Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Q & A for building and interfacing your rack gear with Ground Control Pro and GCX-based systems.
turmoil
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:38 am

Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by turmoil »

Like a lot people, i've always wanted to use one of the pedal outs on the GCP for a tap tempo pedal, but I couldn't find something to do the trick.
Thankfully, I stumbled across some threads on this forum that talked about a schematic for a pedal to do what I wanted.

So, I contacted the wonderful JohnClark and he gave me a copy of the schematic and I decided to build the pedal. I had most of the parts laying around, but I had to order an enclosure from Small Bear Electronics. You can also get most of the other components (jack and switch) from there as well. I picked up a cheap 3ft Live Wire TRS-TRS cable from guitar center too.
In case you want to build the pedal yourself, here's everything you'll need:

(1) enclosure ~ $7
(1) trs to trs cable ~ $7 - $10
(1) 1/4" stereo jack ~ $2
(1) spdt switch (note: a dpdt or 3pdt will work as well) ~ $5
Total ~ $21 - $24

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Obviously you'll need a soldering iron, some solder, and wire, but you knew that right ;)

I used a dpdt switch because I happened to have one laying around, but all you really need is a spdt switch. With that being said, let's move onto the build!

First, i drilled two holes in the enclosure for the switch and the jack:

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This enclosure is about as small as it gets, but it works perfectly as you can see:

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Now it's time to wire up the components.
The tip of the jack gets wired to the center lug/pole on the switch.
You can then wire the ring tab to one of the other remaining poles (to the left or to the right of the center lug) and then solder the sleeve to the remaining one.
Note:
for this particular switch, I did NOT need to use the other row of poles. You can just leave them unconnected.
Here's what all that looks like:

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Make sure it all fits in the enclosure:

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And just because I wanted to make it look nice, I sprayed it with two coats of some Valspar Hi Gloss black spray paint I got at Lowes.

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And that's it!

All you have to do is follow the directions in the GCP manual for setting up the pedal and you'll have yourself a killer tap tempo pedal :D
Enjoy!

JohnClark
Posts: 7494
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 2:33 pm
Location: The Lab

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by JohnClark »

Great job!
------------------====Cheers!====------------------
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---------==Voodoo Lab Magician & Tech==---------

gerax
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:45 am

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by gerax »

Nice!

Does it work with the standard GC too or it's only compatible with GC Pro?

JohnClark
Posts: 7494
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 2:33 pm
Location: The Lab

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by JohnClark »

gerax wrote:Nice!

Does it work with the standard GC too or it's only compatible with GC Pro?
The switch above is for the Ground Control Pro only.

The original Ground Control uses only a mono connection and should be able to use any simple footswitch with a latching switch.
------------------====Cheers!====------------------
Image
---------==Voodoo Lab Magician & Tech==---------

forum_crawler
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:41 pm

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by forum_crawler »

This is as simple, useful and amazing as it gets!

Thank you for this very valuable contribution. I think I have to build one for myself now :)

jeff_g
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 6:59 am

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by jeff_g »

Oooh, great idea - thanks for sharing; I must make one for myself!

Small is awesome - what is the size of the enclosure you used?

jeff_g
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 6:59 am

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by jeff_g »

Hello?

The smallest boxes I can find over at Small Bear are 4.7 x 3.7 - yours looks smaller (and square). Do you have any idea where I might find one that size? Thanks much!

turmoil
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:38 am

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by turmoil »

jeff_g wrote:Hello?

The smallest boxes I can find over at Small Bear are 4.7 x 3.7 - yours looks smaller (and square). Do you have any idea where I might find one that size? Thanks much!
Here's the model info:
Hammond 1590LB

You can google it and probably order it elsewhere if they don't carry it/have it in stock.
From this website -- http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merch ... Code=ENC15 -- it looks like its dimensions are: 1.99L X 1.99W x 1.06H.

Hope it helps.

haieb
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:10 pm

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by haieb »

Thank you for the tutorial!

I have a question! If i have a SPDT switch, how do i wire it? Just the tip and the ring?



Off topic: This board is nice and the support is awesome :)

domct203
Posts: 157
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 11:07 am

Re: Tap Tempo Pedal Build for the GCP

Post by domct203 »

haieb wrote:Thank you for the tutorial!

I have a question! If i have a SPDT switch, how do i wire it? Just the tip and the ring?



Off topic: This board is nice and the support is awesome :)
A SPDT switch is one-half of a DPDT switch, which is what is used in this tutorial. Wire it exactly as shown in this post, ignoring the second set of unused contacts.

I hope that helps!
Dom
Ground Control Pro | GCX | Control Switcher | PP2+ | Mesa Dual Rectifier Roadster | Mesa Mark V | Mesa Stiletto Deuce | (2) Mesa Rectifier 4X12's | '73 Gibson Les Paul Custom | '12 Gibson Les Paul Trad | '10 Carvin CT6M | TC G-Major

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