Boss RC-2 Loop Station DIY tap tempo switch - the right way

Most people I've found building their own tap tempo switches for Boss products use the wrong switch and as a result have unusual and unwanted side effects to their switch. The problem stems from using a Normally Open switch that most people are finding at Radio Shack. What you need is a Normally Closed switch. Radio Shack doesn't sell any foot friendly, push-button SPST-NC switches, so you'll have to get them from an online store or a local specialty shop. Maybe some guitar parts suppliers have them too, I don't know.

Note that this goes for other Boss products that use an external switch. My ME-50B also requires Normally Closed switches for proper operation, and I suspect that most if not all other boss products work this way. This might be what the polarity switch on the official Boss product does: one side is NC and the other side is NO.

A potential part from Digikey that would work for this is 679-1023-ND. It's a "mini" plug, so it's barely foot friendly, but it will fit the bill.

Edit: Turns out that there is a Mini SPST-NC switch at Radio Shack. They come in packs of four. They only sell them in mini size for some reason, so again, be careful when using your foot with these. But they will work, and since they come in four packs, you might as make double tap tempos with a stereo jack. The project box shown in the video could easily fit the stereo jack and both switches, although they'd be quite close together for your feet.

Pardon the crappy video quality, I'm using a point and shoot digital camera...

Also don't critique my guitar playing. I just recorded something to get the point across, this has nothing to do with my skills.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• boss
• rc-2
• loop
• station
• diy
• tap
• tempo

[aektzis91]

hey there would this work as a taptempo for a DD7? and where could i find parts? cheers

[tjowatonna]

@aektzis91

It probably will work just fine. I don't know if the DD7 wants a normally open switch or a normally closed one. You can get parts at Radio Shack or from any place that sells electronic components online (Mouser, Digikey, etc.)

[aektzis91]

@tjowatonna awesome, also do you know where i could find schmatics? cheers

[tjowatonna]

@aektzis91

There's nothing to schematic. Tip goes to one lug, Sleeve goes to the other lug.

[shovroom]

Is there any way to tap tempo during playback? That would be great when playing with a drummer.

[tjowatonna]

@ReebHound Doesn't sound like your unit is working properly. Hopefully you haven't modded it and are able to exchange it. There's no real magic to the thing. Have you tried it with just the guitar and your amp with no other pedals to make sure something else isn't causing a problem? That's my only last suggestion. For more help try going to harmonycentral and asking on their forums.

[ReebHound]

@tjowatonna ik that but it still doenstt work, either ones over powering or the other is, like if u play rythm and then a lead u can only whear the lead the rythm sounds like therre but its sooo low

[tjowatonna]

@ReebHound There's a volume knob on the left.  It controls the volume of the loop.

[ReebHound]

Hey man, i have this, and like when i over dub a riff it is SOOOOOOO QUIET i cant even hear it what could be wrong?

[uncunabula]

@tjowatonna

excelent thanks, I've got the soldering iron on now!