Mesa External Switching/FU3 footswitch

Jetfire

So, the standard Mesa footswitch cable is driving me round the bend now so I was toying with trying using the external switching jobbies from the back of the amp using the 1/4 inch jacks and a single footswitch. Anyone got any recommendations for 4/5 of these? 

OR.. 

Is there any way I can change the cable on the FU3 so I can unplug it from the footswitch end and replace with something like an XLR to .. whatever... ?

ICBM

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=39995

The external switching jacks won't give you the one-touch channel selection you have now - they're designed for a controller which can be programmed to turn off channel 2 at the same time as turning on 3 for example.

Jetfire

Thats fantastic! Just what I need

ICBM

In my opinion, as a high-end professional piece of kit it should have been built like that in the first place! Captive cables are a menace, because if one gets damaged then the whole piece of kit is out of action.

Mesa footswitch wiring is one of their weak areas - the DIN connectors used on many of the other amps are a poor choice as well… although at least those are separate from the footswitch and can be replaced when they break.

Jetfire

You're right there! the JVM footswitch is brillant in that respect as it does it all via a single guitar cable and detaches etc.