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steevc · 04-29-2009, 05:06 PM

Last night I picked up my Roland Cube 80x on the way to rehearsal. I've been waiting a while for this. I was originally going to get a 60, but liked the sound of the 80x when it was announced back in January. A friend in the trade was able to get me a very good deal.

The band were pretty impressed with the sounds I was getting. We play mostly classic rock covers, so I was using the Classic Stack (Marshall) and the clean channel. There's plenty of volume there. I didn't have it over 4.

To make the most of it I need to sort out some footswitches. The Boss ones are a bit steep at around 50 quid for a double and I need 6 altogether. I have a basic old Roland double that just needs a stereo plug instead of two monos. For the rest I'm thinking of getting some switches and other bits from Maplin and making my own. Just need one to be momentary for the looper/tap.

For the latching switches I'd like to have LEDs. I've seen various comments saying you can just put them in series with the switch. I'm assuming there will already be a resistor to limit the current for the LEDs in the amp and that the switches do not have audio signal going through them. Would any DIYers care to comment?

I've not had many amps. I've got my old Peavey Backstage that wasn't beefy enough for the band, but the Cube should be suitable for gigs when we get any.

--
Steve

steevc · 05-07-2009, 05:21 PM

I've built my footswitch, but hit a couple of issues. The looper needs a momentary switch, but I got the wrong type. It needs to be a normally closed. Also, I think only of my jack plugs is shorting out. I'll take that back to Maplin when I go for a new switch.

I've not used LEDs as yet. I tried putting one across an open switch, but it doesn't look like there is enough to light it up. The backup plan is to use batteries to drive them and attach to the unused part of the DPDT switches.

Once I sort out the issues I'll have a four-way footswitch that cost less than a two-way Boss one. Plus it's fun to build your own stuff.

--
Steve

Stifflersm0m · 05-07-2009, 09:50 PM

steevc, am I right in thinking that you can only switch between the clean jc channel and the second channel which has the model options? Or can you switch between model options on channel2 using a footswitch?

Stiff

andrewrg · 05-08-2009, 01:11 AM

I'm pretty sure it's the same as my Cube 60; you can switch channels but not model options.

steevc · 05-08-2009, 08:09 AM

On the 80x you can switch between clean and lead (for a single model), but you can also save an extra solo channel which can be any model plus EQ and effects. So you can access 3 different sounds from a footswitch, but one has to be clean.

Steve

steevc · 05-14-2009, 02:12 PM

For anyone who wants to build a Footswitch I just saw that Rapid are much cheaper for the switches than Maplin. I could have knocked at least a tenner off the price by buying parts from there, but I still saved a lot over the Boss units.

04-29-2009, 05:06 PM	#1
steevc Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mid-Beds Posts: 41	Finally achieved my cuboid GAS Last night I picked up my Roland Cube 80x on the way to rehearsal. I've been waiting a while for this. I was originally going to get a 60, but liked the sound of the 80x when it was announced back in January. A friend in the trade was able to get me a very good deal. The band were pretty impressed with the sounds I was getting. We play mostly classic rock covers, so I was using the Classic Stack (Marshall) and the clean channel. There's plenty of volume there. I didn't have it over 4. To make the most of it I need to sort out some footswitches. The Boss ones are a bit steep at around 50 quid for a double and I need 6 altogether. I have a basic old Roland double that just needs a stereo plug instead of two monos. For the rest I'm thinking of getting some switches and other bits from Maplin and making my own. Just need one to be momentary for the looper/tap. For the latching switches I'd like to have LEDs. I've seen various comments saying you can just put them in series with the switch. I'm assuming there will already be a resistor to limit the current for the LEDs in the amp and that the switches do not have audio signal going through them. Would any DIYers care to comment? I've not had many amps. I've got my old Peavey Backstage that wasn't beefy enough for the band, but the Cube should be suitable for gigs when we get any. -- Steve

05-07-2009, 09:50 PM	#3
Stifflersm0m Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oxon Posts: 366	steevc, am I right in thinking that you can only switch between the clean jc channel and the second channel which has the model options? Or can you switch between model options on channel2 using a footswitch? Stiff __________________ Stiff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmx5lGIJIa4

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05-07-2009, 05:21 PM	#2
steevc Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mid-Beds Posts: 41	I've built my footswitch, but hit a couple of issues. The looper needs a momentary switch, but I got the wrong type. It needs to be a normally closed. Also, I think only of my jack plugs is shorting out. I'll take that back to Maplin when I go for a new switch. I've not used LEDs as yet. I tried putting one across an open switch, but it doesn't look like there is enough to light it up. The backup plan is to use batteries to drive them and attach to the unused part of the DPDT switches. Once I sort out the issues I'll have a four-way footswitch that cost less than a two-way Boss one. Plus it's fun to build your own stuff. -- Steve

05-08-2009, 01:11 AM	#4
andrewrg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Posts: 2,537	I'm pretty sure it's the same as my Cube 60; you can switch channels but not model options.

05-08-2009, 08:09 AM	#5
steevc Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mid-Beds Posts: 41	On the 80x you can switch between clean and lead (for a single model), but you can also save an extra solo channel which can be any model plus EQ and effects. So you can access 3 different sounds from a footswitch, but one has to be clean. Steve

05-14-2009, 02:12 PM	#6
steevc Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mid-Beds Posts: 41	For anyone who wants to build a Footswitch I just saw that Rapid are much cheaper for the switches than Maplin. I could have knocked at least a tenner off the price by buying parts from there, but I still saved a lot over the Boss units.