Re: Fixing a footpedal

["David" <vze2ncsr@verizon.net>]

Kim's five criteria are spot on for me.

Personally, I think the switch system used in Boss pedals is pretty good.
I believe they actually use a keyboard letter switch underneath their metal
and spring-loaded mechanism.

Alternative two: perhaps a bit wasteful of course, but you can always just
buy a new foot controller.  :-)

David


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim Flint" <kflint@loopers-delight.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:39 AM
Subject: Re: Fixing a footpedal


> At 02:03 PM 12/29/2003, Chris Payne wrote:
> >What about better quality ones?
>
> you are kind of on your own there. Looper pedals get pressed a lot more
> than most other types of pedals, so any switch is prone to trouble. Maybe
> others who have experimented can recommend something. But be warned, it 
>is
> not simple to find an alternative switch!
>
> My EDP pedal has been working since 1994 without any switch changes, so a
> lot of it is up to the user. For me I found long ago that a light touch
> gives better accuracy, so my buttons were saved from stomping and have
> lasted a long time. Some people seem to think stomping is better, so go
figure.
>
> The things I want in a looper switch are:
> 1. it must be quiet
> 2. it should not require too much force to press with rhythmic accuracy
> 3. it should have a reasonably short throw so it is easy to predict
> 4. it should have a good tactile feel for the contact
> 5. it should be reliable
>
> It is hard to find all of that in one switch. Of those, #5 is actually 
>the
> easiest one to achieve. However, reliability usually means it is a heavy
> duty industrial switch that makes a big loud K-CHUNG when you press it,
and
> requires a lot of rhythm-killing force to make contact. It may or may not
> have a good tactile feel. Those switches are usually designed with
> factories and tractors in mind, not musicians.
>
> It is not easy to find a switch that does 1-4 and 5 also, so good luck -
> you might have to try a lot of switches. I find the existing switches 
>work
> fairly well for 1-4, and in my case 5 also. ymmv.
>
> For me it seems simpler to just get a bunch of backup switches and a
> soldering iron if you are prone to breaking them. The switches are cheap,
> and soldering them in is easy. Or learn to tap the switch instead of
stomping!
>
> kim
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> Kim Flint                     | Looper's Delight
> kflint@loopers-delight.com    | http://www.loopers-delight.com
>