Install LEDs in your amp's footswitch

If you have a guitar or bass amplifier, the footswitch is a must-have addition that gives you the freedom to change channels and/or activate the effects loop without lifting your hands from the strings to push a button in your amplifier's control panel. However, most footswitches are just that. With this Instructable you will learn how to add a LED that lights up when you press the switch, giving a clear indication of when you have activated the circuit.

Step 1 Tools & materials

Tools needed:
A hammer.
A center punch tool.
Electric drill.
A drill bit the same size of the LED you have selected.
Soldering iron.
Soldering wire.
Small gauge electrical wire.
Small round file.
Small straight file.
Safety goggles.

Materials needed:
One LED for every switch you want to upgrade.
One 100k resistor for every LED.
One 9V battery.
One 9V battery clip.
One rubber band or two-sided adhesive tape.
One on/off switch.
Electrical tape.
Masking tape.
A drop of oil.
A little woody stick.
Some old newspaper.

Comments

[osgeld]

I cant help but wonder why you opted to use a battery wrapped up in tape over a 9v clip, or for extra hack points a paper binder clip that has been bent out of shape

[curbowman]

I'm not sure what is your question about (maybe it's because English is not my native language), but I'll try to asnwer it as good as I can. I wrapped the battery in tape to avoid short circuits. Since the footswitch should withstand rude handling, it's possible for the battery to be shifted from its place and touch part of the wiring. If this happens, the metal skin of the battery could create a short circuit, and therefore a malfunction. You could use tape (as I did) or just any non-conductive wrapping such as foam or even a fabric piece. The other half of the process is to secure the battery to the case to prevent rattling and shifting. I used a rubber band, but two-sided adhesive tape can work just as well. The best option could be a plastic battery holder such as the ones used in some electronic products and guitars; these provide a solid placement and isolation, but I just used what I had lying around. Hope this helps.