Question about wah mod...

[Snowblind]

Would it be possible to mod an existing wah pedal (Standard Crybaby) into a wah and volume pedal? Sorry if this is an ignorant question. I'm a noob when it comes to modding effects. Anyway, if its possible any one have instructions how? I know soldering will probably be involved I want to learn this summer so this might be a good starting project. All help is appreciated. Thanks

[devnulljp]

Yes. But it will suck.

You can lift the earth connection on one capacitor (I think it's a 4.7uF or thereabouts in a crybaby?) to kill the wah effect (I found this out the hard way when modding one; did it by accident took a bit of rooting around to figure out what I'd done wrong) leaving you with a really crappy thin sounding volume pedal.
Some of the old Wah-Volume pedals from the70s switch in resistors & caps in series across the sweep cap -- can't remember the values -- to make up for the thin tone. They still suck though. I've got some Maestro Boomerangs that are killer wahs, but the Boomer 2 was a wah-volume == tone sucking brick. I true bypassed it, which keeps the wah and loses the volume pedal. The old Jen and Dallas Arbiter wah-volumes were the same kind of deal. The wah pot just isn't set up for a good volume pedal anyway. Only exception I can think of is the Colorsound wah-swell that used a dual pot. They're still tone suckers though.
Better off with a dedicated wah and a dedicated volume.

[Snowblind]

Yes. But it will suck.

You can lift the earth connection on one capacitor (I think it's a 4.7uF or thereabouts in a crybaby?) to kill the wah effect (I found this out the hard way when modding one; did it by accident took a bit of rooting around to figure out what I'd done wrong) leaving you with a really crappy thin sounding volume pedal.
Some of the old Wah-Volume pedals from the70s switch in resistors & caps in series across the sweep cap -- can't remember the values -- to make up for the thin tone. They still suck though. I've got some Maestro Boomerangs that are killer wahs, but the Boomer 2 was a wah-volume == tone sucking brick. I true bypassed it, which keeps the wah and loses the volume pedal. The old Jen and Dallas Arbiter wah-volumes were the same kind of deal. The wah pot just isn't set up for a good volume pedal anyway. Only exception I can think of is the Colorsound wah-swell that used a dual pot. They're still tone suckers though.
Better off with a dedicated wah and a dedicated volume.

Thanks for the info

[eatyourguitar]

you can do it but I think you need a 3PDT switch. doesnt have to be a footswitch. the pot in the wah is probably a 100k. perfect for a volume pedal. you might even need a 4PDT switch. its hard to tell without looking at it. but yes you can do it. this is what come stock in most crybaby's

if you cant figure it out, PM me and I'll do it cheap.

[Jero]

Its just like devnull said. My wah has a toggle for the volume mod, but I hardly use it.

[McSpunckle]

What model crybaby is it? Newer ones have a buffer on the front end that you could tap. Or it can be passive.

Looking at the schematic, all you'd need to do is break the connection on the wiper with the switch and replace it with the input of the circuit. If you look, it's already a volume control, basically. You'll wanna also either break the connection with the input of the circuit, or the output that connects to the 3rd lug of the pot.

You may be able to do that with just a DPDT, but a 3rd pole would let you separate the wah circuit better-- which you'll wanna do if you're not using the buffer.



Older ones start at the 68K resistor.

[eatyourguitar]

I was trying some layouts and I think you would need a 4PDT but it would definitely work.

[Snowblind]

Thanks guys looks like i have something to keep me preoccupied this summer

Also, what tools will I need for this I don't have any soldering tools yet but thats also something I plan on picking up this summer, thanks.

[McSpunckle]

Soldering iron, solder (obviously), small cutters and pliers, wire strippers. And whatever screwdrivers and you need to get into the pedal.

Those are the things I'd say you really -need- to have. I also couldn't live without locking tweezers and forceps (for holding things whilst soldering), liquid flux in a small needle bottle and/or flux pen, a desoldering pump AND wick, and a pen knife for clearing small solder bridges.

Oh, and coffee.