Get in the groove with the Stomp Box Shoes!

A Stomp Box is a simple percussion instrument, usually a small wooden box that is placed under the foot and stomped or tapped to make a beat when playing a guitar or singing.

Sometimes they are wired up to an amp...

...why make a box when I an old pair of shoes will do?

Step 1: You Will Need

YOU WILL NEED

An old pair of shoes or maybe old Crocs!

One or two piezo discs [tranducers]

One female 6.35mm [1/4"] guitar jack as used on the end of a guitar lead

A little electrical tape

TOOLS

Drill

Drill bit to suit guitar jack diameter [mine was 12mm]

Pliers/snips

Soldering iron

Solder

Hot glue gun + some glue sticks

Sharp knife

ADDITIONAL

Guitar amp

6.35mm [1/4"] guitar lead

Step 2: Piezo?

What is a Piezo?

Piezo is derived from a Greek word meaning to squeeze or to press.

The metal disc has a white circle on it which is the piezo crystals, such as quartz, that when squeezed will make electricity flow through them and out of the leads, and if you pass electricity through the same crystals, they squeeze themselves by vibrating back and forth, making them BEEP! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/piezoelectricity.h...

These discs are often found in electrical items that need to beep, such as washing machines and telephones [the older ones]

So if this disc is tapped, squeezed or Stomped it will send out an electrical pulse that effectively can bepicked up by a guitar amp, just like a guitar pick-up.

Step 3: Drill Your Shoes!

Choose which shoe you want to stomp and pick the best position for the guitar jack within the sole of the shoe.

My Crocs sole was really worn down with holes at the toes, so I decided on the thickest part under the arch of the foot.

Choose a drill bit to make a snug fit with the guitar jack and drill a hole...

...this felt kind of naughty!

Unfortunately my drill bit cut through the sole and the inner face, though this ended up helping me.

I decided to use two Piezo discs, one under the toes, the other under the heel...toe + heel tapping.

Cut the leads to length, strip back some wire and twist the red wires together, and twist the black wires together.

Tin the wires with solder, by applying solder and a hot solder iron to the wires so the solder flows into the wires.

Unscrew the housing from the guitar jack and tin the two connector tabs within.

Slip the Piezo leads through the guitar housing and solder the leads to the guitar jack.

It doesn't matter which wire goes to which connector, it will work both ways.

Wrap the bare wire with electrical tape to avoid any shorting and screw on the guitar jack housing.

All ready for inserting into the shoe.

Step 4: Put It All Together

The hole that my drill made through to the sole helped me push the guitar jack into place allowing the Piezo discs to poke out of the bottom of the shoe.

Position the guitar jack so that it is very slightly proud of the edge of the shoe.

Position the Piezo discs on the sole of the shoe and mark the wires position.

Carefully cut along the marks, cutting a little into the sole.

Carefully push the wires into the slits.

Hot glue over the slits and smooth flat.

Stick the Piezo discs down with hot glue and cover the tops to help protect them, again smoothing flat.

Finish off by adding hot glue to the holes around the guitar jack, in my case both top + bottom!

Step 5: Get to the Beat

Grab a comfy Cajon and your favourite guitar...

...plug in your Stomp Box Shoe, switch on the amp...

...and Get To The Beat.

Man I Am Solid Gone!

Watch the video to hear the Stomp Box Shoe in action!

This was the first time I ever played any type of stomp box and it takes a little practice I think, though I was pleased with the sound coming out of my Amp. The sound recording was only through the camera so it struggled to balance the guitar and amp, it sounded better in person.

I used a Fender Mustang 2 modelling amp which is great for getting some funky effects out of the Stomp Box Shoe.

A splitter would allow an electric guitar to be played at the same time.

This project is part of my YouTube series where I try to make cool and interesting things out of the stuff that we throw away. Please check out my channel if you want to see more of the projects, if not there will be more coming to Instructables.
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