The other day when playing through my Trainwreck I found something very interesting with my Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Wah Pedal. When plugged into the Wah Pedal I got a loss of tone which can be expected with effects pedals, but it was a nice loss of tone, seemed to roll off the high end a bit. I actually preferred the tone with the pedal in the circuit. When looking at the circuit it turns out its a hardwired pedal, so the effect is always wired in but there is no buffer.
EDIT: Just found a schematic that actually explains how the circuit switches on and off. Basically there is a switch that connects the input and output together when the pedal is off, however the circuit is still connected to the input.
Just thought I'd share this with everyone as we've obviously talked many times about using long cables to roll off the high end but I've never heard anyone talk about a pedal doing it.
Anyway I'm actually going to replace the pedal as I don't like the range of the wah so I'm going to go for a true bypass pedal (or one that can be modded for true bypass) and will make myself a new longish lead using Canare GS-6 (higher capacitance than some leads).
Effects Pedal High End Loss
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Littlewyan
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Stevem
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
That's why when a install new switches for folks in there Vox and other Wah pedals I install a 3 pole double throw switch to get true bypass from them as most folks do not want that reduction in tone from the impedance loading all the time!
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
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Littlewyan
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
Yes but this pedal isn't the easiest to modify and I don't like the sound of it anyway so its going up for sale. I'm looking out for Vox V847 wah pedals as these are much easier to mod and they sound great to my ears (youtube ears that is). To recreate the slight tone loss that I actually liked I'm going to try a longer cord with a higher capacitance.
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Stevem
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
I would just find a cap that gives the same roll off as the longer the cord the greater the signal loss and depending on its shielding the more unwanted noise also!
Do you always want to be unrolling and rolling back up a 30 ft cord!
Do you always want to be unrolling and rolling back up a 30 ft cord!
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
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Leo_Gnardo
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
What Stevem said ^ ^ ^ . That Hendrix pedal is a pisser isn't it? Interesting that Dunlop COULD have put in a true bypass as they now do in some pedals, but didn't. Maybe the hi freq rolloff is meant to simulate what a 30 ft coily cord like Jimi used to use does to a guitar signal. But as Stevem notes, even the regular Vox/Dunlop wahs have the "feature" of rolling off highs due to loading down the guitar with about 150K, unless you swap in a DPDT bypass switch. FWIW there's some product, I think Neutrik "Tone Plug" or something like that, which have a cap across the line built in, about $25 each with a choice of caps. You could just wire a small cap into a regular cable & mark it so you know it's the special one. I don't think it would make any difference which end of the cable you mount the cap. Somewhere around 2 or 3 nF should do.Stevem wrote:I would just find a cap that gives the same roll off as the longer the cord the greater the signal loss and depending on its shielding the more unwanted noise also!
Do you always want to be unrolling and rolling back up a 30 ft cord!
down technical blind alleys . . .
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Littlewyan
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
They could have put in a True Bypass but perhaps Jimi's original pedal was hardwired so they were just copying like for like. Then again I heard that Jimi didn't even use this pedal years ago but thats another debate entirely!
Found that Neutrik plug you mentioned, never heard of that before! Wasn't cheap though. The cable that I plan on using is Canare GS-6 and is 160pf/m. So if I just make a 4/5m cable which is the length I need anyway then that will knock some high end off. I do currently use a Black Coily Bullet Cable from the guitar to the pedal which is great, but then an Elixir Cable from the pedal to the amp. Only quarrel I have is the Elixir cable is quite stiff, could be slightly longer and has a right angle plug on one end which at times I wish was a straight plug.
Found that Neutrik plug you mentioned, never heard of that before! Wasn't cheap though. The cable that I plan on using is Canare GS-6 and is 160pf/m. So if I just make a 4/5m cable which is the length I need anyway then that will knock some high end off. I do currently use a Black Coily Bullet Cable from the guitar to the pedal which is great, but then an Elixir Cable from the pedal to the amp. Only quarrel I have is the Elixir cable is quite stiff, could be slightly longer and has a right angle plug on one end which at times I wish was a straight plug.
Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
why not just build a Wah? There are several kits available and some have options available but they are very modable. Look at buildyourownclone.com
Some production models from boutique builders have some nice versatile switching, variable Q, etc. I have a Wilson wah and am very happy with it. if i wasn't though, it is wide open for mods.
Some production models from boutique builders have some nice versatile switching, variable Q, etc. I have a Wilson wah and am very happy with it. if i wasn't though, it is wide open for mods.
Tube junkie that aspires to become a tri-state bidirectional buss driver.
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Littlewyan
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Re: Effects Pedal High End Loss
Might have to look into that. I live in the UK so would prefer it if I found a kit over here. I'll have a look around.