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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:	GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:	Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:	KDX200::COOPER

Created:	Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3280
Total number of notes:	61432

2200.0. "Session Footswitch" by VOGON::WILLIAMS () Sat May 11 1991 16:45

    I'm trying to rig up a foot switch for my Session guitar
    amp, a Rockette-30. Does anyone have any experience of
    the wiring required?
    
    The footswitch socket on the amp is a stereo 1/4" jack,
    so it has 3 connections (tip,ring, and ground). The
    amp itself has 2 main channels (clean/overdrive). With
    the rocker switch on the amp, its possible to select
    either 1) the clean channel, 2) the overdrive channel
    or 3) a combination of the two.
    
    Now, its not immediately clear to me whether the footswitch
    would just allow selection between the clean/overdrive
    channels (2 different sounds) or between the three different
    combinations available from the rocker switch. But wouldn't
    3 different combinations require more than 1 up/down
    footswitch?
    
    If anyone has got a Session amp with a footswitch maybe
    they can let me know how it works - if not the wiring,
    then maybe how many sound combinations are possible via
    the footswitch(es).
    
    Also, anyone know if there is any 'standard' way of
    wiring up jack-connected footswitches, or does each
    manufacturer use a different method?
    
    If anyone's wondering why I just don't go out and buy
    a Session footswitch...well, apart from being incredibly
    tight fisted (!), Session have gone bust, so any of
    their equipment is very hard to find, which is a pity
    because their amps sound triffic - and you don't get
    a hernia carrying them around!
    
    Cheers
    	
    	Nick

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2200.1	I've got a Session too	MALLET::BARKER	Pretty Damn Cosmic	`Mon May 13 1991 08:47`	16
	I've got a Rockette-30 too and am very pleased with the LOUD clean sound that I get plus some quite pleasant distortion. The minus points are that it the reverb is not too hot & is also rather noisy. There is also breakthrough from the O/D channel so that the hum level rises on the clean channel if the O/D channel is cranked right up. Even if I ever realise my dream of a Fender Twin I think that I'd still keep the Session as a neat little portable amp. The 3 rocker switch positions give you control over the clean input only (input 1 I think). The other input (input 2) is overdrive only. The 3 positions are clean, O/D or switchable by footswitch. So you have probably gathered by now that the footswitch swaps between the 2 channels. I don't have my footswitch with me right now but I'll have a peak when I get home as to how it is wired. Nigel
2200.2	Session amp stomp box	VOGON::WILLIAMS		`Mon May 13 1991 09:29`	13
	Thanks for the info., Nigel. I agree with what you say about the Rockette - mine's noticably noisy at low-ish volume levels. There is a bit of channel crosstalk, too. On mine, without the footswitch, selecting the middle position on the rocker switch gives a mix of clean and overdriven. My guess is that the footswitch only works when the rocker switch is in this (middle) position, and then only to switch between either 1) clean or 2) overdriven sounds? Nick
2200.3	Channel switch	TRUCKS::LITTEN		`Tue May 14 1991 13:13`	14
	Nick, I agree with you, from my understanding of the Session schematics, the footswitch works by shorting out either the clean or overdrive channels. So the earth on the jacksocket will be connected to the common connection of the switch and the two "tips" of the jack will cary the channel signal to the poles of the switch. Stomping on the switch should then give you one channel or the other. You could test this by inserting a jack plug, and shorting out in turn the tips to the earth shaft. Dave
2200.4		MALLET::BARKER	Pretty Damn Cosmic	`Wed May 22 1991 09:44`	6
	Re .3 I've had a look at my footswitch & that's exactly what it does. Nigel
2200.5	Session Footswitch	VOGON::WILLIAMS		`Wed May 22 1991 10:28`	12
	Thanks for the information - much appreciated! I'll check it out tonight. I already have a neat foot switch and die-cast box drilled with holes to accept the switch and (stereo) jack socket. I suppose I also need to get some three core cable to connect the amp to the foot switch. Almost there... Cheers Nick