Building a footswitch for the Mk IV

[vds5000]

Has anyone here successfully built a channel switching footswitch for the Mark IV using the 'External Switching Jacks'?

I'm interested in doing this. I've read that the 3 switches have to be wired like 'radio buttons', but I have no clue how to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated1

 

[Higgs F. Boson]

Has anyone here successfully built a channel switching footswitch for the Mark IV using the 'External Switching Jacks'?

I'm interested in doing this. I've read that the 3 switches have to be wired like 'radio buttons', but I have no clue how to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated1

Aren't they all just standard on/off switches that can be controlled by a generic footswitch that makes or breaks the connection to ground? I suppose if they are, there's got to be some hierarchy as to which one trumps the others if all are "on" at once? And then how does the mode selector switch affect this?

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't know but I'm curious too...

 

[Tuna141]

The switches on the IV are simple ON/OFF if I remember correctly, so making a footswitch should be pretty straightforward. I actually use a GCX unit to control my Mark IV. If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

 

[vds5000]

The switches on the IV are simple ON/OFF if I remember correctly, so making a footswitch should be pretty straightforward. I actually use a GCX unit to control my Mark IV. If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

The switches are simple ON/OFF. However, the footswitch is not as straightforward as one would think since you have to ensure that when selecting one channel, the other two are turned off. Otherwise, 2 or 3 channels will be on simultaneously. No matter, I think I've come up with a design that may work.

... If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

I have the EQ on at all times, so I don't really need an additional footswitch to turn it ON/OFF.


My next question - is there any current going through those switches? If so, is it enough to power 3 LEDs (one for each channel)?

 

[jaynthia]

The switches on the IV are simple ON/OFF if I remember correctly, so making a footswitch should be pretty straightforward. I actually use a GCX unit to control my Mark IV. If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

The switches are simple ON/OFF. However, the footswitch is not as straightforward as one would think since you have to ensure that when selecting one channel, the other two are turned off. Otherwise, 2 or 3 channels will be on simultaneously. No matter, I think I've come up with a design that may work.

... If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

I have the EQ on at all times, so I don't really need an additional footswitch to turn it ON/OFF.


My next question - is there any current going through those switches? If so, is it enough to power 3 LEDs (one for each channel)?

There seem not any suitable radio buttons for a footswitch usage, so instead, I made a 2 button Channel footswitch for my friend's MK-IV who lost his FU-3.

As for him the Lead CH does the main job, button A switches between the Lead CH and Rhythm CHs, and button B switches between Rhythm1&2 when engaged in Rhythm CHs. Though it's still be able to pre-select R1/R2 before switching from Lead CH to your designated Rhythm CH. And definately it's able to do a one-kick switch back to the Lead CH.

BTW, no LED gets involved as there's no current going in the pedal, even so there seems to be no switch lugs for them if I remember correctly. And I don't think LEDs are needed for such a simpl layout as well.

Parts needed are: 1 pedal enclousure, two 3PDT buttons, 3 mono 1/4' male jacks and some cords.

If this would help, PM me and I'd love to draw you some schematics out from my brain, LOL :lol:

 

[vds5000]

The switches on the IV are simple ON/OFF if I remember correctly, so making a footswitch should be pretty straightforward. I actually use a GCX unit to control my Mark IV. If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

The switches are simple ON/OFF. However, the footswitch is not as straightforward as one would think since you have to ensure that when selecting one channel, the other two are turned off. Otherwise, 2 or 3 channels will be on simultaneously. No matter, I think I've come up with a design that may work.

... If you are going to go through the trouble of making a footswitch, instead of putting 3 switches on the pedal, why not add a 4th so you can footswitch the EQ on and off too?

I have the EQ on at all times, so I don't really need an additional footswitch to turn it ON/OFF.


My next question - is there any current going through those switches? If so, is it enough to power 3 LEDs (one for each channel)?

There seem not any suitable radio buttons for a footswitch usage, so instead, I made a 2 button Channel footswitch for my friend's MK-IV who lost his FU-3.

As for him the Lead CH does the main job, button A switches between the Lead CH and Rhythm CHs, and button B switches between Rhythm1&2 when engaged in Rhythm CHs. Though it's still be able to pre-select R1/R2 before switching from Lead CH to your designated Rhythm CH. And definately it's able to do a one-kick switch back to the Lead CH.

BTW, no LED gets involved as there's no current going in the pedal, even so there seems to be no switch lugs for them if I remember correctly. And I don't think LEDs are needed for such a simpl layout as well.

Parts needed are: 1 pedal enclousure, two 3PDT buttons, 3 mono 1/4' male jacks and some cords.

If this would help, PM me and I'd love to draw you some schematics out from my brain, LOL :lol:

Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it. However, I already built the footswitch and it works exactly as you described. I added 1 yellow, 1 orange and 1 red LED to my footswitch (powered by a 9V battery). There's also an on/off switch to save battery life.

 

[ochrisl]

Is it like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KoolKats-Mesa-Boogie-Mark-IV-FU-3-Rythm-Lead-Footswitch-/321248781485?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4acbeb64ad