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So i'm thinking that I would like to build my own tap tempo box, since i'm tired of having to switch between tap and memory select on my Boss. I do have a few questions/need a few things though. First, I need a wiring diagram. I know there was one posted a while ago, and i'm hoping someone still has it. Second, I would like to know what the best kind of switch to use would be, as I want something that will be easy to hit to the beat, not a general switch as it puts up too much resistance for a high degree of accuracy. (Think along the lines of a Boss pedal switch.) Third, would it be possible for me to use a splitter to send it's signal to multiple pedals? I'm hoping that i'll be able to convince Ryan to figure out how to put tap tempo into his pedals when he finally gets around to designing a tremelo, and this would make it easy to set both at once. Thanks!
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Oh, and may I add, where could I order a nice, but small metal casing for this? I would like it to be plenty durable.
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Originally Posted by PianoMan Oh, and may I add, where could I order a nice, but small metal casing for this? I would like it to be plenty durable. www.smallbearelec.com is an excellent source for a lot of pedal parts. I don't know if he has any momentary switches there, but you could try www.mouser.com for that.
I'm not sure if I could get the whole tap-tempo thing going or not as that requires a pedal with digital circuitry (to the best of my knowledge) and I'd be dealing with analog pedals. Perhaps I'm wrong there, but if modding an analog tremelo with external tap-tempo is possible, I'm totally game for it.
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Originally Posted by ryanspeer www.smallbearelec.com is an excellent source for a lot of pedal parts. I don't know if he has any momentary switches there, but you could try www.mouser.com for that.
I'm not sure if I could get the whole tap-tempo thing going or not as that requires a pedal with digital circuitry (to the best of my knowledge) and I'd be dealing with analog pedals. Perhaps I'm wrong there, but if modding an analog tremelo with external tap-tempo is possible, I'm totally game for it.
Seems like there was someone over on Harmony-Central that had developed an Analog Tap Trem...the Tap Tempo was done by a digital controlling analog. Of course, it's been like four years since he said it would be avalible...so I'm guessing it's either really expensive to build or it's just not that easy.
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Originally Posted by LWatford Seems like there was someone over on Harmony-Central that had developed an Analog Tap Trem...the Tap Tempo was done by a digital controlling analog. Of course, it's been like four years since he said it would be avalible...so I'm guessing it's either really expensive to build or it's just not that easy.
i actually happened to save it
here it is
Great alternative to the Boss FS-5U for the Boss DD-5 (The Fresh Tempo Maker)

Hi Boss DD-5 Users!
Now I'm not the circuit wizard, but I do know enough to change my own pickups and make some small changes to amps and pedals. However, while waiting to see what hurricane Ivan was going to do on Friday night, I went to Radio Shack and purchased a few supplies for a Boss FS-5U "clone" and ended up making my DD-5 even a better pedal.
As you may already know, the tempo control turns the DD-5 into and extremely versatile pedal. It allows you to tap in the tempo that you need. So if the drummer plays faster or slower than what was set in the studio, you don't need to know milliseconds; you just have to be able to count off four with your foot and that is it.
Now I think the FS-5U sells for $30-$40 brand new, but I could never justify spending money on that simple of a pedal. Believe me, I know that it is worth the money. But if you don't want to give Boss your money or want something that takes up less space on you pedalboard, this extremely easy to build pedal and will give you the same results for about $10.
This is all I used to make the pedal.
1-"normally open" SPST momentary switch (about $3.50 at R.S.)
1-mono (or sterio) instrument jack (also labled as head phones jack-$3 at R.S.)
1-can of Altoids (check the checkout line at the grocery store!)
That is it. Of course, there is the little bit of wire, solder, soldering iron, drill that you need. The pedal is simply a momentary switch connected to a jack! All you do is solder the wire to one side of the jack and then to one side of the momentary switch. Then with another piece of wire, solder the other side of the jack to the other side of the momentary jack. Then in my case, installed the whole thing into an Altoids can. Now, I wanted the Altoids can just to be different and to have something smaller. It is very stable but I only tap the switch. If you want to stomp on it and put your whole weight on it, then you need to use a heavier casing.
If you don't have a soldering iron already, the cost of the pedal and the iron and solder will be spent in what it cost you for the FS-5U. You want a soldering iron anyway for other custom things you may want to do down the road.
I used this pedal all day at church yesterday. It was just a dream. Couldn't believe what it did to my delays. I can't vouch for the DD-3 or Line6 but I'd assume that the DD-3 works the same way for tempo.
IF, for some reason you don't want to try building it yourself, I'd be happy to build one for you for $15 (plus whatever shipping). But I recommend trying it yourself. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow. By the way, I think I'll name it "The Fresh Tempo Maker".
Nate
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Here are the photos I promised. I'll also post part of my rig on the "post your pedalboard" thread if anyone is interested.
i saved this because i thought it was a great idea and i was planning on purchasing a dd-5
i posted the only picture i saved i beleive there were two but this is the only one i have.
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Thanks Ryanxxx, that is the exact thread I wanted.
Ryanspeer: I did some research, and as LWatford said, to do it you have the analog trem, but make the timing section digital and implement a tap system. I found that while it has been done, it is a lot of work to develop and those that have been made are extremely expensive (400$+). Since I highly doubt you want to go to that much trouble, and since I probably couldn't afford what you would charge for that, I think i'll just go with the plain analog trem. That is if you ever get to work and figure out how to make one for me.
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well, i think i have find another momentary switch build. for dd-5 , i think i have the schemactic
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[stupid question] why don't you just buy a momentary footswitch? they're not really that expensive. you could probably even get one cheaper than the parts necessary to build one on your own. [/stupid question]
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A little clarification on the above post by ryanxxxx regarding the FS-5U footswitch build . . . that's a tap-tempo switch made for a Digital Delay (Boss DD-5). Cloning a pedal like that is indeed a complete and total piece of cake. The most time-consuming part would simply be painting the enclosure prior to wiring it up.
Regarding the tremelo pedal I promised ya' Drew . . . I've been so busy building these true-bypass, A/B, A/B/Y, etc pedals that I haven't had time to even pursue the circuitboards that I have for my phaser(s) that have been collecting dust for the last 2 months...
. . . got payment for another LARGE pedal yesterday, got payment for another tonight, another should be arriving next Tuesday or Wednesday, am expecting payment for anothe probably tonight or tomorrow. . . When God blesses ya', He doesn't tend to do it very LIGHT! The only thing I have to complain about is 3 consecutive nights of not getting to bed earlier than 2:00am (the first two nights were actually until 3AM) and the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day!
Good stuff, I tell ya'!
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heh, if I had the facilities to do that, it would most definitly be a fun hobby and a nice extra set of income. I don't though, so don't worry about competition.
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Guess WAT!?... my enclosure for my external true-bypass and tap-tempo is a... tuna can...
well,the total cost is around .. 2 usd.
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Just for clarification - what is a momentary switch Ryan? i'm guessing it is exactly what I was looking for, but i'm not sure.
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edit: never mind, answered my second question by looking at the pedal description.
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hmmm, looking at the supplies list, what does SPST mean? I'm looking at getting everything from Small Bear Electronics, and they only "SPST" switch they have isn't a momentary switch. I am currently thinking of the "Carling 110-PM-OFF Momentary Stomp" switch. Would this do the job just as well? (once again, yes I am clueless to this stuff.)
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For the switch just go to radio shack and get somthing like this: http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=275%2D609

They have different sizes and colors, but they will have what you need. Also, they have some little project boxes made out of sturdy plastic that would be sturdier than an altoids tin, you may want to think about one of those instead.

-Trey