Monte Allums Guotar Pedal Mods

Guitar Pedal Mods

Since 11-1-2003

1163395



When I'm not working or doing that family thang you'll more than likely find me working on my motorcycle or riding the back roads of northwest Mississippi. Click on the pic for an up close and personal look at my ugly mug. Monte Allums

Tweaking the tone of inexpensive stomp boxes is an obsession of mine. I started modding mainly because I refused to spend $200 to $300 or more to achieve great tone.

Most boutique pedals are clones of other inexpensive pedals anyway with the main difference being higher quality components. By upgrading the signal path and changing a few component values here and there, cheap inexpensive pedals can be drastically improved.

Take for example the Boss DS-1. You can buy them new for $40. I've personally bought used DS-1s off eBay for $25. Add one of my mod kits and for well under $100 and a little soldering time you've got a pedal that will rival pedals costing five times as much.

Add to that the fact that YOU personally took a very bad sounding pedal and made it usable. There's a certain level of self-satisfaction that I get knowing that I added a personal touch to a piece of gear that I use.

Take my new Chip Adapter Mods. You will not find these types of mods available from any other modder. This is a major breakthrough for DIY. The opamp is where the tone takes shape. Upgrading the toneless inline chips with a more Hi-Fi Dual Opamp such as the Burr Brown
OPA2134PA will transform the tone of my already popular mods into even better mods. Add to that the ability to swap out different opamps and you've got a very effective tone-shaping tool.

Monte Allums 11-22-2007


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7-1-2009 — For the entire month of July those that buy 3 mods of at least a $19.99 value will get a 4th mod free. Just add a note with your payment or drop me an e-mail letting me know which mod you'd like. Monte Allums

6-12-2009 — Well, you asked for it and now it's available. I have received several requests for an adapter that you can use in a Tube Screamer, SD-1, RAT, etc. to stack opamps. I've even used it to stack two LM308Ns in my new OD-308. Results will vary depending on the circuit but I've gotten some very interesting results using this new adapter. You can order it here. Enjoy! Monte Allums

6-11-2009 — I am being forced to increase what I charge for shipping International Orders. So as of today I am increasing my regular International post rates from $3.50 to $4.50. USA rates will stay the same. Monte Allums

4-15-2009 — The OD-308 Version 2 is now shipping. Version 1 buyers may upgrade by going here. The OD-308 Version 2 now has a buffer incorporated into the circuit. A great pedal just got better! Monte Allums

2-15-2009 — Well, it was bound to happen. I just got ripped off ($170.84) by a buyer that paid by bank draft. In the past I have never held an order until it cleared Paypal. But, all it takes is for one crook to spoil it for everyone. So, from this day forward, if you pay with an eCheck or Bank Draft I will not ship your order until the funds clear Paypal. I have created a page publishing the name, address and e-mail of these ripp-offs. You can access the page by clicking on the "Stolen from Me" button above or by clicking here. Monte Allums

1-25-2009 — I am currently working on my second DIY full pedal kit design. This pedal kit, unlike the OD-308, will be very much like a Treble Boost. It will work best with an already overdriven amp. But I am designing it where it can also be used in front of a clean amp setting. So this will be a very versatile DIY Pedal Kit. The best part of this design will be it's simplicity. Not a lot of parts so it will be a very simple build. Monte Allums

12-20-2008 — I am extremely excited about a new mod. You can check it out by clicking here. This "Dual Stacker" chip adapter is now included with several of my Plus Mods. I am sitting here in the studio playing an H2O modded BD-2 with the new "Dual Stacker" adapter. If you are familiar with the BD-2 then you know about the nasty unnatural decay that you hear on the trails of a note. I have solved this issue with my new mod. If you have recently purchased one of my new Plus mods and would like to upgrade to the new "Dual Stacker" mods I have created a webpage that will allow you to do so. Click here to access the upgrade page. Monte Allums


OD-308 DIY Kit The OD-308 is getting rave reviews! They feel, as I do, that the OD-308 may be one of the best OD pedals ever designed. There are pedals that sell for 3Xs it's price that are not as good. I've played some of the best OD pedals available and the OD-308, IMO, beats them all hands down! If you want one of the most dynamic, warm, rich and smooth OD pedals designed today then the OD-308 is the pedal you've been looking for.

I think some are intimidated by pedal kits. Actually, they are easier to do than a pedal mod because there are no components to remove. With the OD-308 kit you are just populating a PCB and soldering wires. So it's actually easier to do than a pedal mod. And you don't need to know how to read a schematic. I include very detailed pictures and diagrams that makes assembling the OD-308 extremely easy. So if you have been holding off because you felt a pedal kit would be too difficult let me assure you it is actually very easy to do with the easy to follow instructions I include. Monte Allums

10-14-2008 I have decided to stop selling my products on eBay. eBay fees have soared out of control and with profits being down I just cannot justify their high fees at this time.

9-18-2008 OD-308 DIY Kits are Now Shipping! I've already sold a good part of the first 250 so if you want one of the first 250 get your order in now. Once the word gets out I have a feeling this is going to be a very hot item. Monte Allums

7-18-2008 They're here! Both .006" Strat and Tele Copper Pickguard Shields and the .018" Aluminum Strat Pickguard Shields are both now shipping! These are now the Thickest, Best Quality Pickguard Shields sold anywhere. Click here to go to the web page. Monte Allums

7-4-2008 I have completely revamped my Pickguard Shield line. We will no longer cut these by hand. All the Pickguards I now sell are Precision Laser Cut. These are Ultra-High Quality Shields. We now offer the thickest Copper and Aluminum Pickguard Shields on the Net! But, I didn't stop there. I have tweaked the designs so the Shields will fit 95% of the Pickguards in the market without modification. I will no longer sell the adhesive-backed pickguard shields but I will continue to sell the 1.25 mil 12" x 12" Adhesive-Backed Copper Sheets and the 40-gauge 12" x 12" Copper Sheets. Available now! Monte Allums

6-11-2008 Many Thanx to Sean Borton for allowing me use clips from his new album "What a Party". Do yourself a favor and visit the mods page and take a listen to Sean. Sean has fabulous tone and is one heck of a player. Monte Allums

3-22-2008 - World Renown Producer and Engineer David Prater, who has worked with bands such as Dream Theater and Firehouse, contacted me a couple of months back. He was interested in my New CS-3 Opto Plus mod for his two CS-3s. According to David the CS-3 has been one of his secret weapons for several years. That's right, David Prater, who could use any piece of gear he wants, sometimes uses Boss CS-3s to record vocal tracks. David told me he loved the spongy vibe they give him but wanted to quieten the beasts down a bit. So he sent his CS-3s to Chad Matthews and Chad did my new Opto Plus mod to them, that incorporate my new chip adapter and a Burr Brown Chip. Well, David loved the Opto Plus Modded CS-3s and is using them on his current recording project. And to top it all off David recorded an mp3 with one of his newly modded CS-3s. If you want to hear what great tools sound like in the hands of a master craftsman take a listen by clicking here. Monte Allums

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