Converting an H2O into an MXR PHASE 45 and SWAMP THANG.

MattFGBI

I've been using the Visual Sound H2O for years and years but it finally packed up the other week!  The parts I need to fix it aren't easily available so I decided to buy another of the version 1 pedals to replace it.  

That left me with a few options...... In the end I've decided to use the faulty pedal as a donor and use the enclosure to house a Phase 45 and Swamp Thang after stumbling across the bits box website where you can get all sorts of kits! 

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=280_281&products_id=2044
http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=280_281&products_id=2047

The plan is to run the signal to the Phase 45 first and then into the Swamp Thang.  

This was were I was at this morning: 



At lunch time I managed to strip the H2O and do a quick paint job! (I've also drawn out the new board and started making the cuts and joints). 

Hertz32

Looks like its gonna be very cool indeed! Keep us posted

ThePrettyDamned

What broke on it?  The older ones used mechanical switches which eventually give out but are easy to replace. 

Newer ones have much more reliable switches. 

That said, you've begun.  Looking forward to seeing how this pans out! 

MattFGBI

The chips! The delay started to do it's own thing, regardless of the controls.  Needs a new chip which apparently is no longer available. 

Turns out making a pedal is harder than it looks.  I've started on the boards - cutting them down, doing the joints and cuts..... It's quite a fiddly job! I'll try and get some components on it today at lunch depending on how busy we are. 

frankus

Kudos for a cool DIY pedal project 

I'd be interested in the H2O if it's still about

MattFGBI

frankus said:

Kudos for a cool DIY pedal project 

I'd be interested in the H2O if it's still about

you mean the old board from the faulty one? Yeah I have that.  the chorus side works. If you send me a stamped addressed envelope I'll send it to you. 

ThePrettyDamned

MattFGBI said:

frankus said:

Kudos for a cool DIY pedal project 

I'd be interested in the H2O if it's still about

you mean the old board from the faulty one? Yeah I have that.  the chorus side works. If you send me a stamped addressed envelope I'll send it to you. 

If @frankus changes his mind, I'll be up on that, too! 

The chorus side is lovely. 

ThePrettyDamned

MattFGBI said:

frankus said:

Kudos for a cool DIY pedal project 

I'd be interested in the H2O if it's still about

you mean the old board from the faulty one? Yeah I have that.  the chorus side works. If you send me a stamped addressed envelope I'll send it to you. 

If @frankus changes his mind, I'll be up on that, too! 

The chorus side is lovely. 

MattFGBI

In the post to frankus!

MattFGBI

Got some bits in there at lunch time.... yeah, it's a bit messy. I'm not the neatest pedal maker it seems. 

Gagaryn

They are better messy - it's the vintage mojo. You should see my tone bender if you think yours is a mess!

frankus

I'm such a scuffer at soldering chips I always socket them.

Is that a complete pedal? the part cound is impressively low if so - I'd be interested in either a phase45 or a swamp thing alike - if I ever get time to get back into serious soldering.

MattFGBI

That's the bits I can easily identify.... Got all the resistors to put on now, LED's, jacks and switch! The resistors are the hard part because I have to decipher all the stupid lines. Why they don't write on there I don't know. There's about 20 I think. 

frankus

I just use a multitester... at one point I'd read them but I'd still multitest them £5 well spent

Gagaryn

I use a multitester too, half the time I can't tell what's meant to be orange and what's meant to be brown

4114Effects

Trick is to put the components on in order of height. Links first, then diodes, resistors, ICs, small ceramic capacitors, transistors, and finally electrolytic. That way when you turn the board over to solder at each component level everything stays pressed down flush, nice and neat.

Also I'd recommend socketing the transistors on the 45, works better if they're resonably closely matched, so with sockets you can easily change them without de-soldering. :-)

frankus

How's this going @MattFGBI?

MattFGBI

Got all the bits on..... signal is going through but no effect. Going over the joints in a min. 

This is all just the Phase 45, haven't started the Trem yet! 

randomhandclaps

MattFGBI said:

Got all the bits on..... signal is going through but no effect. Going over the joints in a min. 

Have you started to bias the JFets yet?  If they are way off you will get signal but no effect.

MattFGBI

randomhandclaps said:

MattFGBI said:

Got all the bits on..... signal is going through but no effect. Going over the joints in a min. 

Have you started to bias the JFets yet?  If they are way off you will get signal but no effect.

What does this mean? 

thermionic

http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fetmatch/fetmatch.htm