Express 5/50 footswitch schematic

[Maury]

I have a related thread going on at the same time, but this is more specifcally about the FS that comes with the Express 5/50. This FS makes use of all 5 leads in the midi cable AND the shield, for a total of 6 leads. Does anyone here know which function is wired to the shield? I want to buy a pedalsnake but they use standard 5-wire midi cables. Depending on which switch (channel, reverb or contour) gets disabled when wiring a standard midi cable to this FS, I might not mind.

TIA

 

[rastaman]

I found that out when I made an extension cable ( I feel the one supplied is no where near long enough ). It won't work at all without the 6th conductor, that's how I found out. I don't think it's for a single function, with mine it didn't work without it and it worked with it.

 

[Maury]

Thanks Rasta. Bummer.

 

[rastaman]

I don't know much about the Pedal Snake but you could tie wrap the FS cable to the outside of the PS.

 

[Maury]

yeah we're calling that our last resort option. we might just end up using a regular pedalsnak with some creative soldering at the ends of the footswitch cable part. but yes, thanks for the idea. the pedalsnake is awesome. its a fat snake made up of 4 or 7 midi cables, and it carries audio and power from the pedalboard back to the amp. instead of having a power strip, wall warts and a cable mess at the pedalboard, and 4 or more guitar cables running back to the amp, and all the hassles of setup & teardown, you just leave everything plugged in at the pedal end & one neat cable runs to the back of the amp. I plug that end into my amp in, footswitch in, FX send & returns and a power strip and I'm done. its one of those products that doesn't seem a necessity until you have one, and then you will never gig without it.

 

[rastaman]

How much are one of those PSs? When I get home I can post a pic of my board, I just plug in a drop cord to the power supply and 1 in and 1 out and I'm off! Right now I'm not using an effects loop and when my LSC head finally gets here (got one on order) I probaly won't use the EL then either, I like the Solo option better. I caould see how useful a PS could be, our other guitarist has one but doesn't use it.

 

[rastaman]

I've changed it some since these pics, I'm always tinkering....

 

[Maury]

Between $70 and $170ish depending on how many channels and ends you need.

 

[rastaman]

That's not bad, I thought they were more expensive. I would think length plays a role in price also? I may have to look into one.

 

[rastaman]

If they custom make these things I don't see why they can't make you one with the proper cable?!? I would ask them to solder that 6th wire up or leave the ends off of that particular on and send it to me, I'll do it. Those Midi connectors are a PITA to solder cause they're so small, but I've done a few in my time.

 

[Maury]

Thanks for the offer. Yeah they do custom stuff but like anything else it's so much cheaper to DIY.

 

[Maury]

Mesa replied to me, and they're not allowed to give me sensitive info like this for any amp that's currently in production. If they knew me they'd know there is NO risk of misusing the info to build a better Boogie LOL but I do respect their deal. That said, can anyone here help me? I don't have the amp here- its not mine and its across the state being fixed now anyway. I was hoping to figure this out while its away, and when my bandmate finally gets it back, I'd have this project solved. Hmm.

 

[lerxst88]

it might be that im coming from a marshall but what about just opening up the footswitch and looking inside it?

 

[boswell]

Mesa replied to me, and they're not allowed to give me sensitive info like this for any amp that's currently in production. If they knew me they'd know there is NO risk of misusing the info to build a better Boogie LOL but I do respect their deal.

What BS! If you wanted to make a similar or better amp you just buy one strip, test it and then copy.

 

[Maury]

Well I'm not saying that Boogie accused me or suspected me of that - I'm just saying they aren't allowed. It's my speculation that they fear copycats - sorry if I was misleading. I'm not upset, I surely don't want to get a bunch of forumites worked up.

 

[rastaman]

I would guess it's called "company policy".