OC-2 Rehouse and Mods

[J Posega]

I've got a Boss OC-2 with a jack (or maybe both) that are going to need replacing, so I'm thinking of having the whole thing rehoused.

Then I saw @Proton Lenny's JHS modded OC-2 here and just about lost it.

I looked on the JHS site and it doesn't look like they offer the same OC-2 mod (or maybe you've got to contact them about it).

I'm wondering if it would be possible to rehouse the OC-2 into an enclosure but instead of just using the current bypass, to actual put the OC-2 into it's own true bypass loop, and then have that same dry signal defeat mod on a second footswitch. So, technically, the OC-2 is always on, but it's in a true bypass loop (I have it on my board right in front of my Big Muff and the Muff just sounds better without a buffer in front of it)

Does all of this seem doable? I haven't been able to find any discussion of the dry signal defeat mod anywhere online, so I'm not sure if this is within my realm of doable projects, or if I should find someone who already does mods on Boss pedals.

 

[Matt Dean]

Proton Lenny's demos go me thinking about that too. I use an OC2 regularly in both of the ways that Lenny does, so subbed.

 

[Deadsound]

My OC-2 is getting repaired and rehoused by @Azure Skies right now and we discussed a few mods, though not the one in that vid. He might be willing to do it.

 

[dinoadventures]

You mean like this?
Vulcano FX: Chopped Boss OC-2

 

[tlaubs]

I rehoused my OC2 into a 125B enclosure with top mount jacks. I also added a second foot switch to let me solo the -1 Octave signal. What I really like about the mod is that it actually allows me to boast the signal of the solo octave. Before I would usually always play with the -1 but thought there was a little volume drop (really just the lack of higher freq), now I can boast above unity. Here is a pic:

 

[tlaubs]

Meant to mention that I used a soft touch relay true bypass kit from mammoth electronic to make it true bypass because I use it in front of a wooly mammoth that has the same issue as the muff

 

[Ranger Nessy]

This article deals with bypassing Boss buffers and putting in true bypass - it's geared more towards doing this whilst keeping the circuit in it's Boss enclosure, but works the same if you're rehousing the whole thing. It shows how to use a relay bypass, but you could just wire it with a normal 3PDT TB set-up instead.
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/bosstech.pdf

Killing the clean signal is conceptually simple. Below is an OC-2 schematic:

http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/s/schematics/boss-oc2-octaver-schematic.gif

Looking at the above schematic you'd need to kill the dry signal (the point after R59, the resistor that immediately follows lug 2 of the dry pot). There are different ways of doing it, but a good option would be to use a JFET (as detailed in the Geofex article above, 2nd diagram on the 1st page) to mute the signal. You'd basically use the same JFET configuration which would act as an on/off switch (either letting the dry signal pass or blocking it), but between R59 and the point where the other 2 signals are mixed with it (at the positive pin of C6).

I don't know if that appeals on the difficulty spectrum, but it's personally what I would do. Incorporating it onto an existing OC-2 board would I imagine not be overly simple, but probably doable.

 

[zackthompson]

I would like to revive this thread. Is there any definitive way to mod an oc-2 with a dry bypass footswitch? The diagrams are here. What parts would we need and how would we go about doing it?

 

[the baint]

@zackthompson Did you ever figure out how to do this? I've never found a definitive guide. octave 1 solo + volume boost (or fix for drop) is such a useful mod that I'd love to be able to do.

 

[zackthompson]

@zackthompson Did you ever figure out how to do this? I've never found a definitive guide. octave 1 solo + volume boost (or fix for drop) is such a useful mod that I'd love to be able to do.

Nope. I even reached out to JHS and he claimed he had never done that mod before.

 

[the baint]

@zackthompson Haha, that's unexpected from JHS. Anyways, @tlaubs got back to me and is going to follow up with the details of how he did his OC-1 and volume boost mod. If he doesn't mind I'll make sure to pass it along.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

@zackthompson Haha, that's unexpected from JHS. Anyways, @tlaubs got back to me and is going to follow up with the details of how he did his OC-1 and volume boost mod. If he doesn't mind I'll make sure to pass it along.

Revisiting an old thread, I'm also interested in any info.

 

[mistergyro]

same here.
check out this vid. this guy appears to have a modded OC from JHS. I wonder.

 

[Mosfed]

same here.
check out this vid. this guy appears to have a modded OC from JHS. I wonder.

the original post mentions this exact dude

 

[Saladi]

This article deals with bypassing Boss buffers and putting in true bypass

Sorry for reviving this old thread but what's the downside of using a on-off switch? I just put a switch after R59 and i don't see any negative effects. If you know any homepage that talks about this, i'd be glad to read it. Thanks!