DIY guitar footswitch

MrChips

Joined Oct 2, 2009
30,707
One stomp switch or four stomp switches, the circuit complexity is about the same.
The only difference is the cost of one switch vs four switches and the user interface.
(I am a proponent of designing according to the needs of the user, not the user having to adapt to the interface.)
In both cases there is a default condition on power on.
 

eetech00

Joined Jun 8, 2013
3,858
I've got an idea, that should be easier for me to build. What if there was only 1 stomp switch that would change the outputs after every push? This would require for me to set up the effect before each performance, but it is doable I think
See below.

Default is #1 on power on.
The outputs will step 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4....each press of the footswitch.
Although not shown, the input jack can be configured to enable power when an instrument is plugged in, so off when not in use.

EDIT: Fixed LEDs, U2 changed to U3, corrected shunt resistor connections.


1661791541098.png

1661789879923.png
 
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LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
4-Switches is much more intuitive,
and You won't be cycling through 4-different Effects-Chains to get to where You want to be,
therefore it's much faster with no fumbling-around.

The Circuit that I provided was not intended to be
the most inexpensive way to do it, ( at around ~$75.oo worth of parts ),
but it is incredibly simple.
I know it may not look that way if you're not used to reading schematics,
but it's very easy to make, with little experience, on a medium-sized Perf-Board.

No special "Switching-Jacks", just plain Mono-Guitar-Cords or Short-Jumper-Cords.
No-Relays to cause "Switching-Noise", or pops and clicks.
Super-Low Power-requirements.
Having both Red and Green 10mm LEDs gives a quick and definite
indication as to what's On, and what's Off, on a dark Stage.
Minimal Parts-Count.

Do You need help figuring-out how it works ?
.
.
.
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
"" I am in need of a special footswitch for my guitar rig ............. ""
.
Electric-Guitars, and >99% of all "Guitar-Effects-Boxes", ( mostly "Stomp-Boxes" ),
are all Monophonic.
If You go into a "Music-Store", it's actually difficult to find any "Stereo" Patch-Cables,
if they have them at all,
so unless the TS has 4-, (or more), totally "Hand-Built", 2-Channel-Stereo, Effects-Chains,
that he wants to switch between,
what he wants is actually all Mono,
and the fact that he's asking for advice on how to switch between them
indicates to me that he does not have any actual 2-Channel-Stereo Effects-Chains.

Generally, in a small-Band-setting,
only the Keyboardist has actual Stereo-Output-capabilities.

In an actual Production-Studio the situation changes substantially,
where a Multi-Channel-Mixer is always in use,
which already has Buttons and Faders that can Switch, and/or, Pan,
between Presets or external Effects-Chains.

A better solution to all this is to use a Lap-Top-Computer with Guitar-Effects-Software installed,
and which, is controlled by a standard MIDI-Stomp-Switcher-Box.
And then, it will all be in 2-Channel-Stereo, with all presets easily repeatable.
And then, You can use proper High-Fidelity-Stereo-Amplifiers,
with High-Fidelity-Stereo-PA-Speakers,
( instead of relying on the "fixed" Distortion, and really poor Frequency-Response of a ""Guitar-Amplifier"),
to achieve any preset Stereo-Effect at the press of a MIDI-Button.

Doing this the Old-School-Way is really way more work,
and way more expense,
than the unpredictable, and inconsistent, end-result is worth.
.
.
.
 

eetech00

Joined Jun 8, 2013
3,858
"" I am in need of a special footswitch for my guitar rig ............. ""
.
Electric-Guitars, and >99% of all "Guitar-Effects-Boxes", ( mostly "Stomp-Boxes" ),
are all Monophonic.
If You go into a "Music-Store", it's actually difficult to find any "Stereo" Patch-Cables,
if they have them at all,
so unless the TS has 4-, (or more), totally "Hand-Built", 2-Channel-Stereo, Effects-Chains,
that he wants to switch between,
what he wants is actually all Mono,
and the fact that he's asking for advice on how to switch between them
indicates to me that he does not have any actual 2-Channel-Stereo Effects-Chains.

Generally, in a small-Band-setting,
only the Keyboardist has actual Stereo-Output-capabilities.

In an actual Production-Studio the situation changes substantially,
where a Multi-Channel-Mixer is always in use,
which already has Buttons and Faders that can Switch, and/or, Pan,
between Presets or external Effects-Chains.

A better solution to all this is to use a Lap-Top-Computer with Guitar-Effects-Software installed,
and which, is controlled by a standard MIDI-Stomp-Switcher-Box.
And then, it will all be in 2-Channel-Stereo, with all presets easily repeatable.
And then, You can use proper High-Fidelity-Stereo-Amplifiers,
with High-Fidelity-Stereo-PA-Speakers,
( instead of relying on the "fixed" Distortion, and really poor Frequency-Response of a ""Guitar-Amplifier"),
to achieve any preset Stereo-Effect at the press of a MIDI-Button.

Doing this the Old-School-Way is really way more work,
and way more expense,
than the unpredictable, and inconsistent, end-result is worth.
.
.
.
I know all that...I'm a musician.
But the TS specifically shows in the diagram (The spec as far as I'm concerned) L/R signals.
I guess we'll wait and see what the TS says..
 
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