Dead Cry Baby

[CapnCrunch]

I have never been happy with my Dunlop wah, so I can't say that I'm really upset.  I rarely play it, but every now and then I get the itch.  It worked the last time I plugged into it, and nothing has been done to it in the interim.  It just decided it was done I guess.

It passes signal when not engaged, but no signal when engaged.  I just checked continuity quickly yesterday, and it seems to have continuity where I would expect it (no obvious breaks in circuit path at first blush).

So the question is, should I try to fix a wah I've never really cared for, or use the parts to build up a custom wah?  Next question.  If I wanted to build my own, does anyone have any suggestions or links to boards or layouts?  I was thinking i'd like to do a Perf board version with clips or turrets.

[jkokura]

I recommend that you build a custom wah for yourself. I would also like to recommend GGG's Moddable Wah. It's neat because you can go simple or you can go complex.

If not that, I recommend getting a used Vox V847 and then modding it. I like it better.

Jacob

[CapnCrunch]

Jacob,

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out.  Have you built the GGG wah?

I'd like to have the vox wah but I need to do something with the wah I have, because money is really tight right now.  Anything would be an improvement over what this wah was before it died..........

[eniacmike]

If you can try to fix your wah that would be the cheapest way to go. I modded my dunlop wah and it sounds alot better now. I just did all the mods on http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm except I left the buffer in. I did do a fasel upgrade but I think the few simpler mods are really easy and improve the sound alot. The fasel upgrade does help a little but it isn't that big of a difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzn-A0Wp1uY
I did a comparison video of my modded crybaby to a stock crybaby.

I am constantly on the prowl on craigslist for broken wahs so I can either mod or build them. The empty shells are about $45 over at small bear and they don't include the pot! I am hoping to build a wah either use ggg's or tonepads or I know madbean is working on a wah board (weener wah).

I am thinking about doing a heavy mod to the stock one I have and put everything on external pots on the side. top freqency, q, volume boost.

I was really scared to drill the enclosure for the led because I had bad experiences with sheet metal but the cast metal they use for the dunlop wahs is ridiculously cheap. I put my drill bit in place to get ready to drill and it pushed straight through the case without the drill even being turned on! I am amazed those pedals don't just crush beneath the weight of players.

[CapnCrunch]

If you can try to fix your wah that would be the cheapest way to go. I modded my dunlop wah and it sounds alot better now. I just did all the mods on http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm except I left the buffer in. I did do a fasel upgrade but I think the few simpler mods are really easy and improve the sound alot. The fasel upgrade does help a little but it isn't that big of a difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzn-A0Wp1uY
I did a comparison video of my modded crybaby to a stock crybaby.

I am constantly on the prowl on craigslist for broken wahs so I can either mod or build them. The empty shells are about $45 over at small bear and they don't include the pot! I am hoping to build a wah either use ggg's or tonepads or I know madbean is working on a wah board (weener wah).

I am thinking about doing a heavy mod to the stock one I have and put everything on external pots on the side. top freqency, q, volume boost.

I was really scared to drill the enclosure for the led because I had bad experiences with sheet metal but the cast metal they use for the dunlop wahs is ridiculously cheap. I put my drill bit in place to get ready to drill and it pushed straight through the case without the drill even being turned on! I am amazed those pedals don't just crush beneath the weight of players.

Thanks for the link.  That is like "making your crappy wah useable for dummies".  Which is exactly what I need.  Thank You!  I'm going to play with the existing PCB and see what happens.  I still may completely re-build it later, but based on your video, I may not........