• From: Pittsburgh PA
  • Registered: 2008-12-24
  • Posts: 76

Topic: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

I have a patch bay box on my pedalboard that I built so that I could make all of the connections to one spot.  I have actually built 2 copies of this because the first one failed (radio shack parts) but now the 2nd one is giving me greif.

It's built with all switchcraft shielded jacks (isolated from the metal chassis).  It's wired with George L's cable on the inside. 

I didn't think I wanted to ground anything in the case because I wanted this to be just like a short patch cable.  Plus theres wires coming from lots of things in here... it's 10 jacks, 5 on each side.

The connections it allows me to make
Amp input
Amp FX send
Amp FX Return
Electric In
Acoustic In

One of the supposedly good switchcraft jacks is now crackling... and even though I went to a aluminum shielded enclosure and shielded George-L cable, I still think some of the hum in my system is coming from this box.

If anyone has any suggestions... please help me!  I am so close to re-building it AGAIN but I still think I'm doing something wrong thats causing the issues and not the quality of the components.

Here is a pic before I switched it to the George-L cable on the inside (which helped ALOT).
http://www.ryan-white.net/DSCF5527%20(Medium).JPG

guitarman19853's Website

  • From: Germany / Hamburg
  • Registered: 2008-08-11
  • Posts: 494

Re: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

Hi!

Maybe you have already done it, but you should check the sound with directly connecting the cables of the crackling jack -> without using the eventually wasted jack.

If it is definetly from the box, don't throw it away completely ( smile ), first you should only disassemble the defect jack and replaye it with a new one.

Secondly you could test if it does crackle too if you choose another IN/OUT, for example use the acoustic in instead of the crackling jack...

Here are my tabbed songs by "Smokin' Joe": http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7236
I LIKE MUSIC! big_smile big_smile big_smile

3 Reply by Spider (edited by Spider 2009-01-26 11:30:46)

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

Use military spec Switchcraft jacks and you won't have this problem. They're a couple dollars more expensive (and tough to find) but well worth the trouble and expense.

You've spent good money on George L cables, so why scrimp on the jacks?

You also need to ground in one direction, preferably in the same direction as the signal, not both or you'll create a ground loop.

  • From: Earth
  • Registered: 2008-10-24
  • Posts: 33

Re: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

Shunt to ground is the term here. Switchcraft makes a jack that when it is not in use grounds, another words when its not plugged in its off! Thats what you would find in a high end military grade amp such as Matchless or other Botique amps. Creating a succseful loop in Hi-Fi, Silvercore solder even though not as easy to use will improve your low noise and there are also some caps I can advise you on if interested.

  • From: Pittsburgh PA
  • Registered: 2008-12-24
  • Posts: 76

Re: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

The jacks are switchcraft part number N112AX Phone Jacks 2C ENCLOSED 1/4.

I didn't think I skimped.  I bought what what I thought I needed, isolated from the chassis, and shunt to ground (though that is not hooked up to anything right now).

I still am not sure I follow about the grounding one side as each jack goes to something different.   I wouldnt think you would want to connect all of those components together like that.  That being said, I don't fully understand grounding.

guitarman19853's Website

  • From: Pittsburgh PA
  • Registered: 2008-12-24
  • Posts: 76

Re: Building a pedalboard "patch bay" (I/O) box questions

I thought of a better way to describe it... Basically what I wanted was a box that had 5 cable couplers.  I wanted to be able to plug in 5 external cables connected to 5 internal cables.  That was originally my plan, to buy 5 1/4" couplers and glue them inside a box.  I'm starting to think that would've caused less problems.

guitarman19853's Website