blue LEDs on pedals

antichef

antichef

pornk rock
I've not got I think 4 pedals that have bright blue LED indicator lights. Two of them I'm pretty much going to be using a lot. Does anyone else find these as blinding as I do? In low light, when I look straight down on one, I can't see the pedal, or even the rest of the board, and when I look up I see a spot. I absolutely can't see the settings of the knobs on the pedal itself when the light is on in low light.

What's up with that? Is it just me?
 
The bright LED light was initially introduced by a sheet metal worker, who spent some time as a guitar tech for a touring band. The guitar player (who shall remain nameless), had an issue with finding his pedals on stage, as his eyesight left much to be desired. More was left to be desired, as to his inability realize that he had a guitar tech to push the silly foot-pedals for him. ... Anyway...eventually, the guitar tech found a great solution. 'Make the light as bright as a runway marker', he said. 'He shall never lose it again'!

Someone realized the greatness of his development, and brought it to the world. He became very rich. Many manufacturers found this to be the best idea ever! The story soon becomes a sad one, as things turned bad for the guitar player. Suddenly, he became 'cross-eyed'. The bright light stressed his eyes so much, that he was unable to ever look 'straight' again. He was unable to ever play guitar again either.

The cross-eyed guitar player was left with nothing but a thermos, and a chair. And that was all he needed.

Hmm...this story sounds familiar...



Well, in the end, it turned out well for the inventor, as he came up with a solution to the problem, Duct Tape! It was something he had used in both of his lucrative careers....This is why duct tape comes in the black color.

:)

I have an Eden bass preamp, with the same issue. I fixed it like this:
 

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The ability to manufacture blue LEDs is a recent technological advancement. They're only there for the "wow" factor, as near as I can tell. They don't add anything to the functionality of the pedal, and they cost more to produce.
 
jimmys69 said:
I have an Eden bass preamp, with the same issue. I fixed it like this:
Click to expand...

Before I saw your picture...I was going to suggest the same thing....just put a piece of tape over it. :D

I think if you use something like the cream colored painter's masking tape...it's somewhat transparent, so the blue LED will still be visible so you can tell if the pedal is on or off...but there won't be any bright light in your eye.
Much easier than taking it appart to change the LED to a different color.

You could also rig up some kind of small light, something like the goosneck lights used on mixers at live gigs....and have it light up your entire pedal board, but since it's focused to shine down, it won't look weird on stage.

Here you go...a clip-on pedal board light.

Mighty Bright Pedal Board Light | GuitarCenter

Now all someone needs to do is come up with the same thing but so that it runs off your pedal board power...and then you don't need to keep buying batteries for it. :)

I just read the whole description, and it looks like you can get an AC adapter for the lights...so no need for bats.
 
I have the same problem with a few pieces of rack gear and a few power supplies to tube microphones
( Curse those blue LED's )
I did what Jim did with the tape.
 
moresound said:
I have the same problem with a few pieces of rack gear and a few power supplies to tube microphones
( Curse those blue LED's )
I did what Jim did with the tape.
Click to expand...

Real men use duct tape. I think Famous Dave said that once. Or was it that he does not need duct tape, because his mucous is so thick with knowledge?

I miss Dave...
 
A dab of the non-stick writing strip masking tape over the LXP-1 -Didn't cut it so a spot with the black felt pen. Got it down to about 30% :rolleyes:
 
mixsit said:
A dab of the non-stick writing strip masking tape over the LXP-1 -Didn't cut it so a spot with the black felt pen. Got it down to about 30% :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Wow I thought that I was the last person on Earth to have one of these! In fact I have two! Along with the RCM remote.

Got the LXP 5 as well! And the full rack LXP15.
 
Mine mostly waits to do phones mix service. Shame sort of as it's a real nice verb.
Yours got the crackly pots? (Had them replaced and they still did it.
 
Now then! This problem of LED candlepower (of all colours) is a very interesting and tricky one.

If the LEDs are gentle enough for dark stage use then peeps will moan that they can't see them in actinic school hall lighting and certainly not outdoors!

The solution of course would be a variable light output level control but that would add cost to a product in a very competitive market....But! (warning BOF about to waffle!)

Back when we had ONLY B&W telly, Murphy came up with a self adjusting contrast control using one of the new-fangled Light Dependant Resistors. It should not be beyond the wit of Man to come up with a similar system using a power FET for current control? But it WILL cost something so there would need to be a lot of shouting from optically injured parties here!

(I am just wondering, LEDs work a little bit the other way, i.e as a photodiode. If you had a bi-coloured LED maybe you could use the non-emitting diode as an ambient light sensor...hmmmm?

Dave.
 
So, nobody enjoyed my fictional short story huh? Looking back on it, I realize that I should not be a writer... And beers make me silly...

Off to watch 'The Jerk' again.....

:spank:
 
You could go and get some tail light repair film and tape that over it,or use some lighting gel pack film.There's a million kind of adhesive tapes out there.check out your local craft store,i'm sure you can come up with an inexpensive solution.
 
jimmys69 said:
So, nobody enjoyed my fictional short story huh? Looking back on it, I realize that I should not be a writer... And beers make me silly...
Click to expand...

I thought it was true, I must have spent two hours on google trying to figure out exactly who you were talking about.
The closest I could come was Brian May, but I just couldn't make it fit.
 
mixsit said:
Mine mostly waits to do phones mix service. Shame sort of as it's a real nice verb.
Yours got the crackly pots? (Had them replaced and they still did it.
Click to expand...

Phones mix huh. That's weird cause Rebba McEntire's monitor guy was hell bent on me selling mine to him for verb across everyone's monitor mixes.

I musta lucked out for None of mine are faulty.
 
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