How to Mod a Vox V847A Wah Wah for True Bypass and LED

[@mickrod534]

Thanxxxx from France!!! You saved my wah with this video!! (you and my friend Romain the welder...)

[@strassercaster]

bthanks Paul i watched this video 15 months ago. a week later i decided to build a guitar pedal. now i have made 96 pedals .

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Wow! That is impressive. It is humbling to hear that this video has inspired such enthusiasm. What kinds of pedals have you been building?

[@peterwelsh1932]

What pedals did you make?

[@surrrfclub2424]

Thanks a lot for your video! I'm glad my old pedal is just like a new one again.

[@thomasbowlin6787]

Thank you for this excellent step by step video. It saved me from buying the Vox V846hm which are way to expensive.

[@paulinhosam]

Oh man, I had never done anything like this before, but when I saw your video I thought "hey, I think I`ll try to do this". Your tutorial was perfect and I was able to fix my pedal, since when it was shut off I could barely hear anything. Now both on and off sounds are prefect! Thanks for the video!

[@stuartmcdonald5772]

Just found this video the other day. Was looking for some clear a d easy to follow instructions to do the true bypass and LED mod to my olde VOX 845 wah. This one id possibly the best I found even though its 7 years old now. So cheers mate thanks for info.

[@alexhuevera939]

did it to Vox 845. works great THANKS!. my switch was a little short so i put a good blob of hot glue on the felt patch, it gave just enough throw for proper turn off on.

[@rupertradar7424]

Hi Paul, Just made this mod on my brand new, and first wah. I added an extra LED under the Rocker for a cool glow effect. First time ever done anything like this and although it was fiddly and slow going IT ALL WORKED!!!! So stoked. Such a great video, perfect attention to detail and guidance. Not just cheaper than taking it to someone, SATISFACTION from doing it at home!

[@angusmacdonald2228]

Thanks Paul! I just followed your steps to refurbish an old VOX 845 that had a broken switch & a scratchy pot : It's now working fine with true bypass, LED indicator & no pot scratching! Couldn't have done it without your excellent tutorial. Cheers and here's to the good old wah-kah-chah-kah DIY

[@gregt4202]

I've been debating which pedal to buy. This video convinced me the Vox is likely the best way to go.

[@nathanwells3566]

Great video. Just finished modding my old second hand v847 for true bypass, a super bright blue led, and a new 125k mojo pot. The difference in sound with the new pot was amazing and completely worth it to smooth the sweep and eliminate crackle, even if I had to literally saw the old pot off the small board to replace it.

[@jorgschrepfer1624]

Great!The video perfectly works.I modded my VOX 845 with True Bypass and 4 blue LEDs under the pedal.Looks extremly cool when wawing!

[@Elenelmusic]

Awesome video, i just made the mod with the LED and to my surprise it did go well on the first try ! Thanks a lot !

[@andreec.8145]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. With your instructions I was able to modify my 845 and it works perfect. Best wishes from Germany!

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

+Andree C. Your welcome Andree. All the best.

[@sofajams662]

Followed to the letter (with exception to the LED - not required) and works perfectly on my £15 bargain. Thanks Paul 👍

[@bensalleo7872]

Thanks for the excellent how to video Paul. I had a spare 3PDT switch left over from making a kit and quickly converted my old Vox wah to true bypass thanks to your video, I can really notice the difference.

[@paulm.martini1694]

Thank you for your mod tutorial, easy to follow. I did it on my Vox V845, adding also a second power on indicator led. Very good job

[@RealLifeJunkie]

BigBigThanks, you saved my Pedal and Pedalboard from incompetence ;) i tried it myself but i didnt shortened the ground, so i had all the time the "noise while switching" thanks a lot. Nice content. Tip for next time: set focus on your camera to manual, was sometimes blurry the picture.

[@siepster]

Yes, I did it and it was very easy but you have to know how, haha! Thanks once again and here's a happy man in Groningen

[@RobMods]

Thanks for the video! If you get a pop with bypass switches, it is due to the different dc voltage either side of the coupling caps. The best solution is to use an earth reference resistor on both caps. Something around 100k on the output cap and something around 1M on the input cap. Cheers!

[@eduardocmoreno81]

Good job Paul. I've made the same on my chinese V847-a and it worked fine. Thank you for share this tutorial.

[@fernandogomez-rh9rf]

thanks for the video i did in my 847 and work very well. Abrazo desde Argentina!!!!

[@GermondKhan]

Acá estamos tratando de bypassear el pedal tambien jajaja

[@germancoca8854]

@@GermondKhan al final lo lograste?? yo tengo pensado comprar un vox v847. y hacerle este mod porque vi que chupa mucho audio

[@lvbsolemnis]

Awesome video. I did this mod step-by-step today and it worked perfectly.

[@ekozelj]

Thank you Graham. Great and very informative video. I just mod my son's 845 and works like a charm.

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Thats awesome! Cheers.

[@NevesWislen]

Thanks from Brasil Paul! Works perfectly!

[@CanirunFr]

Thanks for this Video. Works great with V845 too !

[@ERIKPLATA]

Thanks i followed and works perfect

[@siepster]

Great Paul that you shared this video! Makes everything sounds so much better! I own a Teye guitar and on it's own it sounds so nice ... unfortunately with the so called true bypass it's already starts to mess up

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Maybe the switch is faulty. I have used some of my changed over true bypass pedals fro years without problems.

[@siepster]

Thank you for your answer but what I ment to say is that they all talk about true bypass which is not but your mod made it possible!

[@DrGerbo]

Hi Paul, thanks for the video. I followed point to point on my 847A and it works flawless. To anyone trying, I would recomend to look for the right 3PDT since the one I used (standar Musikding 3PDT footswitch) felt much softer to activate on/off than the original and sturdy VOX one (made in Mexico). So now it turns on/off almost with no pressure from the foot. Some might like it, some not.

[@fataldiz133]

Thanks a lot for your excellent video! Clear instructions, step by step. I just finished this mode and I am excited. I chose a 5mm blue led with its bezel and it looks great. Can't wait to try it. Looking forward for your next mode. You should continue uploading this kind of modes.

[@lpamiot]

Thanks for this video man! I learned a lot. You seem to have exotic wildlife in the backround!

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Happy to be of service. The birds in the background are wild rainbow lorikeets.

[@lpamiot]

Cool!

[@dannycarrasco8708]

This tutorial is great! Absolutely recommended.

[@MALINCHE678]

Muchas gracias, muy útil, saludos desde Costa Rica

[@ffffffelipe]

Thank you for this!! Every step was very clear and I was able to tbp my wah ;)

[@markferguson3745]

Thanks for this,~always favored the Vox wah sound for most purposes. Really a shame Vox and Dunlop can't manage the extra 25 cents per unit to include true bypass.Wonder how many thousands of units they would sell if they did?But then, I guess their main target markets are newbies who don't know the difference, and/or will get discouraged and sell it in a year or two, anyway. ( Might apply to a vast majority of the entire market , period, now I think about it).

[@undert0w]

Thanks for doing these videos Paul!

[@tonykennedy9798]

Excellent instruction thank you am going to crack on and sort mine out now. Respect

[@orlandoweaverson6893]

Thank you. Did it! Works perfectly!

[@tommjames]

Thanks for this awesome video! Really easy to follow and I got my Vox wah successfully set up for true bypass with a super bright LED. I do get a noticeable pop when switching the wah on with some gain though. Gonna try putting a 22uf cap to ground in the LED circuit and see if it makes a difference...

[@ivanjerkovic8884]

Hi Thomas! I have the same problem with pop sound while switching the pedal on or off. Did You solve that pop sound with 22uF cap? Than You!

[@lorenzourera4223]

same problem. Any updates guys? :)

[@laponite]

Nice and helpful video! My question is: better the V845 or the V847A to modify? I mean, the 847 as more metal (looks nicer), the input buffer, the soft case and small surface electronic components, but as I will modify immediately, is it really better? The input buffer with the true bypass is still working or not? The price difference is really low (15 €), so it's not a matter of price, but just to understand which of them is better for the modification and if in case the 845 could be further modified for improve the tone or other characteristics. Thanks

[@gabmitnick]

Worked like a charm! Thank you!!

[@tiagofernandesc]

Thanks Paul ! Great video!

[@donclemons9513]

Thanks for this great video! I was able to do the true bypass and added LED strips inside the base so it glows when on. I'm getting noise when it's engaged now, it may be something on the same circuit causing it, I haven''t been able to track it down yet.

[@Neonleeroy]

I've got noise too....did you find a solution pls ???

[@avenidaimperio6554]

Paul...you are the best!!! thanks :))))

[@vinnyrogers1499]

Great video with quality instructions.I have only a few questions please.I have a v847 and would like to do this mod.I saw where you soldered the wire for the led power underneath what looks like the 9v input for ac power on the circuit board.My wah doesnt have a power jack only 9 volt battery power.What/where would be the proper point of solder for this led power purpose please?And i see in the vid you used a 3 pull double throw switch but you said double pull double throw a few times.I dont know if you caught that by now.So my question is..i have a double pull double throw switch (6 pin) and would like to know if this mod can be done with that switch?Maybe double up the wires on the switch a few times?Thanks in advance!!

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

+Vinny Rogers You will have to get 9 volts from where the battery snap connects to the PCB. There should be solder pads where the connector for all the wiring plugs into the PCB. Yea I called the switch by the wrong name. Sorry. You can do the True Bypass with a DPDT switch but you need a TPDT to add the LED.

[@vinnyrogers1499]

Great thank you.I will get the 3pdt switch ordered soon.Cant wait to do this mod!!

[@I967]

Is there any chance you have the full schematic for the V847-A? I can't find it anywhere online. I am particularly interested in the three tiny components mounted on the small PCB on the pot - L101, R101 and C101. I want to reverse the sweep of my wah and I won't be able to take that tiny PCB off the pot without frying those tiny parts. Thanks!

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Sorry, I don't have a schematic. Interesting mod you are wanting to do/

[@Dioxido87]

you actually can take the pcb off the pot, i did that when i replaced the pot for a new sealed dunlop pot. its not easy, but it is possible

[@acerob7173]

hi, thanks really usefull! a question please: do I must respect a particular orientation of the 3pdt footswitch?

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

No need

[@jeanchristophecoutant4696]

hello paul thank you very much for this tutorial, but I would like to have a precision, in what direction of polarity is placed the LED please (the "+" arrives from resitance 510ohms and the "-" towards 3pdt?) thank you in advance

[@wreaksrevenge]

Thanks, great instructions - I've converted my V845 and it works well and sounds good with true bypass - but, the LED is not lighting up when I engage the way was. Any ideas?

[@CareAgainFishing]

I have the same issue. LED works when the pedal is being powered by a 9V battery, but it won't light when the pedal is being powered by my power supply. Everything else works great! (Thanks for the tutorial, by the way!). The only thing that DOES NOT work is the LED when connected to the power supply.

[@russblount4975]

Paul: Your instructions worked great and I installed the bypass switch and LED to my Vox 487 pedal. I have set the switch height properly but when rocking the pedal, it makes contact with the switch and make a clicking sound when playing. Is this common with these types of switches? Is there anything that can be done to eliminate the clicking? Note: this is not a clicking sound to the amp. It is a mechanical clicking coming from the switch itself. Thanks.

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Does your pedal have the little rubber stoppers on it that stops the pedal from rocking to far forward? They commonly fall off and then you have that issue. If they are still in place and you are unable to lower the switch any further ( no thread visible above the nut) you can glue a small piece of rubber to the two stoppers. Bicycle tube works well.

[@russblount4975]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I do have the rubber feet. I swapped out the thick felt on the bottom side of the foot piece with a thinner felt. This minimized a bit. I really have to press hard to engage now so I'm probably right where I want to be. It still clicks some but a lot less. I'll have to tweak the height to minimize switch contact while still allowing engagement of effect. Great videos. Lots of good stuff here.

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Yes it can be a juggling act to find the perfect height for the switch. Good luck with it. Cheers.

[@Blueguitar007]

Russ Blount I'm having this same issue. I think those replacement switches have too high a clicker travel. it's a bummer.

[@russblount4975]

My original switch was quieter on initial contact. I may consider ordering a different switch and see if it is quieter. I tweaked the height as much as possible to minimize contact during playback. I have to really step down to activate.

[@richarddavie-smith358]

Cracking video with concise instructions. I wonder if this will solve the problem I have with a drop in volume when the effect is engaged, any help would be very grateful.

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

It could be a faulty switch. Also if you use a battery to power it try a new battery.

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

***** Great to hear it was an easy fix. Thanks for the great feedback. Cheers.

[@doctorgoon9537]

Great Video, Bud! The Bypass mod worked well. Unfortunately I broke the resistor R4 during another mod. Is it possible to tell me the value of R4? Thanks in advance!

[@ItsIlluzionzGaming]

Can you also do a video on the bass sweep range mod for the V847a?

[@RasvetDushi]

And can you tell me why the green wire is broken off? Because of him, the tone is muted on the guitar?

[@Bob1053]

Nice mod mate. Put a much lower resister in. Old fashioned pedal, old fashioned 'glow'.

[@georgeelias8382]

Paul, what steps would I want to disregard if I were to only install the true bypass switching without the LED?

[@Karma-kr5dd]

Why don't Vox do this?

[@omargrini9750]

good evening I need the electronic diagram of the wah wah pedal v847 thank you

[@GerryBlue]

Amazing video, thanks!

[@smokinblue151]

Hi good vid , have you done any other mods to this model pedal ? it is quite different inside to earlier models

[@phabiorangel]

Thank You so much, Very well

[@elmejorpeluo]

Great Tutorial!! thanks

[@R3N0T3]

Nice video man. Excuse me for my ignorance, but while i was searching for v847a wah mods i stumble upon someone that was concerned with removing the input buffer (the small circuit) in the back of the pcb - whats the deal with this thing ??? - should i remove it or not?

[@shaunsanders9164]

Great vid! Thanks.

[@faustol2659]

Hi, anyone knows what does every coloured cable? i mean, signal in, signal out, fx in, fx out. Thanks

[@luisboggiano4786]

Hi Paul is a great video .. i did this mod step-by-step today and it worked the true bypass But the Led light is not work .. I tried everything reconnecting everything, reviewing the video several times but nothing .. I did not use a LED bulb used an LED ring but the function is the same, the strange thing is that if I test the LED just before connecting it to the pcb with a battery apart. but if I connect it in the contact of nothing works neither with battery nor with dc 9v ... I do not understand ...

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Is the LED connected in the correct polarity in the circuit? They are polarity conscious (they have a negative and positive leg).

[@luisboggiano4786]

Hello Paul I tried to change the polarity of the LED was inverse but in tests if the negative I add an additional cable that connects with the earth works .. rare do not you think?

[@luisboggiano4786]

Paul finally got it working !!! But does that annoying noise creak up and down that you think it can be?

[@dodgyaz]

Hairdryer works well for heatshrink.... just don't tell your mates ;)

[@Gtown1777]

I'm trying to find the correct resistor on eBay or Amazon. Can anyone tell me what watts? 1/4w ? I know to look for 510 ohm.

[@sandalojhony]

Hey, man! Cool video! I was looking for a video on this. I've made the true bypass mod on mine. Now I just need to add the LED. What happens if I install the LED without the resistor? Will the LED "burn"? Thanks!

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Sândalo Jhony Gomes Thanks.Yea man the LED will pop without a resistor because they operate at about 2.5 volts and require the resistor as a voltage divider so there is around 2.5 volts across the LED and 6.5 across the resistor.

[@MrMeik1970]

Just done :-) thanks ! it works perfekt.

[@arielmaciasluna4472]

someone could help indicate the scheme to install true by pass for cray baby 535

[@lorenzourera4223]

I'm getting some switch pop. Would anyone know where I could put the pulldown resistors specifically? I know its usually at he FX in but these surface mounted components are quite confusing. Thanks in advance.

[@JimmyHaggard]

well done.

[@philiplyon938]

Has anyone traced the location of the input resistor on the Vox 845. I did the true bypass mod but would like to increase the overall volume of the engaged effect. The 68k input resistor on the old USA Vox 847 was easy to switch to a trimmer pot to achieve this but I can't for the life of me locate the input resistor on the V845. Anyone done this mod ?

[@michaelricabulencia3369]

pls help.. sorry it wont get true bypass.. i followed each step.. pls.. help me back

[@АнтонГригорьев-ж2т]

What a LED need to this mod? Help pls

[@Neonleeroy]

Any small one (about 5mm) will 2 llegs will do....very cheap

[@theshockgames5335]

is another mod for this wah ? chinese version ? (v847)

[@dannycarrasco8708]

Hey I cannot find a DPTT footswitch anywhere. Are you sure you don't mean a 3PDT switch?

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

Yea sorry. It is the 3PDT.

[@dannycarrasco8708]

Paul Graham Thanks Paul! Great tutorial, and can't wait to try it out.

[@greenchilaquiles]

Is this wah made in china or USA

[@Jonipein]

Thanks for the tutorial. I modified my wah but i have a problem, I can't get the "seagull effect" to work, when I switch the input and output connectors and turn the 3dpt switch on, i only get the "silence effect" jajaja

[@hagelslagopjebrood3]

pretty sure it's pronounced 'here' instead of 'heee'.