Modded - EHX Holy Stain multi-effects

[culturejam]

A real smart cat over at FSB figured out how to add a toggle switch to the Holy Stain to enable three extra effects modes. The default set has: Room reverb, hall reverb, tremolo, and pitch shift. The toggle switch adds: chorus, flanger, and pitch shift + slapback echo.

It's not a perfect pedal by far, but at least now it's got more going for it. I snagged this one cheap on ebay with the intent of modding it. I'll probably also do another mod from the FSB thread to add another control pot. For some reason, EHX has it set up so that if you have the modulation speed above about 75%, some reverb creeps in to the tone. The extra control pot allows for the separation of mod speed and reverb.

Here's the mod thread:
http://freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11926

And here's the gut shot of mine (the hot glue is for strain relief on the IC's pin). The mod is pretty simple; just unsolder one of the IC's pins and lift it up, then attach a wire to it running to a switch that connects it either to +3.3v or ground. Couldn't be simpler. Although I did have to use a magnifying glass to verify that I'd cleanly desoldered (and then soldered). SMD can be tricky.

[kosta]

Nice one CJ! How does it sound?

[culturejam]

The chorus and flange are not the classic EHX sounds, but they are usable. You could actually use this one pedal as your whole tone at an informal jam, since it also has built in overdrive and dirt.

[oldangelmidnight]

I definitely want the separate reverb mod.

[tuffteef]

smart smart kiddies

[culturejam]

I'm going to be doing the extra control pot mod as well, so I'll keep you guys posted.

[culturejam]

Decided to add the extra pot. It's definitely worth it. Now in the Tremolo, Chorus, and Flanger modes, the reverb can be adjusted from zero to moderately hall-ish. The pot doesn't seem to have any effect in the reverb modes or the pitch shift modes.

As I said earlier, it's not a perfect pedal, but now it's very versatile and sounds pretty damn good in the chorus and flanger modes with some reverb dialed in and the fuzz turned on. Not bad clean, either, but it clips too easily with humbuckers unless I roll the guitar volume down a bit.






Please note: I did not do the "artwork" on the pedal. :wink:

[tuffteef]

BRO HARMONIX

[mathias]

BRO PEDALS.

HOOKING UP BRO DEALS.

SLOGAN: "COOL PEDAL, BRO."

[culturejam]

All other things aside, I really don't understand the name of this one. "Holy Stain" sounds like Jesus blew a load in his sheets and didn't wash them.

[kosta]

BRO PEDALS.

HOOKING UP BRO DEALS.

SLOGAN: "COOL PEDAL, BRO."

[culturejam]

I used some acetone and q-tips and got *most* of the sharpie off the paint job. Looks much better now, and no more BRO HARMONIX.

[jrmy]

Hmmmm... intriguing. So I assume you can still add the OD & fuzz on the new unlocked modes? That sounds pretty cool. Any chance of hearing clips of the Flanger & Chorus modes in action?

[culturejam]

Hmmmm... intriguing. So I assume you can still add the OD & fuzz on the new unlocked modes? That sounds pretty cool. Any chance of hearing clips of the Flanger & Chorus modes in action?

Yes, the od/fuzz/clean still functions exactly the same. The only thing different is there are three new effect modes and now the ability to control the reverb in the modulation modes.

I'll see if I can get a clip done some time this week.

[jrmy]

Hmmmm... intriguing. So I assume you can still add the OD & fuzz on the new unlocked modes? That sounds pretty cool. Any chance of hearing clips of the Flanger & Chorus modes in action?

Yes, the od/fuzz/clean still functions exactly the same. The only thing different is there are three new effect modes and now the ability to control the reverb in the modulation modes.

I'll see if I can get a clip done some time this week.

Please do! I've got a Holy Stain that I'm looking to use more in my noise / weirdness project, and unlocking these functions could be right up my alley. Though, since I don't know jack about soldering, I'd probably need someone else to do it for me.

So... uh... how much would you charge someone do do this kind of mod?