Quick question on what pushbutton switches to get for footswitch DIY

[Shadow Giratina]

Hey guys, I'm kinda new here. (By new I mean I've been browsing for the last year and haven't joined until just now )

Anyway, I've got this awesome DV Mark 2x12 combo amp that didn't come with a footswitch. The cheapest footswitch I could find is still ~$20 and that is way too much for something that does a function I can do with my hands. I don't know, it's probably just me. Either way, I would love to build a footswitch instead of purchasing one because I've made a few pedals before and it will probably be cheaper. Even if it isn't, I could design it to be better than anything store bought!

On to my question: I need to switch between two channels, and toggle reverb on/off. I have a stereo jack and cable lying around, I know how to wire LEDs, I just need to know what kind of push button switches I need. Specs of switches would be great. Links would be even better.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION: When I say "specs of switches" I mean like do I need latching switches? Momentary? SPST?...

[thermionix]

Different amps do it differently and require different switch types.  I've never heard of DV Mark, do you have a schematic?

[digi2t]

So, you need something like this?

http://www.dvmark.it/product-detail/dual-footswitch/

If so, looks like normal latching footswitches will do. What model combo is it? Looking at the 40 watt twin, looks like it uses a stereo jack, one wire ground, one wire for channel switching, one wire for reverb switching. Probably something like this;

The cheapest footswitch I could find is still ~$20 and that is way too much for something that does a function I can do with my hands.

At $20 though, that's tough to beat. Once you tally the enclosure, footswitches, cable, and jack, you're pretty much past that. I'd pony up the 20, and be happy if it does the job. Besides, you can't play guitar AND switch functions with your hands at the same time. Right?

[Shadow Giratina]

So, you need something like this?

http://www.dvmark.it/product-detail/dual-footswitch/

If so, looks like normal latching footswitches will do. What model combo is it? Looking at the 40 watt twin, looks like it uses a stereo jack, one wire ground, one wire for channel switching, one wire for reverb switching...

YES! THIS IS PERFECT! Exactly what I needed. Thanks man. However, looking at the price of brushed stainless steel, It probably will be a lot more than $20. I really just want to make something I'm proud to look at and say "I made that", ya know? Oh yeah, and I've got the DV40 212

Also, I just want to point out that wow, total flop on DV Mark's side. Why discontinue your only DV Mark branded footswitch? That seems like shooting yourself in the foot if you ask me, but what do I know?

EDIT: So looking at Digi2t's schematic, I Imagine that for LEDs I probably want to put them along the "hot" line in between the cable and the switch. Something like that?

EDIT (again): Here's my ridiculous idea that probably nobody probably think is cool: Amp footswitch designed to look like a Moog Prodigy/Model D/Other vintage synthesizers. Awkward slant keyboard, metal chassis, wooden side panels. Check out a Moog Prodigy and their Moogerfooger stompboxes. Kinda a fusion between the two aesthetically I'm basically going after a wider Moogerfooger MF-102.

Last edit I promise: Anybody have any recommendations for pushbutton switch models/vendors?

[thermionix]

LEDs will require power.

[digi2t]

LEDs will require power.

What he said.

EDIT: So looking at Digi2t's schematic, I Imagine that for LEDs I probably want to put them along the "hot" line in between the cable and the switch. Something like that?

There may not be power for LED's available here. If circuit is only meant for switching, which means it's only shunting to ground what's required for the amp, then forget about LED's. Without a detailed schematic of the amps switching scheme, it's unknown. The jack on the amp is a switching type that opens when you insert the jack, thus transferring control to the footswitch. If you want power, you can add a battery and some resistors, but forgetting to switch off the LED's when you're done with it will mean "stock up on batteries". If you're really keen on having LED's, then you could use a stereo switching jack on the footswitch side as well, and simply unplug the jack at the footswitch to turn off the power to the LED's when you're done. You could then use any off the shelf stereo cable in between the footswitch and the amp, which is a plus, since the cable is generally the weakest link.

If you need a diagram on that, let me know.

EDIT (again): Here's my ridiculous idea that probably nobody probably think is cool: Amp footswitch designed to look like a Moog Prodigy/Model D/Other vintage synthesizers. Awkward slant keyboard, metal chassis, wooden side panels. Check out a Moog Prodigy and their Moogerfooger stompboxes. Kinda a fusion between the two aesthetically I'm basically going after a wider Moogerfooger MF-102.

Yup... sky's the limit. Go nuts my friend. I think Hammond already has a line of enclosures in that style. 1456 series. Get out your check book. Or your planer. 

Last edit I promise: Anybody have any recommendations for pushbutton switch models/vendors?

These will do fine...



Vendors are like bars in Chicago. There's one on every corner. Google is your friend.

[deadastronaut]

ive been using 'coin' batteries, with a holder for 'passive' stuff lately..

just to power leds. nice and small..   ( my local poundshop sells 12 batts for a quid )

yes i'm a cheap bstd..

[digi2t]

yes i'm a cheap bstd..

And we wouldn't have you any other way. 

Which would explain why astro is dead... bought the suit, but was too cheap to spring for the oxygen to go along with it.

[EBK]

ive been using 'coin' batteries, with a holder for 'passive' stuff lately..

just to power leds. nice and small..   ( my local poundshop sells 12 batts for a quid )

yes i'm a cheap bstd..

I assume your poundshop is the equivalent of my dollar store (US).  Just out of curiosity, are any of them named "Quid pro quo"?

[deadastronaut]

dino, yep you got it...my cheap ass suit failed big time..



erik, no they are just called 'poundland'' very imaginative i know
but they could have saved a little more money by calling themselves quidland

[EBK]

At least you don't have stores with horrifyingly bad names like "All Items Just 99¢ or More" (or some variant of that -- I swear it exists).  I like to think that they wanted to undercut the dollar store people, but couldn't make it work. 

Edit: Here's a fine example.NM. I'll put the pics in the jokes thread. 

[Shadow Giratina]

This is just a really bizarre footswitch jack on my amp. I've got ~6 volts DC out of the tip when connected to the sleeve.


Also "Poundland" is @#$%ing hilarious.

EDIT (Wow I am just not good at being clear!): My multimeter says that when connected to the tip and the sleeve, it reads 6-ish volts.

[thermionix]

You're mentioning tip and sleeve, but not ring.  The diagram digi provided was for a TRS jack, and simple switching.  If your amp uses a footswitch that does more than one thing with only tip and sleeve, it's probably multiplexed (I think that's the right term).  Look at the Fender Hot Rod amps for an example.  A schematic would be really helpful, or maybe you can track somebody down that has the factory f/s and copy it.

[digi2t]

Is this the model you have?

http://www.dvmark.it/media/filer_public/56/a9/56a9b2cf-d2a1-4485-b130-b2dd618315fa/user_manual__dv_112__dv_212.pdf

If so, the footswitch will control channel and boost switching. No reverb control.

As for the dual footswitch from DV Mark, the plain one was discontinued, but there is another model available, which includes LED's. It also comes with blank labeling, which probably means that for some amps it will control channel/reverb, and on others channel/boost.

If you're getting 6v at the tip to ground, then the switching might be done by a discreet method a la Twin Reverb II;



Hard to say at this point. Like thermi says, can't beat a schematic.

[PRR]

> assume your poundshop is the equivalent of my dollar store

A good gimmick knows no national lines. A Pound Shop is a Dollar Store, except 1.59 times bigger + VAT. And the trash bags are marked bin bags.

It is the old Five And Dime, inflated.

Same tricks. UK has a 99p (and up) chain. My Family Dollar sells stuff up to $15, but they just opened the Dollar Tree and AFAIK everything IS $1. (Good deal. I got a poke in the eye, now I can see far,threw-away all my near-sighted glasses. But now I can't see near. WalMart wants $6 for readers. Renys had fine choice at $3 and I got a couple. But Dollar Tree sells readers for $1, got a couple more.)

[thermionix]

I also have a pair of Dollar Tree reading glasses.  Not quite as nice glass as the Foster Grants, but they do.  What I usually pop in for is the 9V carbon zinc batteries, TWO for a dollar and kickass in a fuzz face or wah.

[Shadow Giratina]

Is this the model you have?...

Nope. I've got this thing: http://www.dvmark.it/product-detail/dv-40-212/

Also, I've not the slightest idea where to get schematics. (That's kinda why I'm here). I've always been more of the "built from scratch with spare parts" kinda guy. This is very new territory for me. But thanks for putting up with my incompetent bullshit guys. Means a lot

[digi2t]

Don't know why I'm doing this, but I just emailed them about it.

Must be the Easter bug. Bask in it while you can.

I'll let you know if they get back to me.

[Shadow Giratina]

Don't know why I'm doing this, but I just emailed them about it.

Must be the Easter bug. Bask in it while you can.

I'll let you know if they get back to me.

That was completely unnecessary, but much appreciated! If it was too much out of your way, you could have of just told me to shoot them an email dude. Thanks anyway.

Girlfriend made me go on an 12 mile bike trip around a mountain. I have no idea why I'm trying to use my brain right now

[digi2t]

I think I just added DV Mark along to Egnater of "amps that I should never ever buy".

Me;

Hi,

Seeing how all your footswitches for the combos are all discontinued, can you please send me a schematic so I may make my own? One with LED's if possible. My amp is the DV40 212.

Thank you,

Them;

Hi Dino,
thanks for writing and for choosing DV Mark.
The CUSTOM DUAL FOOTSWITCH is still available for online order at Mark Store:
http://www.markstore.it/dvmark/footswitches/custom-dual-footswitch.html
Best Regards,
Riccardo

Me;

So why is it listed as discontinued on your site?

In the discontinued section; http://www.dvmark.it/product-detail/custom-dual-footswitch/

Them;

It's discontinued not in production for now, but there are units in stock.

Me;

So what happens when there's no more? Sorry, I'm just thinking about all the other owners of amps that may be in need of these footswitches sometime in the future.

Them;

Probably it will be re-introduced but it's not officially yet.

Needless to say, I didn't get the schematic. Get some O2 for your brain. Maybe some for theirs as well.