Blue LEDs literally blinding you?

[EastCoastThump]

We've joked on TB about the "blinding" blue lights on some stomp boxes and rack gear. No joke: intense blue light can damage your retinas.

Gotta pedal with the insanely bright blue LED (MXR, Wampler, Malekko, Korg, etc)? Hit that with a little painter's tape to dim it and shift the color.

 

[LSMFT6]

I've always used a Sharpie but painter's tape sounds like it's just crazy enough to work. Thanks.

 

[mmbongo]

Whenever possible, I wire in a trimpot for the LED to tame it.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Agreed. I have a few pedals and a new head where the blue LED is like a freakin' laser. Painter's tape, eh? I'll give it a whirl.

 

[rtslinger]

Yes and the green and the red ones to Invalid Link Removed

 

[johnbegone]

If I stand over my pedalboard in the dark, my face is completely lit by the white LED in my Fuzzrocious Rat Tail. I get the concept of wanting to stand out, but I can't see the settings on any knobs when that pedal is engaged - and it's always engaged because I use a separate bypass looper.

 

[NoxNoctus]

Gaffer tape. Tiny strip covering part of the LED will do the trick

 

[Jean Baudin]

I embrace the tiny blue lights that dance below my feet.

 

[totallyfrozen]

I JUST thought of a great idea...might be the first time anyone's ever thought of it:
Don't stare into bright LEDs that hurt your eyes!

Crazy, huh?

 

[Dave W]

I put a piece of tape over them if they're too blinding.

 

[HolmeBass]

Good to know, thanks for that info! The tape idea is good, then when you play a bright daytime show you can peel the tape off. On those bright stages the red and green LEDs are useless, only the bright blue ones show up at all. But most of the time, yeah, they're too darn bright.

 

[Greg75]

I'm in the Sharpie camp on this--actually saved me selling my favorite home audio integrated tube amp. Could've landed a plane by the blue light until I painted it with a Sharpie.

 

[Fernando Costa]

I use nail polish, there is also a small round sticker built to decrease the brightness of these crap.

 

[Feral Feline]

Paint-pen, similar to the sharpie idea, but you just put a "cap" on the LED so it only shines out to the sides and not straight up.

 

[JohnDeereJack]

Yep, I actually cover the blue LED on my VMT with my finger while kneeling down to alter settings between numbers during a gig. Never thought of masking tape though, seems ideal so I'll definitely be trying that out! Ta!

 

[totallyfrozen]

Speaking of LEDs...
You modders on here: Ever seen this gadget?
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Sent from my iPhone 5c zipped in a sandwich bag using TalkBass mobile app while floating in the pool!

 

[jwr]

The Darkglass pedals are literally blinding. LOL. I've built a few like that myself as well. Bought super bright LED's on purpose and didn't realize just how bright that meant.

I can't change settings on either of my Darkglass pedals without turning them off first.