Pedals and Plugs: advice please

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

i've got some danelectro mini-pedals, i'm about sick of using batteries for. so i wanna get an adaptor, i know i need to get a 9V one but i'm not sure how much Amps it'll need to be. can anyone enlighten me? also, positive or negative? i'm not very good with this techie shit.

― di, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

what does it say on the bottom the the pedal? Usually the info you need will be there.

If not, read the instruction booklet, it will give you the adapter specs there.

― mt, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it doesn't specify on the bottom of the pedal and there is no instruction booklet. hmmmf!

― di, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it might not even be a 9V pedal... either boss or DOD (can't recall which) used 10V power supplies. just to be a pain in the ass. and make more money. i would suggest looking online at some hellhole like musician's friend or whomever sells the danelectro pedals and looking for an adaptor.

― your null fame, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

and make sure you figure out about whether it's positive inside or positive outside, like the ring around the tip can be either positive or negative and you have to know; you can fry the thing (they say)

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmm... I've got one or two of those mini-Dano pedals and I've not had too many problems with batteries, but if you insist on using an adaptor, make sure it's a 300mA one, anything less won't power it well enough. And yep, it's 9V. As to positive / negative, I've never fried any of my pedals by putting them the wrong way round - if it doesn't work one way, just switch it over. Dumb sense, but true.

― Rob M, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

by "switch it over" you mean... buy a new adaptor? the polarity (i think this is what it's called) is either one way or another and can't be changed. unless you've got one of those radio shack omnibus adaptors with like 5000 ultra lose-able tips.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Batteries sound better, due to something called 'battery sag.' An adaptor has a constant voltage, but batteries, especially the cheapest ones, drops slightly almost immediately, into a voltage 'sweetspot'... especially with older pedals (MXRs, Tubescreamers, etc.). I use the grey market Panasonics, which are really cheap... just change them every couple of months.

The above is probably total horseshit, but I've been practicing this for so long that I believe it... guitar voodoo!

― Andy, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You could always invest in some rechargeable batteries and a charger. Then you get the one-purchase economy without the hassle of poxy adapters covering up all the power outlets.

― Conor, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Change batteries every few MONTHS??? Sheesh, how rarely do you play guitar? I have to change mine every few WEEKS. Sometimes every few days if we're on tour.

Sigh.

I've had to get a couple of adaptors, for pedals I can no longer solder the battery things back into. But, maybe being American pedals running off British current, or maybe god knows what, (they don't like adjustable output adaptors?) they just don't seem to like it. Back to batteries I go, 9V's are dead cheap in Hoxton market on Saturdays.

― speak of the devil, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

thanks everyone for the advice.

― di, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Replying to Tracer back there, I've got a few adaptors which have the polarity switch actually on the adaptor itself, rather than those fiddly 'Tandy' plug sockets you turn over. They're available in most Hyper Value stores in the UK for about £3.

― Rob M, Thursday, 30 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

god, new zealand sux. the cheapest adaptor i could find with the correct current was $30.

― di, Thursday, 30 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

Anyone know what pedal Prince always uses in his live shows? Not even sure how to describe it, doesn't seem to distort much, just gives this nice sharp buzzing tone...is the echo part of the pedal's effect? thanks in advance

― iago g., Sunday, 9 September 2007 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.