DIY Pedalboard Junction Box || 4CM to 2CM Auto-Routing Interface
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
- Pedalboard interfaces have been crucial in many of the Rig Doctor's pedalboard builds. The truth is, you don't need to be an expert rig builder to make your own interface. In this video, we walk you through the steps of building an interface that allows you to run your time-based effects (Delay, Reverb) in your amp's FX Loop - Four Cable Method (4CM), or Two Cable Method (2CM), with all of your pedals in series in front of one amplifier.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Intro - 00:01
Drilling template - 00:46
Cutting out template - 01:51
Taping template to enclosure - 02:33
Punching holes on template - 04:13
Drilling pilot holes - 04:39
Installing 1/4" jacks - 06:09
Choosing your hookup wire - 09:36
Stripping cables - 10:27
Prepping cables - 10:50
Wiring the interface - 12:28
Dremel paint off enclosure holes - 17:15
Labeling interface - 17:45
Interface demonstration - 18:11
Outro - 19:50
#TheRigDoctor #PedalboardInterface #JuctionBox - Hudba
In this video, we walk you through the steps of building an interface that allows you to run your time-based effects (Delay, Reverb) in your amp's FX Loop - Four Cable Method (4CM), or Two Cable Method (2CM), with all of your pedals in series in front of one amplifier. SUBSCRIBE 👉 👉 👉 czcams.com/users/vertexeffectsinc
⬇️ CLICK BELOW FOR ALL TEMPLATES, DIAGRAMS, & MATERIALS ⬇️
vertexeffects.com/diy-interface
⬇️ CLICK BELOW FOR RIG DR APPROVED MATERIALS & ACCESSORIES ⬇️
vertexeffects.com/rig-dr-recommended-pedalboard-materials
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Intro - 00:01
Drilling template - 00:46
Cutting out template - 01:51
Taping template to enclosure - 02:33
Punching holes on template - 04:13
Drilling pilot holes - 04:39
Installing 1/4" jacks - 06:09
Choosing your hookup wire - 09:36
Stripping cables - 10:27
Prepping cables - 10:50
Wiring the interface - 12:28
Dremel paint off enclosure holes - 17:15
Labeling interface - 17:45
Interface demonstration - 18:11
Outro - 19:50
Vertex Effects I really want you to keep growing as a company because you are really generous with your knowledge. Your products are excellent. You deserve your success! Thanks so much!!
@@jorgetenamusic Thanks so much for watching! I hope we earned your subscription!
Vertex Effects already a subscriber 😊
jorgetenamusic 🙏🙏🙏
Hello, Thanks for the video. I have a question. Is the diagram correct? I think the diagram is misleading. On the diagram, the guitar input jack sleeve and pedal output jack tip are connected. I guess that the red wire(the pedal output jack tip) should be connected to the guitar input jack tip and the green wire(pedal output jack sleeve) should be connected to the guitar input jack sleeve. Am I right?
Can I just comment on how good it is that this guy replies to questions asked two weeks ago on a video from two years ago 😃
We do our best!
Your buffer “hub/interface” post and this build, really make a pedal board practical. Trying to integrate different pedals, and systems of pedals, so that they WORK IN THE REAL WORLD, eliminates STRESS!
Feeling confident when trying to set up quickly, have a functional rig, and dealing with unfamiliar back line is PRICELESS! It’s hard not to get rattled when troubleshooting in front of a crowd.
Knowing your board is working, and having all your routing options in ONE PLACE...whew!
Thanks you so much!
Great instructional video - thank you for your time and talents! I really appreciate the "tips", including how to drill the holes and the washer orientation, etc. I built one for my rig and went to rehearsal and my other guitarist wanted to know where I bought it. I told him I made it and gave him this link. He actually asked if he could have mine 😂 I went ahead and built him one free of charge to pay it forward. Thanks again!!
Glad it was helpful!
BESS... I Love your practical solutions and you're not a GREEDY SOB. Thanks for there step by step. REALLY valuable video here. Thanks again
My pleasure, some buffered versions coming soon!
Awesome doc! So you r the man for any of my rig sickens from now on! My utmost respect, gratitude and sub!
Thank you for this tutorial, very helpful. I just built one myself with a modification: I already have a patch bay on my pedalboard so I needed just the "no FX Loop" option. I used only 3 jacks on the "Amp side" of the enclosure and have 4 cables coming out, through rubber cable rings, on the "Pedalboard side" of the enclosure. The cabling scheme looks the same but the Amp cable coming from the pedalboard directly connects the the send jack on the Amp side. Works like magic. Doing this I saved space (it fits in a 1590A Hammond enclosure) a little money (5 jacks short) and - I assume - signal dispersion by replacing 4 jack/plug connections with plain cable
This is great!! Thanks so much for making this video Mason - you da man! Just built mine for the first time based on the jumbled tutorials/ diagrams floating this internet now and only thing I seemed to have missed was the last step (wiring send to amp out). Thanks again man!
Good luck! Let us know if you get stuck.
I found your Chanel only a few weeks ago. Thank you for all the amazing content. I have learned so much from watching.
Glad you enjoy it!
Built this for my new (almost finished) board and it really is a bit of a game changer for me. Before, I was having to redo cables every time I went from an amp with an effects loop to one without. This makes it a snap. It's an easy build, even for a novice like me. THANK YOU for sharing this!!
Our pleasure and check out the buffered one as well we did a few months ago!
Nice...I'm gonna have to make one of these with all the time off I have lately! Thanks Mason! You Rock! 😎🎸🐦🤘
Brilliant! Thanks Mason. Always with great appreciation.
Thank you so much for watching! Hope we earned your subscription!
Mason is a cool dude. Glad he is out there helping us out.
my pleasure! please help us spread the word!
Thanks man! That's what I was looking for....yeahhh! Love your channel dude!
Thanks so much! Hope we earned you subscription!
Been looking for an interface like this to simplify my cables. Thanks, Mason!
Check out the buffer version as well
Love it. Exactly what I was looking for!
👍👍👍
by the way your isolation of power and audio cables made everything quiet on my board, just the normal Marshall valve heads hum..Found all the links Thanks Mason my board is ready for my tour.
I think Mason is down to earth,very smart man.A good guy for sure.
perfect quarantine project!
Yes, indeed
I would pay for the vertex brand of this as well as some other commenters mentioned. I think combining a buffer with this method would be a great idea and problem solver!
Regardless, I will be starting this project soon, thank you!
Jared Herz maybe using a MESA Highwure is an option
If you're looking for all in front of the amp, the Mesa Boogie High Wire, as Navin suggested is good. This might be an alternative for the 4CM folks: www.providence-ltd.com/routing_02.html. I also will put out a tri-buffer version of this with an input, output, and buffer on the return in the near future.
we could help with that? :) www.americanloopers.com/products/four-cable-method-with-auto-reroute-for-series-interface-for-your-pedalboard-with-isolated-jacks
I had to use regular hook-up cable, the use of guitar cable was just too complicated four me due to the limited space. It looks so easy when mason shows it in the video. This will for sure make the board tidier.
Thank you so much!!!! This is so helpful!
So glad you dig it Dani! Hope we earned your subscription!
This is great! Thanks a million!
Thank you so much for watching! I hope we earned your subscription!
Uncle Mason, you're a genius!! Kudos on the Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover-esque loop btw.
Glad you dig!
Have you considered or tried out a buffer on the input jack? Just need a bigger enclosure. Two birds etc.
JC Britt Of course, typically we have multiple buffers in our systems, at the very least on the input and output of the rig, however this was a simplified DIY solution. We will have a separate video showing how to install a high-quality input and output buffer as we would in a system. Will also have kits available.
great video thank you .God bless you
Bro your channel is so informative! I can only hope you can do a show with Dan and Mick from That pedal show!!!
That would be cool! I guess you can put that in their suggestion box :)
I'm about to make one of these. I'm a metal fabricator, so I can make the enclosure at work. I think I'll make a stainless steel one. I'm gonna draw it up in CAD, cut it out on the CNC laser complete with laser etched labels, and form it on the pressbrake. It should be pretty awesome. I'll come back and let you know how it turns out.
Appreciate this man.
👍
Please use PPE! Set a good example! You only have one set of eyes. Loved the video. Protect your eyes! Who am I? Vocational educator for 25 years.
Dude! You are tremendously generous with your knowledge! I might actually give this a go! Thanx so much🙏
Good luck, let us know if you have any questions as you go!
Thank you so much!!
I don't know why i just watched all of that. I have no need for this interface and I don't solder.
Keep'em coming, please.....
that's amazing! Thanks for watching! Hope we earned your subscription!
Thanks I’ve been trying to decide between using a box or a panel.
The enclosure will be a little safer on a pedalboard.
Thanks dude!
🙏🙏🙏
Cool cheers for that! :)
My pleasure!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this information! This will be a HUGE help on my next pedal board build!
It's very generous of you to share your knowledge, experience, and supply sources! I salute you!
🙏🙏🙏 I hope we earned your subscription
You definitely have!
Awesome!
Thanks for watching David! Hope we earned your subscription!
This is so great. Thank you for sharing.
Is there a similar diagram which switches stereo effectsloop to mono as well?
Alex, you can use this for stereo too if you want, just don't connect those bridge wires and you can dedicate either the SEND or RETURN as your LEFT or RIGHT stereo output and AMP jack as the other output. You will just have one spare pass-through that won't be used - or you could connect the center tab on the jack across to it's reciprocal jack and use is as a footswtich pass through for an amp, or for an expression pedal through.
Great explanation. How did you learn to do guitar electronics? Maybe do a video about 'you' and your electronic escapades!?
Hi Mason, I build a nice passive insert box following your video. Great work ! Only problem is there's a slight volume loss when I plug a pedal to audition in the send/return. Also, when I plug or unplug the cables there's a big popping sound. Is this normal with a passive box like this? I used all switching jacks and grounded the input with a lock washer. Thanks
Hey, uncle Mason, thank you for all of your videos. I’ve got your address and will be shipping the stuff I’ve told you it’s awesome to clean your boxes and your hard to reach nuts. It’s that possible that you do some video about an interface like some pedal boards come with? I’m talking about the ones like temple áudio with XLR, power input, on off switch, guitar input and output. I’ve been watching you doing the pedalboards and got hooked. I have in mind to make mi own rig with an interface that has everything to connect anything to it.
Again, thank you for your kindness and care for all of us!
Edson
Hey Mason! Appreciate all your help on here man. Just a headsup, some of the links to the items for this have changed. The center punch is no longer available and the Neutrik jacks are a dead amazon link now. Not hard to find 'em anyway, but thought you might wanna update your links. :)
I know this video is 2 years old now, but it will never age. :) Hopefully I will still get an answer for a quick question. So let's call the place you mount the jacks in the vid the 'sides'. Would it be possible to mount them on the 'top' and 'bottom'? Would they still fit, or would I need a different sized enclosure? I want to mount the patchbay onto the side of my board, (underneath the top tier) and i don't want it to be taking up so much space on the inside of the board. Also, what is the smallest Hammond enclosure I can fit 4x4 jacks into? Thank you in advance!
Thank you Mason !!!!!, You are providing some incredible information and resources for the average guitar player to make their own PRO pedalboard !!!!
My pleasure!
Big fan of D.I.Y. the cheapest loop selector on amazon is $40.00 you can build one in a couple hours maybe 40minits if your real quick with 4 input jacks like 60 cents each and a snap switch like $1.25 (i never pay for wires there's always junk wires kicking around somewhere) and put it in a sardine can or an old metal butter dish any old thing will do, mines in a tuna can 😊😊
If I use an instrument cable for the fx loop, how do i wire them up?
Great video Mason. What if I wanna add a tuner out? Can I simply connect the guitar in jack with the output to the pedalboard AND the tuner out?
Don't do that to this box, since it's passive it will put a parallel load on your signal. Not a good idea. If your tuner is true bypass the impact that it will have on your signal will be extremely minimal.
have you fitted a fifth output anytime? did you use any CAD software to do the template?
Thanks! Very useful thing! Can i use unshielded cable to wiring the jack connection? Or Do you recomend to use line shielded cable?
Any hookup wire 18-24AWG should be fine.
Just what I needed - ordered all the components. Thanks a lot. FIY, the template file on Google Drive seems to be missing the 0.38" hole, but has eight 0.5" holes. Regardless, thank you so much.
Glad it helped
Hi Mason, is this the same wiring as the audition loop you did for the Amp less video, not counting the buffers? I need to do an audition one but don’t need the buffers since my guitar comes in a Polytune 3 and outs on an Iridium and then a Collider. Thanks!
Similar, yes.
Hey Mason, I would pay for a Vertex branded one if you ever made it! Totally appreciate the video, but this is a bit more involved than I have the time or skill for.
I have a few versions in the works now. For now this is what I can give you for FREE. Perhaps your amp or guitar tech could make on for you, it's only about $30 in parts.
we can help with that if you'd like? www.americanloopers.com/products/four-cable-method-with-auto-reroute-for-series-interface-for-your-pedalboard-with-isolated-jacks
The "Spring" of my switchcraft jack (guitar input) touches the inside of the casing is that a problem? Thanks for this free tutorial its great.
The spring?
Great Video! How would solder a trs connection? Just add one additional cable in center right? Is there some where a graphic?
Just just one more wire straight across to the middle lug
Great videos, thank you! Just a question because I’m not sure I fully understood the comment about the ground and the screw of the box. How is the box grounded? I don’t see any ground wire connected to any screw or the box inside? Thank you!
It looks like the larger part of the case is grounded by the input jack (has metal washers, see the pic at 18:05) and since the screws are screwed into the larger part of the case, he made sure they are also touching the bottom part of the case, by removing the paint in all screw holes.
Hey Mason! At first, thank you so much for that video, been waiting for this video since a while! I have a question: I’m just finishing my stereo pedalboard right now and wondering if it’s possible to do a mono effects loop setup with my ES-8 and go stereo in the effects loop to go to both amps only in the end? Do you have any experience doing that?
I will try to do it with the victory superkraken which I will buy in a few weeks and my ac30...
Second question is: is there any chance of fitting Neutrik locking jack ports to a enclosure like this one? Or do you know any enclosure that would fit?
Thanks in advance for your help!🙏
You can do it, but I'm not sure you can do it with the switcher in stereo and with the effects loop. I'm not sure the switcher functions will support that. I know you can do it if you put your, say, Strymon pedals outside of the loops (but controlled by MIDI), and you could use this device that I built here and add an extra output for the stereo out. You'd have 5 cables going out of the interface: Guitar Input, Amp Output (to front of L amp), SEND (to Strymon Mobius input), Return L (to amp L FX Loop return), and Return R (To amp R FX Loop return). To Do it in stereo you without FX Loop, you'd have the R amp going out of the Return, and Left Amp going out of the normal amp out. I don't believe in the locking Neutrik Jacks for Pedalboards - you would need a taller box to fit these jacks. They jacks are not beneficial in this context, the likelihood of your pedalboard unplugging itself is very unlikely, less than 1%. And, if someone kicks a cable, with the locking jacks, you're almost guaranteed a break - you have all this force on the cable and no way to release it - therefore the cable breaks, or more likely your locking jack breaks. With the jacks I used, or mono standard panel mounted 1/4" jacks, the cable will release, and your jack doesn't need to absorb the impact. I don't recommend using these locking jacks.
Hi, awesome video, it's just what I've been looking for! Just a quick question, could you make multiple loops that are foot switchable using this as a base? Would it be hard to add a foot switch to turn the loop off and make it true bypass? Many thanks
Just send the input directly to output? Bypasses all effects? Possible, sure.
Mason, don't know how I missed this video! I watched the buffered interface video but decided I don't think I need a buffered unit if I'm using all Boss pedals (except for my CM95 wah), which are supposed to be buffered. So I have two questions: 1) Is there a wiring diagram to make just a 2X (guitar in-amp out) interface since my Blues Jr. amp doesn't have an effects loop and 2) can I use all metal jacks or just metal for the guitar in? I'm going to shop for a small box (maybe Radio Shack) to mount to my Temple Audio board. Thanks again. Nothing like the smell of melting solder!
1) You can just use this diagram and just wire the 2 sets of jacks as straight throughs. 2) I recommend floating all the jacks (using nylon jacks) for all places but the input (where I use metal).
Hi Mason! my Neutrik style TRS jack doesn't have the metal nut that goes to the enclosure, should I ground all the ground tab an put a srcrew at the bottom of the case or its going to do a ground loop?? Or only keep the input 1/4 jack grounded to the case?
You want the enclosed fully plastic jack. I'm not sure if you're saying you're missing parts or asking how to ground an enclosed plastic jack. You can ground them by soldering a tooth washer with a wire to the ground lug and sandwiching that between the inside of the jack and the wall of the enclosure.
Great video, work really well and easy to understand!
One question though:
Where do i put my empress Buffer + in the line for this one? Guitar -> Buffer > Junction > Pedal Board > Junction > Buffer > Amp?
And then a separate output buffer for the efx loop after junction box when i use 4 cable?
That way the last effects in my chain would still be buffered if i skip the efx loop of the amp, seeing as though they get looped in after my initial effects if directly in front of the amp?
Guitar, Junction, input buffer, pedals, output buffer, junction, amp. That patch bay is just like adding a few inches to your guitar cable in this format.
Cheers for clearing up!
Shout out from Norway!
Stay safe and wash your hands!
;)
@@rubberarms1 will do! You too!
Great tutorial, works great except I experience a substantial drop in volume when my send/receive is in use. I have my amp send out to 2 delay pedals then back to receive in. The rest of my pedals are in front of the amp.
I've always used it this way and never had volume drop but didn't like having to plug my cables into the actual pedals so this interface is ideal for me. Any suggestions? Should this interface be active or buffered?
Paul, a few reason this could happen. 1) There could be an issue with the way you assembled the interface (nothing about the way it's wired should be any different than adding another foot of cable to what you'd use before without the interface when you include the capacitance of the internal wiring and 1/4" jacks). 2) That your amp send/return cables have an issue, could be failing or were improperly assembled. 3) The amp effects loop that you're using is passive meaning everything after the send is unbuffered till it reaches your input to your first pedal or the output impedance of your last pedal in the loop has a high output impedance and is poor at driving the long line back to the return. 4) Did you change amps? Remember that no two effects loops are the same, there are not industry standards here, so one group of pedals might sound great in a loop, the next amp might sound terrible.
Great fix! Just what I needed. I would also like to be able to switch between stereo and sum to mono. If I want to, can I just wire the tips (and sleeves) of 2 jacks to the tip of 1 another jack? Than I can make a switch between stereo/sum. Will this work or will this destroy my signal? 😅
Stereo Sum is a HUGE compromise. I wouldn't recommend doing it. You're better off going out of the L output as your "MONO" and creating mono presets in your stereo devices (where possible) with hard panned left patches.
Thanks! In that case I will keep it this way, junction box works great
@@ajvandevlag sweet! You can add one more through if you want it for stereo!
Mason , is there any reason one couldn’t use separate conductors for hot and ground? Like say vintage style push back cloth wiring? Thank you sir!
Sure, you could, but there's not an advantage.
Nice video. I hope i'll be able create like this for im planning to use the overdrive of my amp as my main dirty sound ( like billie joe armstrong's set up) And use my overdrive pedal as clean/crunch. Im also using an es-5. But there's no send/return on my amp. Will this helps in order to by pass the overdrive of my amp and use my overdrive pedal as clean/crunch?tnx
It will allow you to run effects in your effects loop, not really control your amp to that extent.
Can you make a schematic junction box for stereo delay or reverb? so we can choosing signal as stereo or mono just in patchbay itself
Just built what’s here and don’t bridge the jacks for the amp and the send and you’ll have enough jacks to do this for stereo.
Hey Mason, is there a way to add a tuner output to this junction box? Thanks for your help.
I don't recommend it. Just as I don't recommend doing this with your passive volume pedal, it will create a parallel load. If you wanted to do this, you'd need some sort of buffer/splitter which is not part of this box as it is shown here. If your tuner is true bypass, it will do less harm in-line than putting it in a tuner out.
first of all thanks for sharing this info, I just subscribed to your channel :)
I just got a question, I saw a similar consumer product being sold that has Ground loop switch, does this needs it? if so, how to add one? I am planning to build one but just a straight up junction box without the 2 added wires.
Thanks.
For this application, you shouldn't have an issue. For stereo rigs, you may want an isolation transformer on one of the amplifiers.
As of right I've now I'm in the process of gathering all my materials. There are back orders on the Neutrik lugs. Can I not just use the Switchcraft 11 for the rest instead of Neutrik ones?
The problem is is they are not isolated, so you’d have to get nylon washers to separate them from the chassis if you wanted to do this mitigating possible ground loops.
This is awesome. I am looking for something like this so that I can not have to have my wah on the pedalboard at all times. Only plug in when needed (next to the board). When unplugged, the wiring just goes straight through. Would this work in that application?
You sound like you want an audition loop or insert loop - we have other videos and diagrams that show this for buffer interface builds. These diagrams are also on our website.
@@VertexEffectsInc YES! This is what I am looking for! Thanks for making your knowledge available!
Thank you Uncle Mason! Could you please give us some Diy ideas for Parallel mini mixer to get a wet-dry ?
I’ll see what I can do, I’m working on a DIY line out box first
@@VertexEffectsInc Thank you! DIY line out box ? It will be great!!!👏👏
Lucas Vratovic yep
First, let me say how awesome it is of you to openly share this with the community rather than to make a commercial product. Very very cool of you Mason! But man! I certainly ain't no Tim Taylor but the way you drilled all those holes by hand seemed VERY dangerous to me - again, I know almost nothing about power tools so I could be way off base. Still, awesome stuff! Good karma on you bro.
I'm glad you found it useful. A drill press would be the safest way to do this, or if you have some claps would also be safe. If you're going to drill as I did, it's best not to get your hands behind the enclosure in case it punctures both walls of the enclosure, but this is pretty soft aluminum and easy to work with. I try to keep all the force going down on the top so that's a minimal risk.
@@VertexEffectsInc Good to know Mason. It just LOOKED dangerous to a non-tool guy like myself. :) Cheers!
@@joesatchton212 I'm sure a drill safety instructor would be appalled - but I'm trying to do this with available stuff that most folks would have on hand - drill press is a luxury - but maybe we need a disclaimer on this. I make no claims to be a drill safety expert.
Would this work as a way to have the option to use a wah offboard? But if you don't want to use it the signal would still go though as if it wasn't there?
You could use this drill template, but you'd want to do the wiring of the send/return differently. If you email us I can send you a diagram on how to change it.
Hi there! I know I've already commented once about this vid, but I have a question. What jacks would I use if I wanted to make a box with TRS so I can plug my expression pedal (off of my board) into my midi controller? I THINK I know what I need, but I thought I'd ask an expert first.
Same stereo jacks work you'll just need to wire the tip, ring, and sleeve 1:1 on both sides.
Love the video, but for those of us less handy with a soldering iron and drill, can you recommend one off the shelf, or will you start selling these?
This has some similarities: www.providence-ltd.com/routing_02.html
We could help? :) www.americanloopers.com/products/four-cable-method-with-auto-reroute-for-series-interface-for-your-pedalboard-with-isolated-jacks
For the wire used, can I essentially use any spare cables I have lying around in my house?
instrument cables, sure.
I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the purpose of an interface and whether or not I need one.Could you please explain this to me in very simple terms.Thanks for your consideration.
You're consolidating your inputs and outputs in one location, also it's keeping all the pedals stationary so you don't have to add wear and tear to the pedals plugging them in/out on the rig. The interface is the "hub" or network for the entire pedalboard and helps manage the cables centrally. This is pretty common amongst pro rigs.
If guitar will never be connected to the junction box, do you still need to ground the input jacks to be used for Fox send, return and output to amplifier?
A return is an input...
Hi Mason, great video. Could you use Evidence audio mono rail cable for this instead?
Honestly, I would prefer to use hookup wire over any cable, I just used this because I presumed that everyone would have some extra guitar cable. You could use Monorail, but there is no advantage.
@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks Mason. I just have a few feet of mono rail kicking around. Thats the only reason I was thinking of using it. I also have 22AWG wire too though.
Thanks for this video! I’ve been thinking about rebuilding my board and buying the Friedman version of this but it’s like $200. Ide rather spend that money on a new pedal or put it towards a new amp.
On a separate note... do you know of anything similar to the gig rig wetter box that isn’t $300? It seems like it’s an awesome tool but a little steep.
I don’t things the Friedman does the switching is the FX loop and is rather just a straight through - could be wrong, but that’s my recollection.
As to the Wetter Box, it looks like a parallel mixer with an EXP pedal. It looks very similar to the Xotic X Blender that came out 10 years ago - or the Stereo X Blender. Also the Old Blood Noise Parallel Mix looks very similar too.
@@VertexEffectsInc awesome thanks for getting back to me.
@@wheresallthezombies my pleasure!
Hi Mason, great video.
I'm going to make mine, but I ordered mono jacks instead of stereo. Will this still work?
Thanks
Yes as long as they’re switched jacks
@@VertexEffectsInc yes, they're the amp-style jacks like yours, only mono.
Hey, Mason: I'm still using the great stereo pedalboard rig that you built for me. Excellent work! I've always just plugged the left and right outputs directly into the front of two combo amps for the stereo setup. I've never used the effects loop on my amps. The buffer that you made for me has a left and right output and one effects loop. Do you have a solution if I wanted to use the effects loop from BOTH amps, and not just one? Could this junction box be incorporated into my rig or would I need a different buffer that had two effects sends and returns already built in. Maybe it's too complicated for my small brain to wrap around!
Eric, it would have to be changed, but yet it would be a hybrid of what was done in this video in combination with what you have already. It won’t be valuable unless your amplifiers are gained up - if they’re still clean and the dirt is coming front the pedals, using your effects loop won’t have an impact.
@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks so much, Mason. Since I do play mostly clean and get overdrive and distortion from my pedals, I guess that I'll leave the effects loop out of the equation.
Eric Montizambert my pleasure, no advantage in your case unless you’re using a distorted amp.
Is there anything special that needs to be done to add an XLR in/out for a bass rig?
If it’s a thru, no you just wire it like any XLR cable
Hi Mason, thanks for this great video! I have a question about the single metal jack you used to ground the case. If the junction box is only handling signals that go between the pedalboard and the amp (amp input, fx send/return, switching functions) do you still need to have the case ground out on one of the jacks? And does it matter which jack you pick? And could you accomplish the same thing with one of the Neutrik jacks, but soldering a short cable from the ground lug of one of the jacks to the inner surface of the casing?
Josh, typically you want to ground all the inputs, but because the standards on amps and pedals and all the other unknowns in the signal path, I generally only ground the input on the interface with a metal jack and float everything else as it can be more difficult to track down ground loops that may present themselves. You could use all the same jacks if you wanted but you would either need to solder a tooth washer of some kind with a wire from the ground lug on the jack that would sandwich between the jack and the wall of the enclosure or have a ground tap screwed into the wall of the enclosure that the input jack with have a wire connecting to.
@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks for the thorough reply! That helps a lot. This board is going to be running two amps with both FX loops running through the board (different junction box for each amp), so I'm more than a little concerned about ground loops. Would it makes sense to use one of the jacks that runs an amp switching function to ground out the case, so that all of the jacks that send actual audio signal are floating to minimize potential ground loops?
@@Totem3377 I would float it all except the input. The metal jack is the simplest solution that won't require more drilling.
@@VertexEffectsInc Excellent, thanks so much. You're the hero we need!
GREAT Video....But remember to always wear your Safety Glasses!!!
yes, good idea - should.
Hello, I've made this junction box It works well but its noisy . What can I do to fix It? Another question. Some of my pedal have past away because power adaptor malfunction. I would like to repair It. My self if posible but I dont know how. I'm getting into DIY effects recently but I have yo learn a lot. Thanks
How are you testing it for noise. It's all passive through's so if you made a soldering error that would be more indicative of the problem than the box itself. So far 100% of the folks that have emailed with an issue have been user error. You're welcome to send a photo and I'll take a look. I would test each through individually first to see if you can isolate a potential bad solder joint or jack.
Mason-I don’t need a send or return, but I do want to run stereo out. If I wire the center lugs on the Neutrik jacks (used for TRS) going to the amp, will I be able to run stereo if using a TRS cable and mono when running a standard cable?
If you want stereo outputs just don't include the jumper wire and you'll have four pass throughs so you can have and input, left output, right output, and one other output to spare - maybe for a footswitch or something or you can just not drill out one set of holes in the box and just have three jacks per side.
@@VertexEffectsInc I was thinking of running stereo over a single TRS to reduce the # of jacks. But I could keep them split like you're saying. Thanks for the response!!
Mason, i made one, but i have an issue, let me explain: When i use the juntion box with two cable method sometimes some problems appear, i plug the guitar first to the input jack, then connect the another cable from juntion to amp and sometimes have a noise, sometimes lose tone, sometimes increase hum, and sometimes sound a hum when i am touching the strings with the volume pot closed, i need to try and try until everyting sounds and works good. Could you help me please?
You can send a photo via email...in every case it's been a wiring error on the user part so far.
If I were to add a input for a tuner, how would this be done? Any help would be great.
It would be an output (not input) and you could parallel off the input buffer with another output to feed the tuner, I also think there is a tuner out diagram that shows this in our diagram collection linked in this video description.
Hey Mason
Thanks a lot for sharing so generously this kind of stuff.
I get the way it works when you're not actually using the fx loop, because the bridges kind of by pass that, but when you actually have the fx loop connected, you still have that bridge between the Amp In and the Send permanently there... Shouldn't it be disconnected to actually isolate what's in front of the amp from the fx loop?
I hope you can explain
Thanks a lot!
You’re misunderstanding the diagram - it will allow you to go 4CM with distortion and dry pedals into the preamp (in front of the amp) and delays and reverbs in the amp fx loop (between the preamp and power amp), or two cable method with all pedals in series into the front of the amp.
@@VertexEffectsInc Hi! Thanks a lot for replying so quickly!
I actually got that.
I understand the idea of keeping dry effects in a first loop and the wet effects in a second loop,
and the whole point of this juction box, as you mentioned it in the video, was to auto-route the signal.
So, when you use a 2CM layout, that bridge is connecting in series the "output" of the dry effect loop,
to the "input" of the wet effect loop, having them all in front of the amp when you connect the Return out of the box to the amp.
My point is that when you use the 4CM layout, the dry effects go to the amp input as they should,
and the we effects are connected to the send/return of the amp as they should,
but still there is a bridge connecting them both.
Those cables between the Out to Amp and the Fx Send are still connecting both loops.
You're actually having a permanent cable between the Amp Input and the Amp Send
This is the part I don't totally get...
Sorry if I'm asking something too obvious and thanks again for taking the time to explain.
You don’t understand the Jack - it’s a switched jack so it only activates that wire when the jacks is closed ( nothing plugged into it).
@@VertexEffectsInc That makes perfect sense now. I didn't see that. Thanks a lot once again!!
@@charlyarias perfect!
HI Mason thanks a lot for that, just one question if my Studio Preamp (mesa) has 1 Send and 2 return I have to change the enclosure and add a neutrik input jack ?
Bems I think that’s for stereo pedals isn’t it? You could add another through jack
@@VertexEffectsInc yes of course it's a TC Delay&reverb, thanks
Bems Just add another pass through
Hey Masón, just a quick question. I do understand the whole procedure... The only thing I can't understand is... When you are using the fx loop... The send jack is receiving the signal coming from the amp send but also the signal from the bridge you soldered (from the TO AMP IN jack) at the same time... Right? That's where I'm getting confused... How does that not cause a problem? I mean how does the send jack only "hear" what's coming from the amp send and not from the other jack.
Hope you understand my question and can help me understand the logic of this haha
These jacks are switched so when a plug is connected to it it’s essentially a pass-through at that point.
I'm trying to understand the jumper between the Amp/Send on the guitar side. It looks like it would short out the pre-amp section of the amp, how is it not doing that?
It's probably something obvious I'm missing but I can't wrap my head around it.
The Neutrik NMJ6HC-S jacks are "switched" so the bottom row of pins (from the orientation seen at 11:47) are disconnected when a cable is plugged into the jack.
Hey Mason! Love the video! Are these available for purchase? I have tried my luck with soldering on numerous occasions and everything usually ends up acting as a very effective "mute box," but I'd love to get my hands on one of these!
No, just gave you all the resources so you can do it. This is something easy enough where your guitar or amp tech could do it for you. A lot of times the issues with soldering is bad equipment and not the right amount of heat. You can see all my resources linked in the description if you want to "learn to fish" so to speak.
@@VertexEffectsInc Sounds like a plan, thanks Mason!
@@jayrocknorton7069 let me know if we can help!
Hello, I greet you from France. Sorry for my bad English so I'm going through a translator. I was looking for information on how to make a patchbox and I came across your video. Initially I wanted a simple patchbox for the practical side of my pedalboard. I was thinking of using 3 neutriks on one side and three on the other. Guitar/Amp; Send/Send; Return/Return...
My understanding of the language means that I did not understand the use of connecting the Neutrik Send to the Neutrik Amp.
I use a Marshall JCM800 studio, I need the effects loop for delays, chorus and clean boost...
So my question is the following: are the neutrik In Amp connected to the neutrik Send used for a second amplifier to use the Delays, chorus, etc. effects?
Thanks for your help
great video ! I subscribed to your channel because it’s great even if I have trouble understanding everything!
Hi,Mason,great Video,useful,but i have a issue.On GTR/AMP side,send jack and amp jack briged,so if i use 4 cable method connect amp,fx signal from pre amp,Will it be mixed with the signal of the pedal?(etc comp, overdrive).from welding diagram, I can’t see that when using loop, the two signals will not be mixed together.
I check your repal.it's a swich jack.can you tell me your email
It's a switched jack, it's only bridging the send and amp when there is nothing plugged into them so the return can be used as a single output that gets all the pedals in series.
Will this work if you want to use two amps in stereo?
Hey Mason - You don't happen to have this for a left-handed guitar player do you? I noticed the input jack is lower right as this probably mounts on the right side of a righty's board.
Mike Wallace you can rearrange however you want - most of these are straight through.
Heck , I just want to buy one of these !
I don't sell them, but wanted to give you all the info to DIY it. Any guitar tech or amp tech could totally do this for you too. Takes about 30 mins.
@@VertexEffectsInc Hey ! I managed to repair my Boost pedal myself , So I will try to tackle this too ! Already have all the parts except the Hamond enclosure .
@@MrDavemiley everything is linked in the description above!
@@MrDavemiley what was wrong with your boost pedal?
@@genebrandt8424 Dammaged input jacks. (Mic Stand collision)
Uncle Mason could I use a TRS input jack for my effects loop in/out? I wanna build a classy looking wood board without too many jacks.
You could but you'd need an insert cable to access the amp send/return.
@@VertexEffectsInc gotcha 👌 thanks for what you do for the community 👍
@@gooseabuse sure thing! My pleasure!
so when its in 2cm its pretty much just looping the fx loop straight back into the rig? my question is do u then have bleed over when its in 4cm as its always bridged?
When you plug into guitar and return only, you have a normal mono system. When you plug in guitar, amp, send, return, you have a 4 Cable Method. No bleed. These are switched jacks that are just moving the signal around based on what's plugged in.
thanks mate yer im thinking of modding a rockboard warick mod1v2 (j-box) to try get same results but the input jacks look a little diffrent and they use a pcb but this mod i think should just bypass all that and still work. i did try to simulate the mod by using a patch cable when in 2cm but althouh it worked i noticed a large decrease in output volume? i have the same presets on my hxfx double but one set up for 2cm one for 4cm so i could A&B the test real easy and huge diffrenace :( . i know what ur thinking why dont i just use the presets hahah since i already have them hahahha but yer this frees up room on the hx if i could get this mod to work would be a cool thing.
@@djhinormas959 you could just pull the PCB and wire your own thru's
@@VertexEffectsInc cheers mason i might just do that :)