Homemade Footswitch

[Salamander In The Sun]

Hey, 'yall.

I've been needing a footswitch for my amp for some time now, but I'm not shelling out 40 bucks for one.

So, I've decided that tomorrow, I'm gonna walk down to Radio Shack and pick up all the stuff I need to make it, minus the soldering iron.

Only problem is, I don't know exactly what parts I'll need.

So far, I know I need;
* A box to hold everything
* A jack
* A switch (not sure what kind, exactly)
* Some wire
* ?

Basically, all I need this footswitch to do is switch between channel 1 and channel 2 of my amp. Nothing more.

BTW, can I use an instrument cable to connect a footswitch to an amp head? I know you can't do it to connect the speaker cabinet to the head, but I'm not sure about a footswitch.

Thanks in advance!

[Ki swordsman]

yeah you could use any cable because it has nothing to do with sound or power which means no need for sheilding etc far as i know..

i'm thinking of making one soon myself..

[Salamander In The Sun]

Originally Posted by Ki swordsman

yeah you could use any cable because it has nothing to do with sound or power which means no need for sheilding etc far as i know..

i'm thinking of making one soon myself..

Okay, thanks for clearing that up. I just didn't want to make a potentially stupid mistake, and fry my amp or something.

Have you made one before?

[David McCarroll]

I don't think you can do your amp any harm - most amp footswitches basically toggle between one side of a DPDT switch and the other - you can usually use a stereo 1/4" jack and any bog standard guitar effects type footswitch (although I'm pretty sure it has to "toggle", not be a momentary action switch) - a quick look at the actual footswitch socket in the amp should pretty quickly tell you what sort of switch and cabling you need - and, yes, an instrument cable should be fine.

[standing8count]

Hey Salamander if you pm me your e-mail address I can send you a pic of my Boogie footswitch and you can copy it.It is real easy to make one.But all I have seen at the Shack is a little cheap box.I got some from a place in Blue Ash Ohio for a real good price and I might have a extra one that I could hook you up with

[Lefty Robb]

I think by the time you get all the parts (those stomp switches are like $10 alone) and the time it takes to make one you might as well have just gotten the $40 footswitch...

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

I think by the time you get all the parts (those stomp switches are like $10 alone) and the time it takes to make one you might as well have just gotten the $40 footswitch...

yup.


i have modded and built alot of my own. sometimes biting the bullet is the best way. and yes it does suck.


rich