This is a wah pedal that I've been procrastinating on for at least six months now. I started by reading the RG Keen article, and played around with all the components until I settle on a 4 way switch for the centre frequency, and I've added a pot to control the gain/distortion of Q1. Used a yellow Fasel inductor.
Board by Elecrow, and I added a 3PDT and rotary mini board as well, to make the build easier. I named the PCB 'Yowie' as that seems to be the equivalent of 'Bigfoot' in this part of the world.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P7151494.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P6231400.jpg)
Inside wiring is pretty minimal, but I did need to run ground wires to the backs of the pots and to the enclosure itself. Apparently the paint that I used was too good an insulator.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151475.jpg)
For the finish, I have matched it to the guitar that I built last year. I'm using car spray paint (rattle cans), in a red and black, with clear coat over the top.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P2171011.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P5181364.jpg)
Then sanding the clear coat down with 600, 800, 1200, 1500, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000 grit paper and pads. After that, a rub with some car scratch remover. I didn't spend as much time sanding as I did with the guitar, so the finish isn't completely scratch free. But it does the job.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P5261380.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P5261384.jpg)
That looks absolutely spiffin all around! Nice elbow grease action there on the snading and polishing front!
So what is the circuit based on? Classic Vox wah or...? And you tweaked the values?
Thanks Cooder,
Yeah it's based on the classic Vox wah. I've made the drain of Q1 a pot, so you can have a nice clean sound, or dial up the distortion. Also went with 4 caps so you can set the centre frequency of the envelope - I think I used 4n7, 6n8, 10n and 15n. They all sound distinct, so that's a nice mod.
More images incoming...
Here's my attempt at making the knobs fit with the colour theme. I used black aluminium knobs from eBay, and first attempt was to mask them and spray a red stripe. It looked pretty crap, so those ones got put in the pile of shame.
2nd attempt was to use the round bit on a rotary tool to make a little concave hole on the top of the knob, and then fill it with some red model paint. The paint is slightly transparent, so the metal shines through, and it looks almost gem like. So that's a technique that I'll be using again I think... it looks pretty good.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P5181363.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P5201372.jpg)
Fitting the pin to hold the wah shell together proved difficult for me. I was hitting it with a metal hammer, and that pin would not budge. Eventually it got the better of me and I slipped, and made a nice big dint in the paint work. >:( I've hand painted over it, but it still looks a bit crap.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7141466.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/thumbs/P7151481.jpg)
Anyway, here are the glamour shots. One with the matching guitar.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151477.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151486.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151495.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151498.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151502.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/yowie-wah/pics/P7151507.jpg)
Very nice indeed! Those knobs worked out great with that little dot too.
great work all around and a lot of effort went into this. tidy wiring too!
Now that's awesome.
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Wow!
Thanks!
I just have to come up with a name for it now, and do the little name plate on the end.
The guitar that it matches is called 'Vulcan', so I have been trying to come up with a name to match. Something blacksmith related maybe.
Then my partner came out with "Why don't you call it 'Vulcan's Tears', because it's a wah pedal and that sounds like someone crying?"
Holy crap.
Vulcan's Tears.
Ok, so decision made, and she will be naming all of my pedals from now on. ;D
Such a great project! Very well done all around. 8)
Thanks!
Forgot to mention, I've got about 5 of these PCBs spare, so if anyone feels the need to get their wah on, I will put up a thread in the 'buy/sell' area. Let me know if there is interest, as I'll have to do a build doc first.
Cool, the PCB design looks very nice and the pedal's color scheme very pleasing. That switch, the right inductor and a smooth icar pot are my go to mods for any vox/dunlop type wah. Great build!
What's the cable you used?
The white ribbon cable? Umm... I think it was recycled out of an old air conditioner that my kid pulled apart for some holiday fun.
For the mojo, of course. :P
Must have a 'refreshing' tone then ;)
That is a hot looking wah. Well done sir.
Hey, nice job, i would like to build a wah myself some day. Is that the GEP-2 enclosure that you have used?
Enclosure was from a local place (Australia) as it was the only place I could get one that wasn't going to cost $50 shipping. I got it from here http://www.pedalpartsaustralia.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=1198
The quality was ok, but it seemed to me that it was put together by someone who didn't know what all the bits were for. None of the holes had threads for the screws, they included a small cable tie for the clutch, which didn't even reach the rack/pinion. It was pretty bizarre. The place I bought it from was good, they sent me replacement bits free of charge to fix that.
Let me know if you want one of the PCBs, I've got spare and I'll be selling them off at some point.
it does look very similar to the 1 i mentioned.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GEP-2-Wah-wah-guitar-effects-pedal/617876989.html
Did you use Eagle to make your PCB?
Ahh, yep, that looks like the same kit, only difference seems to be the clutch that I got was smaller. If you get that kit, be prepared to tap the threads for the screw holes. I made a bit of a mess of that part.
Yes I used eagle to design the board.
Great job. I really like the knobs with the paint. Did you use one of those diamond/carbide fine-tip grinding attachments for your rotary? Just kind of be very-very-very careful and get it right without the rotary slipping? I'm intersted in the specifics of how you did it.
Can i be cheeky and ask if you could you copy your Eagle 'Dimension and Hole layer' into a new .brd file for me so i can design my own.
Quote from: ahiddentableau on July 22, 2018, 04:42:16 AM
Great job. I really like the knobs with the paint. Did you use one of those diamond/carbide fine-tip grinding attachments for your rotary? Just kind of be very-very-very careful and get it right without the rotary slipping? I'm intersted in the specifics of how you did it.
I started out with a 1.5mm drill bit in my hand held drill, and carefully drilled a pilot hole a few mm deep. Don't go deeper than the dimple you want to make.
Then, I used a diamond fine grinding attachment, one of the spherical ones. Gently press it onto the pilot hole and it hopefully won't slip - the hole should hold it in place. Push down until you've got a nice concave area.
Hope that helps!
Quote from: drog_trog on July 22, 2018, 09:27:34 AM
Can i be cheeky and ask if you could you copy your Eagle 'Dimension and Hole layer' into a new .brd file for me so i can design my own.
Sure, I can do that. It might be a few days before I get time
Quote from: mjg on July 22, 2018, 10:08:16 PM
I started out with a 1.5mm drill bit in my hand held drill, and carefully drilled a pilot hole a few mm deep. Don't go deeper than the dimple you want to make.
Then, I used a diamond fine grinding attachment, one of the spherical ones. Gently press it onto the pilot hole and it hopefully won't slip - the hole should hold it in place. Push down until you've got a nice concave area.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for the details. Gonna have to give that a shot.
A few late additions to the wah pedal. A name plate, and a light up bottom panel. Because if you're going to go over-the-top, might as well go all the way.
Name plate is water slide decal printed in mirror image, then sprayed with the backing colour. Then I've put it on the back of some clear acrylic to make the plate.
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/thumbs/P7281518.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/thumbs/P7281521.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/thumbs/P7291556.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/pics/P8111575.jpg)
Light panel is some red transparent acrylic, that I've cut on the router table to the same size as the existing panel.
You can still see the individual LEDs... which is probably because I sanded the sides down to about 2000 grit, so it's quite clear. Should I have made it rougher on the edges to diffuse the light more?
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/thumbs/P7281536.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/thumbs/P8101557.jpg)
(http://graybloomfield.com/guitar/pedals/vulcans-tears/pics/P8101563.jpg)
That's just so over the top on so many levels. Damn fine job across the board with design, build, and boxing. It's so inspiring to see this stuff. Well done!!!