that's all the store had. At least I realized before I drilled that it was not going to fit in the same corner Danny installed his. I removed my battery foam and drilled my hole in that opposite corner. I reused the foam and the battery is now sitting sideways at the bottom, fits perfect there. And the knob actually works better for me on that side because of the angle of my cables. And yes I will be getting a power chain soon enough. Works fantastic! I thought the pedal was rad before, but now it's really cool to dial up alot more overdrive into it. It's no longer just a fuzz pedal. Thanks Danny!
-Mike
yeah, in the normal and bass boost modes, i turn the new volume control all the way up and govern the signal with the stock volume control like usual.
i used a knob which matches the stock push-on knobs. it should be noted that this knob does not fit standard 16mm pot shafts (or i should have gotten a knurled shaft?), and i had to drill it out a bit. better to get a knob with a tightening screw like dannybuoy did.
added a toggle switch to for the feedback/oscillation mod. it adds some cool frenzied texture to an already heavy fuzz!
best gut shot i could get with me antiquated camera...
I'm thinking of doing the volume mod, but I want to be absolutely sure I'm doing it right.
Is that what it should look like completed?
Is that what it should look like completed?
If i wanted to make the feedback loop controllable with an A1M (1 Meg Ohm Audio Taper pot) how would I do that? FWIW this pot is also a switch, like you turn it and it clicks to turn stuff on, so I'd put that in too and have the feedback adjustable.
I'm sitting on the floor so I don't need a separate switch.
I'm sitting on the floor so I don't need a separate switch.
Some brief clips of the oscillation mod:
fingerstyle
pick
carrier range
Sounds like you could simply add that pot for the feedback control in place of the toggle or footswitch. Not sure one would need the high value of a 1Meg pot...
Hmm. I don't know. Sounds like maybe a break in the tracks near where the stock toggle is soldered to the PCB? Any solder nicks on the board in that area? Hopefully knowledgeable folks like dannybuoy or McSpunkle will come by soon...
fingerstyle
pick
carrier range
Sounds like you could simply add that pot for the feedback control in place of the toggle or footswitch. Not sure one would need the high value of a 1Meg pot...
Hmm. I don't know. Sounds like maybe a break in the tracks near where the stock toggle is soldered to the PCB? Any solder nicks on the board in that area? Hopefully knowledgeable folks like dannybuoy or McSpunkle will come by soon...
Sorry, can't tell from the pic, but it sounds like a blob of solder may have landed near the normal/dry/boost toggle switch creating a short somewhere? If you'd messed up the wiring for the oscillation switch or volume pot then that would affect the pedal the same way in all modes.
Thunderscreetch, I think the 1M pot is a good choice, just wire up legs 1&2 in place of the switch so it acts like a variable resistor. Since the link will be always on, a really high value will prevent much current flowing so that at one end of the knob's turn it will sound like it's off, then at the other end of rotation there will be no resistance so it will act like the switch turned on. I think.
Thanks for putting clips up, I never got around to it, although I may give it a go this weekend as I have nothing on!
Thunderscreetch, I think the 1M pot is a good choice, just wire up legs 1&2 in place of the switch so it acts like a variable resistor. Since the link will be always on, a really high value will prevent much current flowing so that at one end of the knob's turn it will sound like it's off, then at the other end of rotation there will be no resistance so it will act like the switch turned on. I think.
Thanks for putting clips up, I never got around to it, although I may give it a go this weekend as I have nothing on!
rratajski
Commercial User
- Jul 1, 2008
- 6,121
- 2,671
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- Builder for FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS
Gee, thanks Dannybuoy for giving me one more project I just have to do. Build a Bill Fitzmaurice cab, mod an old Squier p bass I have lying around, and now mod my BBM. My wife's going to leave me.
Seriously, thanks for the writeup on this. Sounds very cool!
Seriously, thanks for the writeup on this. Sounds very cool!
