Modified a Boss DD-20 - the Giggity Delay

[fdesalvo]

Got bored and decided to modify the backlight to stay on while power is applied. It is annoying that you have to manually turn on this light and even then it only stays on momentarily.

Well, it turns out I'll need a schematic. While I had it apart I was able to address another annoyance - I updated the preset LEDs to brighter ones. I may or may be the first to have done this. Who knows!  The stock LEDs are invisible when playing outside. I may have gone too bright with these. I'm sure I could land an air plane with these suckers. 

Came back together well. All clean. Lubed up the pedal pins with synthetic weapons grease. Nice, smooth, and quiet.

 

[Cagey]

Nice job!

It's kinda surprising the range of intensities LEDs come in these days, isn't it? I have the opposite problem with my MIDI controller board in that the LEDs are so damn bright they're like mini-floods staring up at you from the floor. An aftermarket company actually came up with these little self-adhesive tinted dots sized to cover the things up to knock 'em back a few lumens. They work, but they're not really a permanent solution.

 

[fdesalvo]

Lol I swear I was catching those little laser sparkles off the side of the LED when the thing was powered on. I might replace the red ones with "dimmer" ones. Dunno yet. It's like a Pink Floyd concert right now. 

I do plan on making a small frame of LEDs for the display. There's actually a ton of room in that area and a plastic bezel surrounding it that I might be able to use to mount the arrays.  The stock setup is 2 smd LEDs on either side and it does a decent job.  I was surprised at the robustness of the boards and connectors in this pedal. Very nice quality.  Might paint the chassis next week, also. She's been through hell!

I remember when the blue LEDs first starting getting popular and everyone started using them in like 99Bajillion lumens or whatever. Blinding! You could always add series resistance to  knock em down a bit more.

 

[Cagey]

I know what you mean about the blue LEDs. Some of them are really brilliant. To look at them, you'd think they were gonna burn out any second.

I was talking to an optometrist years ago about how some things seemed blurry while others didn't, and he said "clocks, right?" Well, yeah, as a matter of fact. Turns out LEDs emit monochromatic light, and the human eye has trouble focusing on that for some reason. You'll see starfire and blurs when other things are clear, but if they're near each other, even normally clear things will look blurry. So, if you have a bright LED next to a bit of text, you'll have trouble focusing on it.

 

[fdesalvo]

Interesting!  I'm working on sourcing some different LEDs and paint!

Edit: primer, white automotive paint, and clear on the way with some less blinding LEDs!

 

[fdesalvo]

I've gone full retard. Completely stripped and sanded. Not a rubber bumper remains on the chassis. Even removed the control plates and the backing adhesive. You cannot do these things without a heat gun and goo gone!

Full restoration. Got some sweet primer, Alpine White base, and 2 part clear on the way. She's all sanded and prepped. Can't wait till the paint and new LEDs arrive.

 

[bagman67]

Frank, I say this with the greatest affection for you as a human and as a musician:


You are one seriously effed up nerd.


That's a compliment in my world.

 

[fdesalvo]

I'll take that all day long heh. 

As it turns out, depressing the backlight buttons for a couple seconds keeps em on, so that's all good.  I'm moving from 3500 MCD red LEDs to 2000 MCD Ambers.  Should do nicely. 

Have a couple of trash bags home-engineered spray booth in the works.  Prepare to have your collective hair blown back. 

 

[stratamania]

That's attention to detail.  ccasion14:

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you! 

Here's the new color:

 

[stratamania]

Nice,  but it doesn't match the original but that's the idea I guess.

 

[fdesalvo]

Yeah, it's 180* different.  I have 3 white pedals on my board and no orange ones.  Had to be done.

 

[stratamania]

As it says on the can a Perfect Match. Whites alright but a pedalboard needs different colors.

 

[fdesalvo]

Whites alright but a pedalboard needs different colors.

You've managed to eloquently and succinctly summarize my dating motto in one feld swoop, my friend.  I knew there was something special about you.

 

[stratamania]

I'll take that as a compliment then  ccasion14:

 

[fdesalvo]

  :laughing7:  ha indeed!

 

[bagman67]

Whites alright but a pedalboard needs different colors.

You've managed to eloquently and succinctly summarize my dating motto in one feld swoop, my friend.  I knew there was something special about you.

I hope your dating approach doesn't involve stomping on 'em to compare the sounds.

 

[fdesalvo]

Oh, but no.

 

[bagman67]

Just checking.  :icon_jokercolor: 

 

[fdesalvo]

I don't even wear those types of t-shirts any more.