Strymon Favorite Switch DIY

Friday, February 20, 2015

Strymon Favorite Switch DIY

I love my El Capistan from Strymon. It is a great tape delay, with a lot a features to adjust the sound exactly how you want it. Great ambient sounds, rhythmic delay or something subtler for solos... What was missing was just a way to save settings and have presets like on many delays (TC electronics Flashback, Line6 DL4, Timeline...)

 I looked into Strymon Favorite Switch, but it was a bit expensive for me, and unfortunately impossible to find used... As I read that it was super easy to build, I searched a bit on the Internet, and it REALLY is extremely simple!
Strymon favorite switch circuit 
Fig. 1. Most simple and useful scheme in the world

 
You just need a simple footswitch (Single PDT is enough!), a LED, a 1k resistor (you can use different values depending on how bright you want the LED to be), a stereo jack input and a small enclosure like Hammond 1590 LB. You do not need any battery or DC power jack because the DC current is directly provided by the Strymon pedal with the tip of the stereo jack.
DIY Favorite switchDIY favorite switch
Fig. 2. Step 1: drill a hole in the box. Step 2: put your junk in that box.
Step 3: make her open the box (sorry, had to be done)

 The most annoying part of this build is drilling the box, you have to be a bit precise in order that all the components will properly fit in. Apart from that it is really simple and totally worth it.

DIY favorite switch

How does it sound?

The setting is properly memorized, which is useful when you want to use two types of delay during the same song for instance. You just need a small stereo jack cable (not so easy to find).




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10 comments

  1. UnknownOctober 10, 2016 at 3:06 AM

    do you use a momentary switch?

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    Replies
    1. Coda EffectsDecember 7, 2016 at 9:30 AM

      Hello Adam,
      No it is a simple SPDT switch, normally open.

      Delete
  2. UnknownNovember 3, 2016 at 12:04 PM

    Is that SPDT switch latching or non latching?

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  3. UnknownDecember 7, 2016 at 8:05 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. Coda EffectsDecember 7, 2016 at 9:33 AM

      Hello Tomás,
      It ill work for a tap tempo. The schematic is a bit different. Actually, I made a tap tempo for a Boss pedal, it is the same schematic, except that you need to use a Normally Open momentary SPST switch: http://www.coda-effects.com/2016/08/boss-tap-tempo-diy.html

      Delete
    2. Coda EffectsDecember 7, 2016 at 9:34 AM

      Here is the schematic, very simple!
      https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--YFjMVuNslo/V784LUM4vaI/AAAAAAAACto/wiD2asD3FwI0z1dPOqGfdUv45PsItX2MwCLcB/s320/taptemposchematic.jpg

      Delete
  4. UnknownDecember 19, 2016 at 7:35 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jesse WinslowApril 13, 2017 at 5:19 PM

    Hi great info! Im using a joyo pxl-pro thst has 2 mono switches that can be activated independently. If I wanted to activate favorites mode, would I keep the tip connected and toggle ring to activate favorites mode? Any ideas?

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJanuary 1, 2018 at 1:58 PM

    Great article! Looking to do something like this as an external switch for my Fractal AX8. Any idea if the LED would work if I run TRS cable to this switch? Just looking for a simple ON/OFF external switch. Thanks

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  7. duarteJune 7, 2018 at 2:42 PM

    Hello.
    I did this design and it seems to have worked.
    it works by pressing the pedal.
    I do the whole procedure to save a favorite sound.
    but when I turn on the pedal, the sound remains the same.
    although the one led.
    there is no change of sound.
    What could be wrong?

    ReplyDelete