Article
Guitar Effects Switchbox
This effects switchbox will help make the stage a safer and tidier place. All your effects units can be kept out of harm’s way and seamlessly operated using a single footswitch. Guitar effects units such as distortion, flanger or phaser are fiddly to switch on and off. Each effects unit has its own mechanical switch. In order to select a particular effect, first that effect must be switched on and then the others switched off (or vice versa). Since it is rather tricky to operate the switches simultaneously, a seamless changeover is impractical. The circuit described here solves this problem in a simple and effective way. It is not limited to switching guitar effects in and out, but is suitable for similar applications where analogue signals are passed through a chain of units.
Materials
Gerber file
CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.
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PCB
Component list
Effects switch
Resistors:
R1 = 8-way SIL array, 10k?
R2-R8 = 680?
Capacitors:
C1,C2,C7-C15 = 100nF radial
C3,C4 = 1000µF 25V radial
C5,C6 = 10µF 16V radial
Semiconductors:
B1 = B80C1500 bridge rectifier in round case (80V piv, 1.5A)
IC1 = 74HC148
IC2 = 74HC173
IC3 = 74HC138
IC4,IC5 = 4051 or MAX4617*
IC6 = 74HC04
IC8 = 7805
IC9 = 7905
LD1 = 7-segment display with common cathode (e.g., HD1133O, Siemens)
Miscellaneous:
K1 = 25-way sub-D socket (female), PCB mount, angled pins
K2,K5 = mono jack socket, 6.35 mm, PCB mount
K3,K4 = 16-way boxheader
K6 = 2-way PCB terminal block, lead pitch 7.5mm
Tr1 = mains transformer
2×9V/2.6VA (Hahn BV EI 303 2016)
IEC mains appliance inlet with integrated fuse holder
16 mono jack sockets, 6.35mm, chassis mounting
PCB, order code 020181-1
Footswitch
Semiconductors:
D1-D8 = LED, 3mm, low current
Miscellaneous:
K1 = 25-way sub-D plug (male)
S1-S8 = footswitch (e.g., Monacor/Monarch FS-10)
Resistors:
R1 = 8-way SIL array, 10k?
R2-R8 = 680?
Capacitors:
C1,C2,C7-C15 = 100nF radial
C3,C4 = 1000µF 25V radial
C5,C6 = 10µF 16V radial
Semiconductors:
B1 = B80C1500 bridge rectifier in round case (80V piv, 1.5A)
IC1 = 74HC148
IC2 = 74HC173
IC3 = 74HC138
IC4,IC5 = 4051 or MAX4617*
IC6 = 74HC04
IC8 = 7805
IC9 = 7905
LD1 = 7-segment display with common cathode (e.g., HD1133O, Siemens)
Miscellaneous:
K1 = 25-way sub-D socket (female), PCB mount, angled pins
K2,K5 = mono jack socket, 6.35 mm, PCB mount
K3,K4 = 16-way boxheader
K6 = 2-way PCB terminal block, lead pitch 7.5mm
Tr1 = mains transformer
2×9V/2.6VA (Hahn BV EI 303 2016)
IEC mains appliance inlet with integrated fuse holder
16 mono jack sockets, 6.35mm, chassis mounting
PCB, order code 020181-1
Footswitch
Semiconductors:
D1-D8 = LED, 3mm, low current
Miscellaneous:
K1 = 25-way sub-D plug (male)
S1-S8 = footswitch (e.g., Monacor/Monarch FS-10)
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