Blog | FXdoctor Custom Effects | Custom guitar effects and modifications

Boss Rehousings: DD-5 and other 4 knobbers

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Main

Occasionally I’ll have a request for a Boss pedal to be modded to the point where components will no longer fit into the stock casing. Some people prefer the stompswitch rather than Boss’ switch design. Sometimes we just want a discrete or unique looking pedal that doesn’t look like every other pedal out there. The predrilled casing pictured above allows for a quick turn around time. This one is for a Boss DD-5 which has the second large hole to accommodate a tap tempo footswitch. There is also room to add a reverse kill switch, a high cut switch (or even EQ knobs), and true bypass is certainly much easier in this format.

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Phase 90 script logo reissue

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Main

MXR recently released a copy of their “script logo” Phase 90. This new version is far more accurate to the original than the standard Phase 90. This includes the six opamps instead of two or three in the reissues, full size potentiometer, jacks not mounted directly to the circuit board, and the infamous MXR foam cradle holding the circuit board in place. MXR stuck to the vintage theme and left out true bypass, an LED, and even a DC adapter jack! This seems like a great way for them to cut costs and cash in on the vintage mojo. While I had the pedal to correct these grievances the owner also requested an intensity control, pulsing LED, and Phase 45/90 toggle switch in addition. The end result is a very versatile phaser that still offers 100% of the original tone.

Posted in Favorites, Modifications | 2 Comments

Boss DM-2 Analog delay clone

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Main

So after coming across two rare (and original) MN3005 analog delay chips I realized that they had to be put to use. The pedal above is based on the Boss DM-2 analog delay. Some improvements include upgraded opamps, better quality capacitors, and true bypass switching. Now if only I could find a white footswitch.

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Tap Tempo Tremolo

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Main

Here’s a first run of a square wave tap tempo tremolo design. We’re keeping it simple. One LED to flash the rate, one to show when the pedal is activated. The knob controls the depth. Left switch is on/off, right is to tap the tempo. Runs on 9VDC only so no battery. This is available on the fxdoctor.com specials page for $100. Future runs of this pedal may be built.

Posted in Custom Shop | 2 Comments

Custom Shop: Tremolo / Reverb

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Main

This recent build was for Liam from Yellowbirddd looking for a great-sounding reverb and tremolo. The plan was to keep it simple for ease of use and to save space while traveling. The tremolo has depth and rate controls, the reverb has volume and tone controls. I’m surprised more reverb pedals (and delay pedals) don’t have a high cut control to better match an overly bright guitar or amp.

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Cease.Transmission Prototype 2

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Main

Here’s another Cease.transmission prototype this time without an LED to prolong battery life. Same internal circuitry as the original model just with the addition of a volume knob.

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Deluxe Cease.transmission update

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Main

The latest addition to the deluxe prototype is the volume knob. There are two more prototypes planned until the actual retail model is released in a few months.

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Channel Selector Rehousing

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Main

Here’s a recent project to put a Kustom ’72 Coupe footswitch into a (much) smaller casing. I like the utilitarian look and the recessed LEDs should provide years of carefree service.

Posted in Custom Shop, Rehousings | 1 Comment

Deluxe Cease.Transmission Prototype

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Main

The cease.transmission was originally developed to be a quirky noise maker for studio and DJ use. Eventually guitar players started snatching them up but quickly found that since the original model doesn’t have an input jack that it is difficult to add to their pedalboards. This prototype was designed to fix that problem. The input and output jacks are setup in the same location as most standard guitar effects. They are wired in parallel yet will not load down your guitar signal. The LED is on when the effect is switched on and pulses with the lower frequencies generated. The toggle switch was chosen over a stompswitch because the device requires your hands to “play” the touchpad. The unit is still battery only, but draws no power when off and about 11mA when on (about the same as a Boss Chorus Pedal). As of this posting, the one pictured is available for $90 on the specials page. More may be available in the near future and may lead to a deluxe model.