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Foot-on-pedal / True Bypass crybaby wah mod

Foot-on-pedal / True Bypass crybaby wah mod
UPDATE: The old wiring diagram contained errors (sorry, I wasn't too familiar with electronics and wiring diagrams, this was one of my first projects and my first instructable). There were also questions about the blue wires going to the wah pot, I drew the wah pot to make things clear.


This makes your Crybaby wah switch on when you put your foot on it, and turn off when you remove your foot!. It will also be equipped with true bypass. That means that the circuit is actually bypassed when the wah effect is off, instead of passing through its transistor bypass circuit (that ruins your sound, removes clarity, makes distortion sound like a bad fart, etc).

If you might want to control your wah the original way for some reason, then there's a miniswitch on the side that lets you choose between the two modes. When the wah is in foot-on-pedal mode, a green led lights up to indicate this. I also placed a red led that indicates that the wah is on AND in original mode. The thing I hated most about the standard crybaby is that you could not see whether it was on or not!

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Step 1Buy parts

You have to buy a few parts for this mod. I bought them all together for about 10-15 euro's:
- 3PDT stomp switch, to replace the stock one
- green 3mm LED
- red 3mm LED
- 350 ohm resistor*
- 390 ohm resistor*
- 3PDT miniswitch
- DPDT mini momentary switch, with button.
- thin electrical wire
- superglue or two led holders

Tools you (might) need
- plyers, for cutting the wires and tightening the nuts
- a wire stripper. You can use the plyers if you dont have one, but be careful not to cut the wire
- a drill and a set of drill bits
- soldering iron
- screwdriver

*If you can't find these specific resistor values, take the the nearest value you can find. A higher value is good, but don't get significantly lower because that will cause the LED to burn out. Also, if you think the LED's are too bright, try higher value resistors such as 1K or higher.

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60 comments
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Mar 10, 2011. 10:01 PMlsalles says:
In this diagram, can I withdraw the buffer components or this is not necessary and that will be true bypass even with the buffer there?
Thanks, bro!
Oct 5, 2010. 4:58 AMFopat says:
Thanks for this mod! The momentary switch to enable the wah is a very good idea!
However, I think one step is missing to make the mod really true-bypass. From what I have read on the 2 websites below, to be true bypass, the circuit between the input jack and the buffer input needs to be cut:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/bypass/bypass.htm
http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/mods/dunlop.htm
Else, the green cable soldered on the capacitor has no use. Or maybe I misunderstood something?
Jul 24, 2010. 10:14 AMmtstreit says:
can you use 5mm LED lights instead of a 3mm LED?
Jan 22, 2010. 9:24 AMrpdiggs says:
I found this mini momentary DPDT switch for the US..  Certainly hard to find.  Haven't ordered it yet but think it's my best option.

http://shop.willyselectronics.com/browse.cfm/switches/snap-action/miniature/30-2750--mini-snap-action-pushbutton-momentary-dpdt-1a-125v-solder/4,4768.html
Jan 7, 2010. 8:49 PMbarkley says:
Where can I find a DPDT mini momentary switch?
Ive looked everywhere!
The site mentioned by somerockerguy doesnt have them and niether does that dutch one you mentioned!
Oct 20, 2009. 12:14 AMludoheavy says:
tank you for the new diagram!!

But i have the same question of Link0126, where goes the blue wire from the harness?
Jul 12, 2009. 9:47 AMstupidityisagift says:
can u do this to a modded cry baby that has been modded as a wah/volume pedal?
Jun 24, 2009. 10:20 AMlainage says:
Can you post a link to the mini-momentary switch supplier? I cannot find a mini one anywhere. Awesome mod by the way.
Apr 23, 2009. 8:16 PMgo2ldook says:
Your wiring schematic is wrong in terms of the momentary switch. Here is how it should go:
4 5 6 (looking at lugs with the common to left, normally closed to right.
1 2 3 and lugs numbered as shown)
C NO NC

1= Purple wire (Output to amp, to middle lug of middle row on 3pdt switch)
2= Blue wire (The effect loop return, goes to wah pot)
3= Green wire (Input from guitar, goes to the PCB harness)
4= Green wire (The effect loop input, goes to top right lug of the 3pdt switch)
5= Solder your jumper wire from 5 to 3)
6= No wire here
With this arrangement the switch (as long as it is the same type of momentary switch with the same C-NO-NC orientation as shown in the drawings in the instructable) should work as expected.

As drawn in the instructable the wiring diagram results in no signal with foot off (C-NC connected, which as drawn means the guitar input flows to the effect loop return). With the Foot On you get Clean (C-NO connected, the guitar input connects to the amp output). At least this is what I see...I had wired it as shown in the instructable, and posted stating that I had no signal foot off, and wah with foot on, but I may have been frustrated at the time and wrote the wrong thing...if you follow the signal paths, foot on should give you a clean signal as it is currently diagrammed.

Also, for other who know nothing about these switches, the lug are flat. To orient the 3PDT stomp switch and 3PDT mini toggle switch correctly for wiring as shown in the instructable, the lugs should look like this:
I I I ON _ _ _ ON
I I I for the stomp, but like this: _ _ _ for the mini switch.
I I I _ _ _

I think that is correct for all stomp switches. For the mini 3PDT toggle, you just need to make sure the "ON" throws are on the left and right as shown.

Sorry to be so verbose, but I am not an electronics hobbyist, so having this spelled out in the instructions would have saved me a lot of pain. No offense to the author...this is a cool project, and thanks for posting it!
Apr 23, 2009. 8:18 PMgo2ldook says:
Sorry, my attempt at drawing a schematic for the 3PDT switches failed when it got reoriented at posting! Hopefully people get the idea.
Apr 21, 2009. 9:20 PMgo2ldook says:
Have wired this up and checked over it numerous times. My LED's light fine. With the momentary switch I get no bypassed signal, but when I depress it I get the wah. If I switch back to standard switching, I get the wah effect whether the switch is turned on or off. Can't figure this out. The two wires that go to the pot...do they go to the same lug on the pot that the blue wire to the PCB goes to? Any ideas what I have done wrong?
Mar 25, 2009. 1:12 PMlink0126 says:
do the two blue wires coming from the wah pot indicate the one wire from the pot as well as the other one coming from the harness? does it matter which one goes on which switch? thanks
Mar 24, 2009. 9:17 PMlink0126 says:
how do you mount the momentary switch without a nut on the top?
Mar 16, 2009. 8:46 AMgreatnameless1 says:
I'm just saying, why? Instead of going to all this trouble, don't buy a crybaby in the first place! Get a Weeping Demon - They sound great, they already do this, they're spring loaded, they're customizable, and they're built to withstand armageddon. Better than spending your money buying replacement crybabies..
Feb 23, 2009. 7:27 AMmikka1984 says:
hey, i am doing you wah pedal mod at the moment and a bit stuck the wiring is correct as far as i can see, i checked and rechecked it and it all seems fine the issue i get is kinda loud constant crackling sounds and i can barely hear the giutar through that i got a few questions 1st does it matter which way i wire the switches ( i know where the middle is but not sure if its the same if i wire it if i turn it on the other side ie mirror( 2nd on the wiring diagramon the wah circuit board u have a comment solder to capacitor lead. i soldered the wire from the back of the board so the wire would be out of the way, is that correct? 3rd once i removed the blue wire to the stomp switch i get a blue wire that leads to wah pot and to the circuit borad. amd i suposed to keep this way or should i omit the blue wire that come from the circuit board? thanks for your help
Feb 23, 2009. 4:16 PMmikka1984 says:
ok just a quick update
after fiddling with it for about 3 hours (unsoldered it and soldered it back all together) same result, when i plug it in loud crackling sounds and i can barely hear my guitar throught it. thats the same effect with all positions of stomp switch and 3pdt switch. also noticed another thing... the leds dont turn off completely when i change it, the light dimmers but it still on on both :(
im getting whipple wah mod in a few days so im gonna try trouble shoot then by 1st converting it back to original state and see if i can solve the problem then, but at the moment .... no joy :(
Feb 23, 2009. 5:28 PMmikka1984 says:
another quick update just removed the 3 switches and leds and installed the old stop switch in the pedal... al works find, very confusing rechecked the wiring again, everyhing seemes to be correct tested all switches, all work perfectly im getting a little bit angry now
Feb 24, 2009. 6:05 AMmikka1984 says:
ok email sent, thanx for your help :D i will host the original size images this evening
Feb 24, 2009. 5:43 PMmikka1984 says:
check ur email :)
Aug 1, 2008. 2:27 PMitsachen says:
hey dude, love the instructable first of all where do u get ur 3PDT switches? i cant find any in my local radioshack, only online... thanks
Oct 18, 2008. 7:10 PMsomerockenguy says:
i got mine here there based in the U.S. and they have all the parts to do this mod. http://cascadesurplus.com./
Aug 20, 2008. 12:18 PMvitorp07 says:
Hi,nice project and thanks for sharing it. i just have a question,could you help me out or pointing me to find a DPDT mini momentary switch,i just can't find one that seem to do the job if you have a link for ebay or something online it will be much appreciated. THANKS
Aug 20, 2008. 9:59 PMvitorp07 says:
Hey thanks,they don't ship out of USA and i live in Canada but i sent them an email asking if they could sell me that switch,i hope they can...
Jul 14, 2008. 12:52 PMsomerockenguy says:
i finished you mod today it took about 4 hours. i am very happy with it i just need a diffrent momentary switch because mine is so high and makes poping noises.

here are pictures

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2rm2tg6&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=dy64p&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=xfrgoz&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25k6gjn&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=uvatd&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=312jqmc&s=4
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2l8c001&s=4

if you want to use any of these pics you may.
Jul 15, 2008. 8:57 AMsomerockenguy says:
the site i bought every thing from only had the one momentary switch so im stuck with it un till i find some place localy that carrys them.
Jul 10, 2008. 12:49 PMmodmaniac says:
Thanks, And, great instructions and diagrams. Best on the net!
Jul 10, 2008. 8:17 AMmodmaniac says:
In your parts list you have the momentary switched specified as a 3pdt and the mini toggle as a dpdt but in your wiring diagram you show the toggle as a 3pdt and the momentary switch as a dpdt. I'm guessing that the diagram is correct and the parts list is wrong. It that the case?
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Author:KoenB
A guy with a passion for playing guitar, engineering and of course DIY... and beer too.