Vox V847a mods

[Paddyob]

I want to mod my v847a Wah before breaking down and buying a new pedal.

Can anyone tell me the best, or most reliable, part supplier up here in Canada?

I'm thinking red fasel and true bypass upgrades, as many folks said this made a world of difference.

Thanks

[imJonWain]

The below link has a lot of mod ideas and explains what effect on sound the various components have... Also a good read on how a wah works...
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/wahpedl/wahped.htm

Check on the inductor as my crybaby came with the red fasel...

[Paddyob]

I don't have a crybaby. A vox. No red fasel inside.

[greeny23]

Vox (iirc) have all SMD parts. If you're new to it then i'd maybe give it a miss for anything useful.

As for parts just get them online from a mouser or some such thing.

[Paddyob]

I'm not sure I follow you....

Give it a miss? As in you are saying I should not do it??

Sorry. Just uncertain what you are telling me... And yes. This will be my first mod.

I also don't know what a mouser is.....

[Gone Fission]

If it is through-hole, the board layout should be the same as Dunlop Crybaby wahs around Revisions C, D, and E. There's a mega Crybaby mod thread at the freestompboxes.org "pimp my cheap pedal" sub-forum that should give lots of info and opinion. The geofex technology of the wah article is also essential. Generally, you can go pretty far with cheap mods short of a new inductor.

[imJonWain]

Mouser is a supplier website, pretty much the default
http://www.mouser.com/?gclid=CPu568TVwcACFSMV7AodbQoARA

[imJonWain]

He means if the board uses SMD (surface mounts ie pretty tiny parts that mount flat on the PCB as opposed to "through hole" components) components and you don't have experience working with them you may be better off selling it and grabbing something else.

[greeny23]

Yeh look I wouldn't be doing this yet. Do some hard research on everything first then build like a AB box.

[Paddyob]

All I'm modding is the inductor to fasel. And the switch to true bypass. I'm a structural fitter/welder by trade so soldering is no issue. The parts I'm adding are quite simple, according to the YouTube videos.

I want to add again.... My vox is a replace or mod. So as opposed to dropping $150, I'm dropping $40 to mod it.

I'm sure all you guys had your first pedal. Well this is mine. You can't discourage this project, so might as well keep up with the great advice you guys have given.

Thanks!

[Paddyob]

All I'm modding is the inductor to fasel. And the switch to true bypass. I'm a structural fitter/welder by trade so soldering is no issue. The parts I'm adding are quite simple, according to the YouTube videos.

I want to add again.... My vox is a replace or mod. So as opposed to dropping $150, I'm dropping $40 to mod it.

I'm sure all you guys had your first pedal. Well this is mine. You can't discourage this project, so might as well keep up with the great advice you guys have given.

Thanks!

[KaosCill8r]

I think all the guys are saying is that if the mods you want to do involve smd components leave it alone, but if the mods are through hole components then yeah give it a go. Smd components are hard to work with. Very small and fiddly, like magnifying glass and tweezers fiddly and aren't soldered in the traditional method. And they are very difficult to remove from the board. I'm sure there are sites dedicated to wah modding. They will have info on how to mod your wah. I had the same problems when I wanted to mod my wah(Dunlop 535Q old 18v model) for led and true bypass. Not many people knew how to do it. I ended up putting it into a small true bypass looper which solved both the problems at a reasonable price. Anyway good luck with your project. I do hope it can be done.

[eatyourguitar]

there are many types of SMD. there are for example what I would call big SMD resistors like 1206. even when working with 0.65mm pitch IC's, I only use the magnification to inspect the solder joints after I tack the corners and after I finish installing the IC. the cheapest way for a beginner to desolder SMD with any shitty soldering iron is to use chipquick alloy. watch the chipquick tutorial and you will be just fine at removing SMD components. for installing SMD compents, you can use the chipquick solder again as a last resort if you do not have a fine wire kester RA solder on hand. watching a few youtube videos on soldering 1206 resistors is a must. there are tutorials for every package type and size. do your research, buy your tools, fear nothing.

[Paddyob]

The only part on the board to be touched is the inductor. Red fasel. YouTube shows pins you bend an put through holes. So that is probably not what you are referring to as smd?

It says bend the pins through holes. It seems pretty straightforward.

The other two parts are not on the board and not require the wire soldered to tags. At least that's everything I've seen on the V847a.

It is the "a" model... So maybe the model without the a has a different board?

[greeny23]

Post a photo of the insides.