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is this in the wrong area or is this forum just not the liveliest?

I just swapped the pot and it sounds the exact same with a different pot so it's not a pot issue

other pot also did the mexican radio station. hmmm.??

I have a weener wah that I've enjoyed for many years now. It is a board I bought pre-built from someone on here and then I went overboard with every possible mod I could think of. LEDs for on/off. The fancy little switch for using it with fuzz. An LED lit switch for the "Q" thingy that I never fully understood how to use. It's got a lot going on. For years it was awesome. Then it got scratchy and I thought it was the pot so swapped it out for a real fancy one that was fully sealed. That fixed it.

Now it's scratchy again and I can't clean this pot since it's sealed.

I don't think it's the pot. I think it's more likely that the wah has so much going on in there that it's making some weird sounds come through. Why do I think this? Well, when I take the pot off the track and twist it around with my hand it very clearly dials in a loud mexican radio station thru my amp. I know these things can happen but it's pretty extreme.

Does this sound like it's not being ground properly? that the whole wah is set up to be too extreme? It is VERY deep sounding. Are all the wires delivering power too close to the ones where audio is going thru?

I'll try and throw some pics up if I can figure that out. Thanks!

Pic

Making progress on sonic stomp. Replaced a couple caps and now I'm getting faint signal when turned on. I am going to try and replace all the electrolytics and hope that does it.

The CE-5 I need help on. I think I could get away with jumpering it if I could figure out how and where. The pad and trace are toast. Where do I jumper to? And how on a board like this with micro everything?

Thanks man. Just been so long since I've played w/ pedal guts I forgot all the terms to even google stuff

[Fender FRV-1::]

quick update w/ more questions. Thanks!


Fender FRV-1:: This actually works, just the volume is about 1/3rd of what it should be. I'm guessing this isn't true bypass since the volume is lowered even if the effect is off. I want to believe this might be something as easy as a loose pot or jack connection. --Update---I did an audio probe here and even on just the jack input, before it hits the board, the signal is about 1/3rd strength. Maybe just reflow it?

Sonic Stomp:: This passes signal when off but nothing when turned on. Turning knobs makes some nice crackles. Opening it up and moving wires when turned on makes some small crackles. Previous owner thinks he blew something by plugging it into wrong, higher, power source. Check caps? Update--Checked w/ audio probe. I got good signal right up until the first opamp, TL072P. Was having a brain fart on tracking the signal past there. What pins should signal be going in and out on this?

Boss CE-5:: Does nothing when on. Previous owner had tried switching cap values and in the process looks like he lifted a trace on the board. It's in a real tight area and the trace itself is pretty dang thin. Try and solder in a new wire in it's place? I think the pad might be lifted as well. Update--ok, somehow I was wrong. This thing works when on. No signal when off. I'm guessing it's cause it's such a cluster where he replaced the cap. Tried audio probe but man.....this board is tiny and has a million parts, many of which I can't access. I think the pads got fried off of the board. This might be too much for me. Any ideas welcome

[Fender FRV-1::]

I picked up a few broken pedals as projects. I've looked at them a bit but could use some guidance on next steps. Here are the pedals and their current condition. Any advice appreciated! Thanks!

Fender FRV-1:: This actually works, just the volume is about 1/3rd of what it should be. I'm guessing this isn't true bypass since the volume is lowered even if the effect is off. I want to believe this might be something as easy as a loose pot or jack connection.

Sonic Stomp:: This passes signal when off but nothing when turned on. Turning knobs makes some nice crackles. Opening it up and moving wires when turned on makes some small crackles. Previous owner thinks he blew something by plugging it into wrong, higher, power source. Check caps?

Boss CE-5:: Does nothing when on. Previous owner had tried switching cap values and in the process looks like he lifted a trace on the board. It's in a real tight area and the trace itself is pretty dang thin. Try and solder in a new wire in it's place? I think the pad might be lifted as well.

Can provide pics if needed. Thanks!

Isn't the harbinger 2 already done? Release the beast!

Harbinger 2 please

I've been waiting for years on that one

Retouched most of the solder today.

Still lights up for just a sec but now I get about 2-3 seconds of effect before it fades out

This is something so simple but I'm rusty. Any thoughts?

Found my audio probe. Get sound into board and up to the first pot if I'm tracing it right. Will go check that next

I've had this problem on a couple of pedals and the culprit turned out to be a cold joint at one of the ground connections -- I'd start by reflowing all your ground connections (especially on the footswitch and jacks).

Thanks! Just tried that and couldn't make any improvements. I got a lot going on in there with each ground cuz of the lit pots and stuff.

Still the same thing. Fires on the lights with no sound. Anyone have the layout! I can't remember how to chase the signal path. It gets to the board but after that my mind goes blank

Howdy! I used to be on here quite a bit a couple years back. Then I had a kid and all pedal building stopped dead. 

Getting back into playing more tho and realized my dist + isn't working right. Passes signal in bypass fine. When I click it on the LEDs flash once quickly and then die. No sound passes at all. Tried chasing signal through circuit when on and it gets in to the board but not sure where it stops.

Been so long I forgot how to fix this! Any help is appreciated.

Here is my old build thread for it with pics

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=9961.msg88060#msg88060