|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 7, 2017 7:19:54 GMT -7
The Doc's are better! I use his in the studio. I use the ones i built on stage. I need that "LED crutch" of knowing what's on. I SO need the LED's. On the second night of our 3 night "tour", my home made footswitch stopped working. The tremolo stayed on no matter what I did, so I turned it off at the amp and finished the show. I took it home to work on it, and found that it was the soldering on the 1/4" jack shorting. I did the last show with the Doc's stock pedal just to be safe It worked great. BUT, while doing the guitar solo to Rock and Roll by Zeppelin, I noticed that something wasn't right tone wise. At the start of the next song, I realized what it was: the Tremolo was still on from the LAST song, set for just slight trem action. Without the LED, on a loud stage, this kind of thing would happen to me all the time!
|
|
mj
New Member
Posts: 9
|
Post by mj on Mar 7, 2017 20:54:56 GMT -7
Thanks for the welcomes. I guess Ive just been wanting to complain about the footswitch. I had no idea it was a desireble switch.
As far as the Docs explanation I wonder which footswitch I have. Mine has the polished metal cover.
Im really glad I read this. As it turns out the switch is actually high quality and Im really just complaning about the weight I guess.
Ill continue to use the shorted RCA plug until a time that I need exact control over my trem.
I love the Z Lux.
|
|
|
Post by steeltoe on Mar 11, 2017 17:49:23 GMT -7
It's been 9 weeks waiting on Brian at Loopmaster for me. I sent him an email asking for better communication, requesting a reply within 3 days (not his standard form letter again), or a Paypal claim will happen. He was paid on Jan 17th. Frustrating. Edit: I got a reply from Brian and he promises to ship it today. I'll report back after it arrives.
|
|
|
Post by steeltoe on Mar 18, 2017 10:09:57 GMT -7
Well the pedal came a few days ago, and it appears to be a nice unit. A lot smaller than I imagined. One problem though. When the lights are on, the effects (reverb & tremolo) are off. I emailed Brian to see if there is a fix. Completely opposite of intuition, and I'm sure this would throw me off in a live setting.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 11:58:56 GMT -7
What? That's crazy. Really?
|
|
|
Post by steeltoe on Mar 20, 2017 17:25:02 GMT -7
Well, things went south pretty fast. He blames me for buying a fender style footswitch. I tried rewiring/soldering it per his diagrams to make it work, but then the reverb and tremolo were always on regardless of the footswitch position. I offered to send it back and let him fix it, but he said he will just refund my money after he gets it back. If anyone else is considering ordering from him, make sure he knows you have a Z, and then be prepared for a long wait.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 3:41:28 GMT -7
Yeah--I gave up and cancelled my order. Still waiting for a refund. Sorry about the bum steer, gents.
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 21, 2017 6:46:57 GMT -7
What is needed, it seems, is for some other company that builds quality stuff like cables, to make one of these things that works with the ZLux. Do we know anybody?
For $20 you can build your own. MammothElectronics sells everything you need. I just de-soldered the cable that came with my Zlux and put a stereo 1/4" plug on it. I found the basic schematic for it online somewhere. It is a fun project.
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Mar 21, 2017 7:34:30 GMT -7
What is needed, it seems, is for some other company that builds quality stuff like cables, to make one of these things that works with the ZLux. Do we know anybody? For $20 you can build your own. MammothElectronics sells everything you need. I just de-soldered the cable that came with my Zlux and put a stereo 1/4" plug on it. I found the basic schematic for it online somewhere. It is a fun project. I think I'm going to have to DIY it myself too. I NEED them LEDs. I'd like to just use the current footswitch like this guy did; www.tdpri.com/threads/not-really-an-effect-but-i-burnt-my-finger.206989/
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 21, 2017 9:19:56 GMT -7
The ONLY reason I didn't do that was twofold: A) I had all the components lying around from a previous DIY project and B) I didn't want to screw up the stock pedal if it didn't work!
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Mar 21, 2017 9:45:12 GMT -7
B) I didn't want to screw up the stock pedal if it didn't work! That is the only reason for my hesitation!
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 21, 2017 9:53:51 GMT -7
B) I didn't want to screw up the stock pedal if it didn't work! That is the only reason for my hesitation! You can buy the metal enclosure for about $5 from Mammoth Electronics (more if you want it painted) and you need the 6 lug DPDT foot switches, and Led's. It was super easy and fun If you like soldering!
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 22, 2017 5:47:37 GMT -7
More important to me than the 'verb/trem footswitch would be an LED for the Boost Footswitch. I have played Fenders my whole life and can easily tell if my verb or trem are activated... but I would like to use the boost footswitch for a very small gain/volume boost for solos, and it's killing me that I can't tell when it's on or not. How difficult would it be to add a LED to that? or is there a suitable replacement out there?
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 22, 2017 6:30:19 GMT -7
I built one for my Remedy and use it with the Lux. I call it "The Loud Pedal" It is easy and there are schematics for it on the internet. They do make them, but the challenge is that most of them require voltage going down the line to power up the LED. There is nothing like that in the Zlux, so you have to wire it for a battery or hard wire it. I did both, but ended up using the battery. The LED's use so little power than the battery I have in there now has not died in over a 18 months.
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 22, 2017 18:14:00 GMT -7
You don't have a potentiometer on this to adjust the boost level?
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 22, 2017 18:17:30 GMT -7
You don't have a potentiometer on this to adjust the boost level? You are right. They didn't exist when I built this. BUT, that said, I run my boost wide open. I use it for rock lead boosts when the band is generally louder, so I don't need the ability to adjust the level. I use my guitar volume for that if it is needed and I have a silver Archer set for my clean boosts. It works great for me.
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 23, 2017 4:02:59 GMT -7
I would really love an option for a footswitch (with the potentiometer - I don't run NEARLY loud enough to be able to hit the boost wide-open) and an LED. My "boosts" are just a tad of volume and gain to make a lead stand out slightly above the rhythm sound of the band. maybe a couple dB over unity. For now, I'm just using an RC boost for that, but the Z-Lux footswitch sounds so perfect, it's shame that it's not useful for me without the LED. I have tried using it, but keep having to stab at the strings between songs to see if it's on or not.
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Mar 23, 2017 5:12:13 GMT -7
Geno, I understand. I know that wiring it all up is the easy part, for a guy like me, with very little in the electronics knowledge area. I can follow a diagram, but I can't make the diagram up! I think I recall that someone on here has done it. You may want to search the forum or post the question and ask if somebody has a schematic for it.
|
|
|
Post by doctorice on Mar 23, 2017 16:07:11 GMT -7
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 24, 2017 4:27:03 GMT -7
Thanks DrIce, but the images are gone from the linked thread so I can't see anything but an icon.
|
|
|
Post by doctorice on Mar 24, 2017 6:42:16 GMT -7
Thanks DrIce, but the images are gone from the linked thread so I can't see anything but an icon. Hmmm, I don't know where they went. Probably worth checking in with forum admin, which I'll do.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 24, 2017 11:35:58 GMT -7
Thanks DrIce, but the images are gone from the linked thread so I can't see anything but an icon. Hmmm, I don't know where they went. Probably worth checking in with forum admin, which I'll do. The files were removed from their original location, probably by the OP.
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 24, 2017 12:12:57 GMT -7
Thanks for chasing it down. Hopefully they'll pop back up somewhere. Got my RC Boost on my board in the meantime!
|
|
|
Post by renegade44 on Mar 28, 2017 12:14:29 GMT -7
Don't Take apart the OEM switch. Get a TRS Jack or get a TRS cable and cut off one end to hardwire. The Fender switch are great. And what you may save is not worth it.
|
|
geno
New Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by geno on Mar 29, 2017 16:29:20 GMT -7
I may have just solved my problem with not having an LED. I've been trying out dozens of overdrive pedals to get the right mixture of light drive, medium drive and slightly-heavier-than-medium drive (I don't play much heavier than that) and in doing so, I brought out and dusted off a pedal that I bought over a year ago, but have only used sparingly and rarely. IT sounded great but didn't have much different than many of my other "light" ODs. I have discovered that my old tried-and-true boost pedals that I like to kick in for a Solo boost, just didn't cut it compared to the Z Variable Boost footswitch. It has a rich, organic way of adding JUST the right amount of gain with the volume jump, and not sounding over-compressed... my RC booster (been using it since these came out!!) and EP booster just sound weird now in comparison to the Z VB switch. Too compressed, they add slight "artifacts" to the tone, and kind of take away some of the nice OD tones when it's kicked on. HOWEVER, as you can read above, I've been battling the fact that there is no way to tell when the Z VB switch is actually on, since there's no LED. I don't use much of a boost to stand out in solos, we play at low-to-moderate volumes and the rest of the band doesn't overwhelm the stage, so only a very small jump in volume and gain is what I need. The Z VB does it best, but has that one handicap. Enter the PCE-FX Aluminum Falcon pedal. It was touted as an inexpensive option to all the KLONs out there, it's a very small box, angled top, 3 knobs, and while it did sound really good when I first got it, it just didnt' stand out for me. However, among EVERY boost pedal I've tried it is the ONLY one that sounds virtually identical to the setting i have been using on the Z VB switch. AND IT HAS AN LED! ha... So now, I don't need to use the Z switch for solo boosts (I can leave it on like a lot of other folks do, if I want!) and I now have a suitable pedal that gives me the same tone. FWIW, I have found my OD line to be: Light Drive = JRAD .45 Caliber; Med Drive = BB Preamp; "heavier" drive = Barber Direct Drive Compact. I also usually have my Archer Ikon always on before all the other pedals. 95 % of the time, however, I will be using the .45 caliber or the BB. Rarely need the heavier drive of the DD. But for all solos now, I will be kicking on the PCE Aluminum Falcon. In case you're not familiar with the pedal, here is a link: proguitarshop.com/pce-piedmont-custom-electronics-afiii-aluminum-falcon-3-overdrive.html
|
|
|
Post by nicholas on Apr 2, 2017 13:01:25 GMT -7
If anyone wants a 2 button foot switch with LEDs just send me a PM. I'll make one for you one for cost of parts plus 50 bucks and shipping. I'm actually working on a three button switch for the boost as well, it will have two boost trimmers. One for normal boost (if you like to always have some on like I do) and one for a footswitchable effect.... One cable....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2017 14:13:28 GMT -7
So, back to the Loopmaster pedal--he shipped mine two days after I emailed to cancel the order, which was pretty shady after the LONG wait. Finally got around to trying it today--it buzzes on the reverb side and pops really loud on the trem side. If it was bigger I could use it for a doorstop. The LEDs are pretty, though.
|
|
|
Post by Rockerfeller on Apr 8, 2017 15:10:59 GMT -7
So, back to the Loopmaster pedal--he shipped mine two days after I emailed to cancel the order, which was pretty shady after the LONG wait. Finally got around to trying it today--it buzzes on the reverb side and pops really loud on the trem side. If it was bigger I could use it for a doorstop. The LEDs are pretty, though. Bummer! I wonder if this guy realizes how many potential customers he's lost because he couldn't build this pedal very well or quickly? The Doc told me that the Reverb side of the pedal has a slight amount of signal on it so it needs to be shielded or it will be noisy. So if you end up building one just keep that in mind. You could go into the pedal itself and fix that if you wanted to, it wouldn't be that hard to do
|
|
|
Post by MacStevenXIII on Apr 10, 2017 6:00:52 GMT -7
You could go into the pedal itself and fix that if you wanted to, it wouldn't be that hard to do Could you elaborate on what you'd do in there? I picked up a two button switch off reverb made by "this 1 myne" on the cheap, and it works well enough. The reverb led is off when the effect is on and there's a slight bit of added noise, but very slight. The trem pops every now and then but that doesn't bother me. Ideally I'd like to fix it so the reverb led lights up when the effect is on and perhaps add any shielding in the enclosure if that's what you're talking about. I'm running a 25 ft TRS 1/4" cable with a TRS to RCA cable into it.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 10, 2017 6:51:36 GMT -7
I think I see why Dr. Z went with the tried and true solution.
|
|