How to turn a Dunlop GCB95 in to a true bypass Jimi McCoy monster wah pedal | Tony Mckenzie
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- Опубліковано 25 тра 2019
- Got a Dunlop GCB95 Wah? Watch this video of how to turn it in to a true bypass, McCoy modified, Hendrix dual modify switch and even add an on off led... it all makes the GCB95 a real monster of a wah wah pedal that could otherwise cost you hundreds. Cost is around $25 or £25. Watch exactly how I did it in just a couple of hours and few tools.
The upgrade parts were purchased at full retail price on eBay by me and this is a fair review of the kits and supplier and the result I easily achieved.
If you like this video then visit www.tonymckenzie.com or my UA-cam channel.
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#dunlop #gcb95 #upgrade #modify
I emailed this GMR Spares guy twice for some customer support and he never replied, messed up one solder point on the true bypass mod, the switch looked melted for a second but solidified and looked OK but no signal when switch activated. Emailed this GMR Spares guy twice and nothing. I hate that cos it"s probably not far wrong, had this wah since 1993 , its been in two bands, never out of use, never let me down, I'm pretty disgusted with GMR Spares. Tony"s a good guy its not his fault, and his website is bonkers!, Pretty bad show from GMR Spares though.
I hear you... and it's great that you posted this comment here... (I wanted you to do that) because when people are less than reasonable you know what I don't have the time of day for them. So take this (unless that seller repents which is unlikely I guess) as a downgrade of the score to 1 out of 10 for the review. You know, there are people that are arrogant, people that are rude, threatening in some cases, and guys that just don't do the right things in life and clearly he does not care.
I'm not sure if you're in the UK, but if you are (it sounded like you were) if you send that pedal to me I'll fix it for you for free... you have my email address so ask me for an address to ship it and I'll solve it for you. Let me know because I hate to see things work out bad for guys.... Thanks.
Yo… I emailed you for your address to ship the pedal back.... maybe it went to your junk? In any case its done and can you email me your exact address so I can send yours back... sounds great by the way... Tony
Just for information - I did get the pedal from Ibanez Road Star... and I fixed it for him for free. He offered to pay, but I don't need his money :) so I sent it back with the pedal. When I tested it before shipping back that was a really good sounding pedal in fact just as I had described the mods. Its always good to take your time when doing mods like this because its easy to get things wrong - even I do it! and thanks Ibanez Road Star for sending the pedal to me - I enjoyed fixing it actually.
Melting the switch isn’t cool. The switch looks like a pretty common type. Beware of replacing the switch with a DPDT Carling switch. There was a bad batch of them years ago, the wah pedal hitting the switch constantly destroyed the contacts of the switch.
It is not GMR´s fault that you melted the switch, they are quite sensitive to too much heat. But of course he could have responded on your mail.
I'm five minutes into the preamble and i love it mate. Your attitude is excellent. Now for the mod.
I love wah pedals and they are my fave effect bar none. Hope you get there and thanks for watching. Stay safe.
Hello tony. thank you so much for taking the time to do this video. Could you explain more about the switch? what does it to the sound?
The 'Jimi' switch changes out a particular capacitor for a different value that was confirmed by the guy (I believe) that modified Hendrix pedal. It changes the tone basically. The whole of the mods is worth doing but I'm not sure if this seller I referred to still sells them or not - in any case components are available and its not that hard to do either. Stay safe.
Thank you Tony. Entertaining and informative 👍🏻🎸
:) Thanks for watching appreciated...
Another brilliant video
These mods worked very well.... thanks for watching.
I have to get a Wah-Pedal! I do electronic circuit repair, engineering change orders, schematics, etc! Thanks for this video! You have a true friend here if you want it. Thank You, as always Tony! Makes me want to roll the dice on my own Brick n Mortar music store combined with an online sales presence!
Be careful of retailing in music right now... it's not the right time IMO. There are severe shortages of most products that emanate from China (i.e. most of them) because of the chip shortages and the terrible shipping via sea from China right now. A wah is essential! I have my first one from 1971 still and have a number of pedals check here: ua-cam.com/video/xLFqQ6pfMgE/v-deo.html and also check this guy who I met in Dallas TX in 2019 Dallas Guitar show: Joe Gagan - one of the worlds best wah guys: ua-cam.com/video/K9Xuz12bu08/v-deo.html hope you like the stuff...
Iv'e got all I need, but chip shortages are already having an effect,..especially on the auto and farm industries. Good looki'n out Tony! Thank You as always. Scott
Massive effects too in my work sectors (communications) even Motorla seems to be suffering. There are particular makers of chips and particular specific chips that are in dire shortage and have increased from around $1 now to as much as $9 (crazily I have heard that) as they are being snapped up and then resold for fat profits. I believe you won't see a solution this side of 6-9 months or so.
Love videos like this. Cheers
Thanks...
Hi Tony thanks for the video. just wanted to know what are the values of the capacitors and transistors please.
Pretty sure you can see that in the video? Stay safe.
Looks like a lucky young man is about to get a sweet pedal now!
Indeed he took it Saturday :)
Oh wow, very cool. Thanks Tony.
Yes check this out because its really not that hard to do. Thanks for watching.
That is the Jim Dunlop Crybaby GCB95 from the 1980s and it sounds even thinner than the one from the 1990s -present. I had one, and had to mod it a bit, to actually switch on and off (part of my old concho belt I used on-stage). It made feedback squeals, was noisy and microphonic. The Italian JEN is the one to hav,e, the Japanese Ibanez Blubber or the current dunlop Crybaby Classic. I have 3-4 different wah-wahs now, one is modded to true bypass, Fasel inductor and a nice blue metallic finish :)
I love wah pedals :) and did a video a while back of the ones I own here: ua-cam.com/video/xLFqQ6pfMgE/v-deo.html and it has a few nice ones in there :) Thanks for posting the info... I modded it because it needed it :) and thanks for watching.
I found the inductor is the heart and soul of a good wah pedal. I tried stacks of mods on my Crybaby. I end up ditching the board and put a Castledine board in. It has a Halo style inductor in it.
I did go and look at those Castledene boards etc. but have yet to get to the others you mentioned.
Inductors really don't make much difference.
I am not sure you are completely right, the inductor means something, but the transistors do too. I like the Red Fasel.
Do like GMR Spares stuff ..........
built one of his Tonebender clone kits a year or so ago, works really well with humbuckers too unlike a lot of vintage style fuzz pedals
Great tutorial Tony
Good to know that other guys like this stuff too. The kits work perfectly and with a small amount of skill you can't really go wrong. Thanks Gary for the info on how you found those guys. And mine worked first go.
I've had about 10 of these over the years, either lend em, leave em or lose em hahah, I'll be taking a look at that kit nice one ;)
My favourite effect of all time... and cheap too!. Thanks.
NICE soldering job. Awesome!
It worked too :) an added bonus!
I was sold this pedal by a pawn shop. It did not work so I took it back for them to 'check it out'. They sent it to another company and was checked by so called 'professionals'. Professionals my ass.. they had no clue and the fault was actually the input socket. So I fixed that while I was on the upgrade. Honestly, with the so called professionals around like that its no wonder they go bust... often! There was a suggestion from the pawn shop that I had no clue... and there was no fault... it was so funny. Cash Converters Hanley Stoke on Trent. Anyone near there? I would be very careful, and as for the 'pros' just down the road in 'hope street' maybe pass on those too. There are few stores around any more.
I'm sure its the same elsewhere though Tommy.
tonymckenziecom Yep, you are correct. I do work for pawn shops. Cheapos that never take care of their kit.
I was not referring to you... but the local music store. Those guys 'found no fault' and the pawn shop insisted it had been checked by 'professionals' which became annoying at one point. I almost photographed the pawn shop and the music store for the video then decided they were not worth the aggro.
tonymckenziecom Smart move. You are above the BS they will always continue to do long into the future. There is no winning, the new stuff is 75% stepped on like China Black Heroin and the used stuff is usually spit, glue, sell it then Eff You.
Brilliant T 👍
Thanks now go and make one :)
cool! Soldier on - (solder on) - long live the wah!!!
Agreed... and this turns them in to something like the wife. :)
Hi Tony, hope all is well. I added these mods to mine but nothings coming out unfortunately. The true bypass seems to work, when it's off I get a normal signal through. I'm currently measuring out some of the parts but I do not have enough knowledge I'm afraid. I have a GCB95 with a red fasel inductor and a Chase Tone 100k wah pot. On the blue cables at the switch and pot I get only about 0.4 volts. On Q2 I have 1.2 volts in, 0.4 out. On Q1 I have around 0.4 / 0.3 / 0.1 volts on the pins. No Idea if these values are correct? The switch and pot receive their 9 volts.
Would you mind helping me out a bit? I have no clue where to look next.
Kind regards,
Mathias
You need to go back and check each and every component AND exactly if its fitted right. Its so easy to not get something quite right. check those tracks also a bit fiddly. I can help of course, but my advice firstly is to go back and double check everything. If that pedal worked at first before the upgrade it will be something you got wrong - and that's easy to do! So go and check again and tell me if you find anything. I'm around so you can contact me from my website on the form then I don't have to post on here... thanks.
Tony! And you drink beer too? I really like you man! I always wonderd if you liked you suds...Cheers....lol Scott
Ha I don't drink beer. If you see a beer can... its generally a prop and designed to sit on an amp to see how many guys tell me it's unsafe... most never even comment. If I was actually drinking beer' that was rare :) (because of the darned pills I have to take).
‘She came in...’ 😂
Indeed she did. Shhh she might be listening :) Stay safe.
@@tonymckenziecom and you mate :)
Haha, I thought you said a PORN SHOP and proceeded with "I've bought things from them off and on a few times". LOL
What can I say... I better not or I'll be closed down :) classic... Thanks for watching.
That pedal is from 1989/1990. It's an E revision.
Thanks for that info... very useful. and thanks for watching.
What value of transistor was that?
I honestly don't remember but something like a BC *** sorry about that.
Maybe a BC108B, or you could use a BC183L, people seems to like transistors with an amplification factor of around 400, but mind the pin out.
Thank you Dr.Tony......lol
As you might know I like Wah pedals and doing this was very interesting - I just thought others might like it too. Thanks.
Would it really break Dunlop and Vox to make them TB out of the gate? It's a notorious issue, and you'd think they would prefer not to be known as purveyors of semi functional crap.You'd think-
The gear has moved on since my first one :) (around 71) and I agree that there is lots that can be improved on wah pedals. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for from a pedal. My old 71 pedal makes horrible noise for about the first 5 minutes, then settles down to lightly scratchy tones and is not TB. I hate to say this, but that pedal is my 'second best' pedal I own! So which is the best for me? (I hear you say) its the Dunlop Jerry Cantrell pedal which to me sounds exactly right for how I play. Its not a TB pedal but does have an all on buffer inside. But I don't use many pedals so I guess its good for me but maybe different for others. The problem though (it seems) is that the pedals that have true bypass are far more expensive for little or no reason as we can see in this video. Oh well. Thanks for the info and for watching.
Electronics people love tapping shit with screwdrivers to show you they know what they can and can't tap without breaking it 😅. There's me with my hazmat suit on when changing batteries
Ha I never damaged a unit in 40 years! Says a lot really :)... Thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenziecom I broke a ram stick taking it out the box. And I'd already peeled the warranty sticker off of it. I haven't even lived 40 years yet. Says a lot really 😅
You can barely hear the wah in this video. A tiny bit towards the end. Your gain was way too high to hear the wahs effect at.
The video was really about how to mod the pedal. Thanks.
The video was maybe OK, I din´t know, but the demo were VERY little convincing. I heard no wah at all??? You have to rock your foot on the pedal when playing!
Ah you mean like this: ua-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE Thanks...
The least appropriate guitar and amp sound to review a wah that is supposed to be modded for Jimi Hendrix and vintage tones.
Well I don't play Hendrix sorry... but thanks for watching.
Yeah- Imma do all that work on a perfectly good wah pedal. Nope.
It all depends what you want... Thanks...