Replacing pedal footswitches with toggle switches

[AinsleyWalker]

Hey, 

I know this is possible to do, but I just wondered if anyone had done this themselves and could advise?
I use a Tone Hammer as a handy phantom-powered desktop DI/preamp, and would like to switch out the footswitches (one to engage the unit, one to engage the AGS) for toggle switches to make it more of a desktop unit. 

I know plenty of people who could advise/do this type of mod for me, but I'm looking to learn more about components and modding so thought i'd reach out here first. 

 

I think I would need a 3PDT/4PDT toggle switch like the one below? I'm not sure if SPDT or DPDT would do the job.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
Image from: https://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/browse/cat847125_752526.aspx

Edited December 30, 2024 by AinsleyWalker

[paul_5]

Depends what sort of switch is already there, ideally you’d replace a 3pdt with a 3pdt etc… just makes things easier. You *could* use a Dpdt in place of a 3pdt at a pinch, but you’d lose the LED indicator.

 

 

[AinsleyWalker]

Just now, paul_5 said:

Depends what sort of switch is already there, ideally you’d replace a 3pdt with a 3pdt etc… just makes things easier. You *could* use a Dpdt in place of a 3pdt at a pinch, but you’d lose the LED indicator.

 

 

That makes sense - would there be a big downside to replacing 3pdt with 4pdt? I'm not seeing 3pdt toggle switches on many retailers. 

[paul_5]

4 hours ago, AinsleyWalker said:

That makes sense - would there be a big downside to replacing 3pdt with 4pdt? I'm not seeing 3pdt toggle switches on many retailers. 

Not really, it’s just a larger switch though, so measure it first.

 

those little switches will need a BIG washer to fit inside the large hole in the case though- foot switch holes are generally 13mm diameter, and the toggle switch that you linked to is generally a 6mm hole. Have you looked at car/automotive switches?

[AinsleyWalker]

15 hours ago, paul_5 said:

Not really, it’s just a larger switch though, so measure it first.

 

those little switches will need a BIG washer to fit inside the large hole in the case though- foot switch holes are generally 13mm diameter, and the toggle switch that you linked to is generally a 6mm hole. Have you looked at car/automotive switches?

 

That's something I hadn't considered, so thanks for the heads up. I've done very little research into parts at this stage, but I'll look into different types of switches to see if anything is a similar size. 

[BigRedX]

IME the larger toggle switches will be much stiffer to operate than the typical mini-toggle and you might be better off with the original foot switches.

 

Also have you checked to see how the existing switches are wired inside the pedal? The amount of space available and whether they are soldered directly to a PCB may limit your choices for replacements.

[fretmeister]

Are the existing switches really switches and not signal sending units?Some foot switches look like physical items but actually just send a trigger signal for the actual change to be done elsewhere in the pedal.

 

 

[AinsleyWalker]

5 hours ago, BigRedX said:

IME the larger toggle switches will be much stiffer to operate than the typical mini-toggle and you might be better off with the original foot switches.

 

Also have you checked to see how the existing switches are wired inside the pedal? The amount of space available and whether they are soldered directly to a PCB may limit your choices for replacements.

 

3 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Are the existing switches really switches and not signal sending units?Some foot switches look like physical items but actually just send a trigger signal for the actual change to be done elsewhere in the pedal.

 

 

 

Thanks for the feedback!

One of the under screws has gotten stuck so I'll need to work on getting that out before I can really take a good look inside at the wiring etc.