single rectifier footswitch problem

[Mr. G.]

Just got a series 2 single rectifier, and am loving the tones it gets. However, I'm having a problem with the footswitch. It didn't come with the stock switch, so I bought a single button footswitch to be able to change channels. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. I put the channel selector on channel one, but the footswitch doesn't do anything. The light on the footswitch will turn on and off, but it won't actually change the amp channels.

Here is the switch I got: http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/1770/

Could someone tell me what I'm doing wrong, and/or how to fix it? Let me know if you need anymore info.

 

[deeman]

It won't work that way, you'll need to get the mesa switch with the like 7-8 pin cable or a switcher system where you use a cable plugged into each channel.

 

[Mr. G.]

So when the manual says this...

External Switching: These jacks allow operation of your amplifier’s functions from an external switching source. The switching is accomplished by connecting ( “shorting” ) the jack’s “Tip” to its “Ring” (or ground.)

That doesn't mean I can use a switch like I got?

 

[deeman]

You'll need a switching box of some sort. You'd plug cables into channels 1,2,&3 and then connect each into the switching source. It would probably be cheaper to buy the mesa switcher unless you plan on using multiple heads or effects where a switching box would be appropriate to switch between multiple sources.

 

[Mr. G.]

It only has a single channel jack, and a solo jack. This is a two channel amp.

 

[tele twister]

Hey Mr G, hows the hamburger business? Sorry, just kidding.

I also have a RoV2. I had ordered the proper foot switch from the Mesa Store (about 90$ with shipping) but needed something ASAP for a gig. So I got a Fender doorbell kind (16$) just for channel switching that night, and it worked fine. But it has no light.

I would suggest get the Mesa one, then you can switch channels, reverb, and solo boost. Done deal.

(That 5 pin jack is up, underneath the chassis)

 

[Mr. G.]

Not sure I get the hamburger reference.

Also, I don't have a rect-o-verb. I just have the series 2 single rectifier head. The only footswitchable function I need is to be able to switch between channel 1 and channel 2.

Here's a pic of how the footswitch is wired.

If everything looks good there, I guess it must be an issue with the amp.

 

[tele twister]

There's a hamburger chain in Texas called Mr Gs.

I thought you had a Rect-O-Verb. All I can say is check your manual switch (if you have one) is in the proper position to use a remote footswitch. ?

 

[domct203]

Welcome to the forum.

Have you tried to use this footswitch to switch the Solo function to eliminate a compatibility issue?

Also, for testing purposes you could simply plug in a standard guitar cable into the jack and short the other end with a paperclip, wire, coin etc.

It seems peculiar that the amp works with the channel selector switch but not the external trigger. They both do the same thing inside the amp.

Maybe the previous owner modified the amp?

Dom

 

[domct203]

I thought you had a Rect-O-Verb. All I can say is check your manual switch (if you have one) is in the proper position to use a remote footswitch. ?

The ROV & Single Recto have the exact same switching matrix, footswitch jack (DIN jack) & external trigger jack. They even share the same owners manual.

OP already stated he had the switch in CH 1 for footswitch operation.

Dom

 

[Mr. G.]

Welcome to the forum.

Have you tried to use this footswitch to switch the Solo function to eliminate a compatibility issue?

Also, for testing purposes you could simply plug in a standard guitar cable into the jack and short the other end with a paperclip, wire, coin etc.

It seems peculiar that the amp works with the channel selector switch but not the external trigger. They both do the same thing inside the amp.

Maybe the previous owner modified the amp?

Dom

I haven't tried it in the Solo jack yet. Once I get a speaker for my cabinet at home, or I have time to run over to my bass players house where my big cabinet is, I'll give it a try. I'll also try the other trick.

I wonder if the jack may just be corroded, or too dirty. The transformers do have a bit of rust on them, so that's probably quite possible. I had a Peavey amp that would do some strange things if any of the jacks got too much dust in them.

 

[rockguy66]

I have the version 1 Solo 50, and the foot switch is actually a stereo foot switch. The tip and ring will each control the solo boost and channel switching. I spoke with Gary Noble at Mesa about doing the amp switching with my GT-100, and he told me it would not work, as the GT-100 amp control is a mono control. However, when I asked him if I only wanted to control channel switching, and I was to wire one end of the cable with a mono plug and the other with a TRS(stereo) plug, and only connect either the tip or the ring he said that should work. Now I just have to figure out which controls the amp channel switching, the tip or ring. A multimeter will solve that issue though. So, I just thought I would share that with you, a mono switch will not work for you. You can either rig something as I am doing, or buy a specific switch for your amp. I know there are knockoff/replacement switches you can find on eBay. Personally, I would go for an original.

 

[rockguy66]

I just pulled up your manual. It appears there are many changes from the V1 to the V2. You now have separate jacks for controlling the solo feature and the channel switching. For me, I control this via my GT-100. It sends a signal through the standard mono instrument cable to the amp, and that signal is going to either change channel from 1 to 2, depending on the signal sent. It either shorts the cable or doesn't, if that makes sense to you. To test this, make sure your channel select on the back of the amp is set to Channel 1(see page 11 of the manual), plug a regular guitar cable into the EXT SWITCHING - CHANNEL jack, and then short the tip of the open end of the cable to the ring. They are separated by the black ring on the end of the cable. Just touch a screw driver to the tip and make sure it also touches the rest of the shaft, or use an alligator clip and clip it across the black ring so it straddles either side of the ring, shorting it out. This is safe, do not worry about damaging the amp. On my old Studio Preamp, to test mine I actually took an old guitar cable, cut it in half and twisted the exposed wires together. You would have to probably cut back about 1-2" of the rubber insulator to get to the cable/wires, then strip and twist them. Hopefully that is within your comfort zone, as it was the easiest for me to test over and over again. You should see that when the cable is shorted, that the amp switches to channel 2 and when it is not shorted ( the the jimmy-rigged guitar cable is removed) it should revert back to channel 1. I hope that helps. If that works, then the foot switch is not working or damaged.

Sorry for the clutter of ideas, I hate to see someone have an issue that is not solved. Let me know if that worked for you.

Best of luck!

Barrett "Rockguy66" Hamilton

 

[Mr. G.]

I no longer have the amp (have a TA-15 now). I did, however, get the switch to work. I don't remember exactly what I did, but I had to switch the wires around inside the footswitch. It switched the channels fine after that.