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need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:15 am
by pigmaker
those noob hating elitist pricks over at freestompboxes are freezing my ass out, so i am crossposting this sheeeeit
self torture wrote:Preface: I am not a builder (yet), hell I dont even know how to solder. I just bought my first soldering iron. (Weller wes51)
First issue is probably simple. I have a mellowtone trumpet fuzz that I just got off ebay about a week ago. I just noticed today that when I hold my foot, finger, whatever on the switch when the pedal is on, the signal cuts out and the LED goes out. So this isn't a huge deal, but it makes the signal cut out every time I switch it on or off. Obviously, not very practically for live performance. I should note when I noticed this issue I was using an AC adapter, not a battery.
Does this need a new switch, or is this something else?
Second issue: I have an old EH small stone phaser. The switch (which was a replacement put in before i bought the pedal) broke one night when i was stumbling around in the dark, my foot just hit the switch in a weird way and the top part of the switch fell off. The button, i suppose you could call it. So the switch is inoperable, in turn the pedal is inoperable.
I just need a hand assessing what type of switch I need to use as a replacement, and an idea of how difficult it will be to replace it.
I figured one or both of these fixes could be a good start for me to figure out basic, basic soldering.
I'll post a pic of the switch in the small stone soon, right now my flash drive is being a pain in the butt
self torture wrote:the switch on the small stone
it's one of these:
thanks, people who actually care about other people. i'll never forget you...
you are the wind beneath my wings.
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:45 am
by osbornkt
So, here's my assessment.
The switch in the Mellowtone sounds like a short in the mechanism of the switch. It could be a power thing as well, though...Try plugging it into a few different outlets on different electrical circuits in your place first to make sure it's not some weird grounding issue or something...But, being a bit of a novice as well my diagnoses are often wrong, so if any pros want to correct me, I'd love to learn, too!
Anyway, if power isn't the problem, I'd recommend first opening up the pedal and looking for anything obvious that's wrong. If there aren't any wires that have disconnected from the board/switch/etc., then go over each terminal of the switch with a soldering iron and make sure there aren't any cold solder joints on the connections or oxidation...don't want that shit.
If you do all that and it seems fine and dandy, then awesome! If not, I've move on and try replacing the switch. Obviously when doing that, make sure the terminals on your switch are oriented appropriately.
As for the Small Stone, just a simple in and out switch replacement. Just watch your terminal orientation!
These are super easy replacements, so good luck!
You'll want a latching 3PDT switch. And you'll want it from this guy:
http://bitcheslovemyswitches.com/#!/~/c ... ort=normalIf you need to reference your wiring while replacing either of your switches, this is a great reference:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring/
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:01 pm
by pigmaker
thank u, you are a
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:10 pm
by osbornkt
No problem, pal. Let me know if that doesn't solve your woes
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:35 pm
by pigmaker
one down one to go..put a battery in the trumpet fuzz and the pot isnt shorting out when i touch it. guts look good to me but i dont know much about pedals techn ically speaking
a little strange that the adapter is screwing up the pedal because i use it for other pedals all the time without issue
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:06 pm
by osbornkt
pigmaker wrote:one down one to go..put a battery in the trumpet fuzz and the pot isnt shorting out when i touch it. guts look good to me but i dont know much about pedals techn ically speaking
a little strange that the adapter is screwing up the pedal because i use it for other pedals all the time without issue
What kind of power adapter are you using with it? Do you have another one that you could switch it out with and try it from there? If it doesn't work on another wall adapter, then the problem would seem to be branching from the 9V in..I'll try to find a schematic and offer any suggestions from there
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:57 pm
by pigmaker
unfortunately i dont have another one to test on it, the one i have is a generic old OLD ass radio shack adapter with the adjustable voltage. had it for 15 + years
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:12 pm
by osbornkt
Hate to say it, but that's probably your problem right there. Don't change the switch until you get a different power supply to test it with. Those Radio Shack ones are awful for effects use since they aren't filtered properly for audio/amplification applications. (Filtering isn't your problem here, but a different adapter is going to save you many headaches down the road).
Anyways, are you powering only the Mellowtone with that adapter, or are you daisy-chaining more stuff through it?
Re: need help with a couple switches on a couple pedals
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:57 pm
by pigmaker
just power one at a time with it, yeah i have noticed some pedals have some ridiculous noise when i use the adapter (some dont) i dont use it all the time, just when i absolutely have to, or im quickly testing a pedal i just got
