1/4 mono jack with switching

[redkurn]

Long time no post, think about you guys every time I plug in one of my mad pedals. 😉

I've got a little project I may be working on that's a very simple box and I want to make sure I select the appropriate jack to handle switching the path of the signal to a cable plugged in or continue on to the output.

Basically I am making essentially a fx loop box to tame a hot rod deluxe, but am going to affix it with Velcro and want to add a send and return to the box.

Have yet to decide if the pot should be first, but I think it should be, goal is to tame the pre amp and let the rest of the signal continue onward, but also add fx and not reduce their volume.

Aiming for compact and no cables except those going to pedals.

[mauman]

Welcome back!  If you can post a sketch of how you want to connect it in your signal chain, we can make some recommendations on which jack(s) will do it for you, I've built a few boxes like you describe.  In the mean time, here are the various switching configs available in Switchcraft (pdf file) and Neutrik (png file.)

[jimilee]

Why not build something  like the JHS black box (just an example for a visual)and put the effects after, or did you want something with a volume pot to sit on top of the amp?


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[redkurn]

Why not build something  like the JHS black box (just an example for a visual)and put the effects after, or did you want something with a volume pot to sit on top of the amp?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I already have, but I need to rebox it, so might as well upgrade it. After 3 years it's coming back home with the amp I let go of. Get them both back tomorrow.

[jimilee]

Why not build something  like the JHS black box (just an example for a visual)and put the effects after, or did you want something with a volume pot to sit on top of the amp?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I already have, but I need to rebox it, so might as well upgrade it. After 3 years it's coming back home with the amp I let go of. Get them both back tomorrow.

Nice! I keep thinking I'll sell mine, but so far, I can't bring myself to do it.

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[jwin615]

What not use a pedal and have the 3pdt being the FX loop in/out of the path. Add 2 pots, one in each loop.
FX loop pot attenuates before the FX so the preamp doesn't push your pedals too hard
The other pot just attenuates when loop is bypassed. It's still just 2 cables to/from the amp and let's you switch the loop in and out and level match. You could obviously do this on the amp with a toggle too.

Either way, use ISOLATED jacks or you could get a ground loop if the amp and pedals end up on different circuits.
I would start with isolated jacks and don't connect a ground to them, letting the amp handle the cable grounding.

[redkurn]

Welcome back!  If you can post a sketch of how you want to connect it in your signal chain, we can make some recommendations on which jack(s) will do it for you, I've built a few boxes like you describe.  In the mean time, here are the various switching configs available in Switchcraft (pdf file) and Neutrik (png file.)

Tried to reply the other day, but for some reason forum thought i'd already posted.

NJ4 would likely do the job, but i'm not certain how to use it, notice my amp has a odd jack with 4 wires going into it and similar looking to the NMJ type.

basically i'm trying to recreate the box i have now send>input>potentiometer>output>return, but stick a jack after the pot to redirect the signal path to or away from the jack and disconnect the output from the pot if a cable is inserted to become something like...

send>input>potentiometer---o\ o--->output>send
                           |  ^
                           V  |
                           |  ^-----<----,
                           |             |
                           '->box send>--^
i can't draw in text for much, but it's the general idea, so i don't have to keep unplugging things and can just have it self contained, can't mount on the back of the amp now because of where i had to put it so i am using 3ft cables. 😂

What not use a pedal and have the 3pdt being the FX loop in/out of the path. Add 2 pots, one in each loop.
FX loop pot attenuates before the FX so the preamp doesn't push your pedals too hard
The other pot just attenuates when loop is bypassed. It's still just 2 cables to/from the amp and let's you switch the loop in and out and level match. You could obviously do this on the amp with a toggle too.

Either way, use ISOLATED jacks or you could get a ground loop if the amp and pedals end up on different circuits.
I would start with isolated jacks and don't connect a ground to them, letting the amp handle the cable grounding.

i have some toggle switches i could use, but wanted to make it more automatic.

[mauman]

This should do what you are asking:  Normally thru the pot to the output, but plug a cable into the first NMJ4 and it reroutes signal to that cable and to your 2nd box.  From the 2nd box output, you can come back into the second NMJ4, which will bypass the pot and hit the output.  Or you can just take the output cable of the 2nd box somewhere else and not come back at all. All cables are standard TS guitar cables.  The input jack on your amp may be switching something, depending on whether there's a cable plugged into it or not, but the input cable is standard TS.
 

[redkurn]

This should do what you are asking:  Normally thru the pot to the output, but plug a cable into the first NMJ4 and it reroutes signal to that cable and to your 2nd box.  From the 2nd box output, you can come back into the second NMJ4, which will bypass the pot and hit the output.  Or you can just take the output cable of the 2nd box somewhere else and not come back at all. All cables are standard TS guitar cables.  The input jack on your amp may be switching something, depending on whether there's a cable plugged into it or not, but the input cable is standard TS.
 

Cool design, but I need the pot at all times to be active. Just need to break after the pot and before output to add in pedals. I think I can work based off this design though. I've got to put an order worth the shipping together also a new build from Brian would be cool.

[redkurn]

This should do what you are asking:  Normally thru the pot to the output, but plug a cable into the first NMJ4 and it reroutes signal to that cable and to your 2nd box.  From the 2nd box output, you can come back into the second NMJ4, which will bypass the pot and hit the output.  Or you can just take the output cable of the 2nd box somewhere else and not come back at all. All cables are standard TS guitar cables.  The input jack on your amp may be switching something, depending on whether there's a cable plugged into it or not, but the input cable is standard TS.
 

Ordered 2 #NYS2122 from small bear, input and output will be run of the mill jacks, I think I can modify the schematic you came up with and manage to figure it out.

Thanks for the help, hoping these jacks work as I'm wanting, seem like when the tip pin opens it will do fine to re-route the signal path.

I haven't been using the old box lately since it didn't seem to be required with a captorX on the amp, but will definitely help to fine tune for attenuation reasons.

Will post a drawing of what I decided to do, pictures when completed.

Should be fun. Thinking I may use thicker wiring on this, but doesn't seem necessary.

[redkurn]

Keep in mind this is upside down and the output is on the left.

The way I've chosen to do the wiring is following the path starting from my amp and send is on the left.

Upright input is on the left and output on the right.

The path follows as below:

Input to volume pot to send to return to output.

When a patch cable is inserted into send the tip is lifted and breaks the connection to return and when a cable is inserted into return the connection to send is also broken and the path continues through what is plugged in to the output.

It is grounded from input to send to return to output and at the box.

I should have ordered a larger pot, but the 12mm will do fine and the tack solder will hold up fine.

[redkurn]

Keep in mind this is upside down and the output is on the left.

The way I've chosen to do the wiring is following the path starting from my amp and send is on the left.

Upright input is on the left and output on the right.

The path follows as below:

Input to volume pot to send to return to output.

When a patch cable is inserted into send the tip is lifted and breaks the connection to return and when a cable is inserted into return the connection to send is also broken and the path continues through what is plugged in to the output.

It is grounded from input to send to return to output and at the box.

I should have ordered a larger pot, but the 12mm will do fine and the tack solder will hold up fine.

[redkurn]