A-B/Y footswitch

TD_Madden · 08-01-2006, 05:36 PM

I'm looking for a diagram for how to build an A-B/Y pedal with true-bypass.... anyone make one?

Amp Kat · 08-01-2006, 08:19 PM

Try this and R.G. will be proud of you. http://www.geofex.com/fx_images/Oaspltr.gif

The splitter really needs those isolation transformers however you can also cut one of the shields on one end of your guitar cable to reduce hum but it all changes when you get to a two wire circuit. You may get hum and you might not. The trannys are a plus in both situations.

There is also an explanation site and then transformer model at http://www.geofex.com

TD_Madden · 08-01-2006, 09:55 PM

how about a PASSIVE one.....?

Amp Kat · 08-02-2006, 06:12 PM

There is a passsive one on R.G.'s website.

TD_Madden · 08-02-2006, 10:06 PM

guess I'm blind....there are two listed, but both seem to have transistors.

Amp Kat · 08-03-2006, 01:37 AM

Oops sorry bout that TD. They are both active and I'm sure I've ever seen a passive one. The Whirlwind is an excellent A/B/Y box but uses a battery also.

Ray Ivers · 08-03-2006, 02:31 AM

TD,

I know in this day and age of many, many schematics available on-line, DIY Web sites, etc., what I'm going to suggest will sound almost archaic, but seriously... I'd grab a piece of paper and a pencil, and draw five objects on it:

1) Three guitar jacks, in a row - Output A, Input, and Output B - and

2) Two DPDT switches directly below them - one for A/B switching, and one that overrides the A/B switch for Y'ed operation.

You may be surprised at how quickly you can draw up your own schematic, even with ground-and-hot switching (the reason I suggested DPDT's). Or you could continue looking for a print... but designing an A/B/Y box is less difficult IMO than wiring up a Strat. You could even use the commonly-available 3PDT switches and include LED's w/resistors and a 9V battery for mode indicators, but no sense in making things complicated if you don't have to.

Ray

TD_Madden · 08-03-2006, 12:52 PM

yes, it's that ground-switching I'm interested-in.....the a/b part isn't difficult at all, and even the y portion isn't... In fact, I have a commercial box (maker withheld) that does the switching with no problem, but it doesn't seem to ground-out the unused side and can be almost microphonic....while the "y" selection is quiet.

That's why I was interested in a design that does that properly.

Regis · 08-03-2006, 02:00 PM

Gooogle is your friend:

http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/bestABY.jpg

http://www.threepoundsofbakon.com/guitarfx/buffer.htm

TD_Madden · 08-03-2006, 05:00 PM

Thanks.....I hadn't used ab in my google searches, just a-b, a/b, and a-b/y.

08-01-2006, 05:36 PM	#1
TD_Madden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 693	A-B/Y footswitch I'm looking for a diagram for how to build an A-B/Y pedal with true-bypass.... anyone make one?

08-01-2006, 08:19 PM	#2
Amp Kat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Baton Rouge,LA Posts: 1,062	Try this and R.G. will be proud of you. http://www.geofex.com/fx_images/Oaspltr.gif The splitter really needs those isolation transformers however you can also cut one of the shields on one end of your guitar cable to reduce hum but it all changes when you get to a two wire circuit. You may get hum and you might not. The trannys are a plus in both situations. There is also an explanation site and then transformer model at http://www.geofex.com __________________ KB

08-02-2006, 06:12 PM	#4
Amp Kat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Baton Rouge,LA Posts: 1,062	There is a passsive one on R.G.'s website. __________________ KB

08-03-2006, 01:37 AM	#6
Amp Kat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Baton Rouge,LA Posts: 1,062	Oops sorry bout that TD. They are both active and I'm sure I've ever seen a passive one. The Whirlwind is an excellent A/B/Y box but uses a battery also. __________________ KB

08-03-2006, 02:00 PM	#9
Regis Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 396	Gooogle is your friend: http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/bestABY.jpg http://www.threepoundsofbakon.com/guitarfx/buffer.htm __________________ Stop by my web page!

08-01-2006, 09:55 PM	#3
TD_Madden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 693	how about a PASSIVE one.....?

08-02-2006, 10:06 PM	#5
TD_Madden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 693	guess I'm blind....there are two listed, but both seem to have transistors.

08-03-2006, 02:31 AM	#7
Ray Ivers Lifetime Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 442	TD, I know in this day and age of many, many schematics available on-line, DIY Web sites, etc., what I'm going to suggest will sound almost archaic, but seriously... I'd grab a piece of paper and a pencil, and draw five objects on it: 1) Three guitar jacks, in a row - Output A, Input, and Output B - and 2) Two DPDT switches directly below them - one for A/B switching, and one that overrides the A/B switch for Y'ed operation. You may be surprised at how quickly you can draw up your own schematic, even with ground-and-hot switching (the reason I suggested DPDT's). Or you could continue looking for a print... but designing an A/B/Y box is less difficult IMO than wiring up a Strat. You could even use the commonly-available 3PDT switches and include LED's w/resistors and a 9V battery for mode indicators, but no sense in making things complicated if you don't have to. Ray

08-03-2006, 12:52 PM	#8
TD_Madden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 693	yes, it's that ground-switching I'm interested-in.....the a/b part isn't difficult at all, and even the y portion isn't... In fact, I have a commercial box (maker withheld) that does the switching with no problem, but it doesn't seem to ground-out the unused side and can be almost microphonic....while the "y" selection is quiet. That's why I was interested in a design that does that properly.

08-03-2006, 05:00 PM	#10
TD_Madden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 693	Thanks.....I hadn't used ab in my google searches, just a-b, a/b, and a-b/y.

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