Is my MXR phase 90 on or off?

viz

is there a little product that sits between the power lead and the pedal’s power input socket that lights up when current is being drawn, ie when it’s on? For pedals without their own LEDs. 

thermionic

If it sound swooshy, it's on.

That would be tricky to do, as pedals draw some current when off. You could feasibly trigger an led when the current draw exceeds a predetermined level, but that level would be different to every model of pedal.

viz

thermionic said:

If it sound swooshy, it's on.

That would be tricky to do, as pedals draw some current when off. You could feasibly trigger an led when the current draw exceeds a predetermined level, but that level would be different to every model of pedal.

Yep. Maybe it could have a little grub screw to set the trigger level. But probably more trouble than it’s worth. Re swooshiness, I know - it’s just that sometimes you’re halfway through a song before you realise it’s been on. Or you’re doing Ain’t Talking About Love and you get out of sync without noticing. 

robinbowes

Relatively easy to fit an LED. If you don't want to drill the pedal, you could do something like this:

http://doktorsewage.com/vintage-mxr-phase-90-sees-the-light/

R.

John_P

I’d put it in a loop switcher that had an indicator led.    

Someone like bright onion will probably have one suitable if you have space on your board. 

robinbowes

John_P said:

I’d put it in a loop switcher that had an indicator led.    

Someone like bright onion will probably have one suitable if you have space on your board. 

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. In fact, get a G2 and put all your pedals in loops

ICBM

There won't be any change in current draw. The pedal is actually on all the time, it's only a case of whether the guitar signal is going through it or not. Normally, the only increase in current draw is caused by the pedal's LED...

viz

ICBM said:

There won't be any change in current draw. The pedal is actually on all the time, it's only a case of whether the guitar signal is going through it or not. Normally, the only increase in current draw is caused by the pedal's LED...

Oh. Oh well! Cheers  

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

robinbowes

viz said:

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

I've got a GigRig Loopy 2 sat doing not an awful lot, if you want to go down that route.

viz

robinbowes said:

viz said:

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

I've got a GigRig Loopy 2 sat doing not an awful lot, if you want to go down that route.

Thanks old dude but I think I need something the size of a matchbox

http://i.imgur.com/UMuVQjY.jpg

robinbowes

Meh, it would fit on there, easy!

thermionic

ICBM said:

There won't be any change in current draw. The pedal is actually on all the time, it's only a case of whether the guitar signal is going through it or not. Normally, the only increase in current draw is caused by the pedal's LED...

You're probably right there. I just checked an SD-1. 5.01 mA when on, 4.51 mA when off.

viz

I am using Dimarzio Evolutions though

octatonic

viz said:

robinbowes said:

viz said:

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

I've got a GigRig Loopy 2 sat doing not an awful lot, if you want to go down that route.

Thanks old dude but I think I need something the size of a matchbox

http://i.imgur.com/UMuVQjY.jpg

A matchbox size won't exist because you need space for 4 jacks.

Try the Lehle Little Lehle II, that is about as small as it gets.

EricTheWeary

octatonic said:

viz said:

robinbowes said:

viz said:

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

I've got a GigRig Loopy 2 sat doing not an awful lot, if you want to go down that route.

Thanks old dude but I think I need something the size of a matchbox

http://i.imgur.com/UMuVQjY.jpg

A matchbox size won't exist because you need space for 4 jacks.

Try the Lehle Little Lehle II, that is about as small as it gets.

Bright Onion Mini is smaller and about a third of the price if my googling serves me well. 

ICBM

I have no doubt this is considered sacrilege, but I would just fit the pedal with an LED. It's a functional upgrade and even if it's an original, won't devalue anything other than a pristine collector's piece with its original box etc.

I did dozens of them back in the 80s so I may be a bit blasé about this though .

I would also true-bypass it at the same time because the Phase 90 is notoriously tone-sucking with the original SPDT switching. If 3PDTs had been available back then I would have done that too...

clarkefan

Take any concerns about resale out of of the equation and rehouse it with LED, true bypass and 9v socket if like me you have the script reissue. Oh and and a 3 PDT will mean mean a battery won't fit, if that's important to you. Another option is put it in the loop of a Boss LS-2, but it doesn't sound like you have room

viz

I might just have someone take a drill to it. I’ve already got a piece of foam between the base and the unit, with a slot for the battery clip - as you can see at the top of it. But IC and clarkefan I think I’ll just do that, if anything. If I can find someone with the inclination to do it for me

octatonic

EricTheWeary said:

octatonic said:

viz said:

robinbowes said:

viz said:

The loop switcher is definitely an idea. 

I've got a GigRig Loopy 2 sat doing not an awful lot, if you want to go down that route.

Thanks old dude but I think I need something the size of a matchbox

http://i.imgur.com/UMuVQjY.jpg

A matchbox size won't exist because you need space for 4 jacks.

Try the Lehle Little Lehle II, that is about as small as it gets.

Bright Onion Mini is smaller and about a third of the price if my googling serves me well. 

Tricky to cable that one- the location of the jacks means you have to go down with right angle jacks or the straight jacks end up doubling the size of the unit.

dano

If you can't tell that you phase90 is on then you'e got bigger problems.

..

https://goo.gl/images/q4acxb

octatonic

dano said:

If you can't tell that you phase90 is on then you'e got bigger problems.

..

https://goo.gl/images/q4acxb

Maybe if you only ever play in your bedroom but in a gig situation, at high volume (which I know viz does) with poor foldback then it cannot always be obvious.