Dunlop wah switchless conversion help

[Biaeothanata-Bassist]

Hey guys

I've got a Dunlop GCB-95 which i've changed the capacitors and inductor in to change the frequencies and gain as well as modding it to be true bypass with an LED but I am once again bored and want to mod it again.

I used to have a Morley wah and loved the switchless operation of it so I want to convert mine to switchless as it'll also be easier for the songs I play using it (for whom the bell tolls, orion, call of kthulu... basically metallica covers!) but i don't want to get a different wah as i love the sound of my one with the mods, it screams!

Anyway, i'll stop rambling. Can someone help me modify my GCB95 (with true bypass) to a switchless one? I'd really appreciate it. I'd also like to be able to hook up the LED to whatever will be activating the wah so i can see when it's on. Plus I love the value LED i have fitted to it haha.

Cheers
Steve

[Dave_the_bass]

Rough guess:

Take wires from existing switch to new jack socket.
Small patch cable to a separate on/off stompbox.

Not knowing the wiring in your wah; this "should" leave your wah working as it does today and extend the switch part of it external.

Hope this helps

[0175westwood29]

or try and get it working how the bass wah does?

andy

[Biaeothanata-Bassist]

Yeah sorry i should of mentioned, i want it to be like the Dunlop bass wah / 95Q wah where it activates the wah as you push down on the tread plate but de-activates as soon as the tread plate is returned to the back position.

[0175westwood29]

You might be able to get the guts of a bass wag of the internet and just do a switch

Andy

[dannybuoy]

You need the G-Lab True Bypass Wah Pad:

http://www.glab.com.pl/true_bypass_wah-pad_en

It's pressure sensitive and activates a true bypass relay when you step on the wah. I have their bass wah which uses the same switching and it's easy to activate, instant, and silent.

Only downside is it's not cheap at £90: http://www.thomann.de/gb/g_lab_tbwp_true_bypass_wah_pad.htm

Converting a normal wah shell to one like the 105Q however will not be easy. As well as the spring mechanism, there is special circuitry to control the switching and time delay which would've been part of the main PCB, and you'd have to rig up the equivalent.

Might be worth giving the Ibanez Weeping Demon, Dunlop 105Q, and G-Lab Wowee Bass a go, you never know you might like one of em more than the wah you have now!

[Dave_the_bass]

Just to add, and I'm by no no means affiliated, there's a 105q in the effects for sale forum.

[Biaeothanata-Bassist]

I looked in to the G-Lad bypass pad but as you said, it's far too expensive.

I just want to modify my current wah so i can take out the switch and replace it with something like a non-latching switch down at the heel end of the plate which activates the wah as soon as you move the plate forward then de-activates the wah as soon as it's returned to the heel down position.

[dannybuoy]

A DPDT relay with some kind of microswitch built into the chassis somehow should do the trick.

Something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/search?text=microswitch&x=0&y=0

And this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-dc-1a-dpdt-miniature-relay-n04aw

Then you can either rig up the relay to do the job of the old footswitch; or you can permanently remove the old switch and wire it to be always on, then connect the jacks directly to the relay, converting the whole thing to true bypass.

You'd probably need to spring-load it somehow as well so it had enough force to press the switch when returning it to the heel position. Sounds like an interesting challenge!

Just thought of another way - use a reed switch just inside the casing underneath the heel, and put a magnet underneath the bottom of the treadle at the back. The magnet then serves two jobs - it will hold the pedal in place at the heel end, and it will also activate the reed switch which will be in turn connected to the relay!

Edited August 19, 2014 by dannybuoy