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Hey all, I have an older but not ancient EQD Hoof (3 knob, hammerite paint, prev. owner velcroed over the SN) that has been my go-to for as long as I've had it. Recently, though, it's feeling different and sometimes gets velcro-y, splatty, and even gated. I can't tell if I'm going crazy or what, but I've got a strong feeling that something's going on with it. Has anyone else had something like this happen? Do transistors go bad ever? Or, actually, could a cap have soured on me in this pedals relatively short life?

Sounds like its being starved of power

Unless it has germanium transistors or they're silicon but were damaged at some point (silicon transistors can be damaged and function fine for some time but degrade over time) a cap is more likely than a transistor, but electrolytic caps should have a life span of at least 10-20 years.

It sounds like the bias has drifted from the description... got a gut shot?

Edit: I see it's a silicon/germanium hybrid, if there's a trimmer it could have been knocked or the temperature (particularly hot summer?) could be affecting it.

Yeah, it might be a temperature thing. I know germanium transistors can be sensitive to temperature in either direction

I feel the same way about my RAT. It used to be really tight, now it's kinda floppy sounding.

transistors degrade. and temperature changes.

"Everything is a spring" is an expression you may have heard before. Some springs become unsprung much sooner than others.
In manufacturing, lemons happen. Blems, b-stock, DOA duds...they take numerous forms.
If limited to ≦10% of a particular production run then it's considered a QC success.

It could be a transistor failing or any of the other parts already mentioned.
Have you tried alternate power options? Different cable, isolated output, power supply, battery?

man, thanks for all the input dudes! it definitely sounds like it's not getting enough power, but I've tried running it on multiple PP2+ outputs, that work well for other pedals, and it sounds the same. I haven't considered, though, that maybe the power cable has a short or something in it, so I'll try swapping that next chance I get. the temperature idea is interesting, cause this poor pedal lives in a practice space that does get super fucking hot sometimes, but I'm not sure if there's an internal trimmer. I'll open it up next chance I get and take gut shots. should I just accept this weirdness and get a silicon muff as a backup?

Here's an experiment for you as well- next time after practice, instead of leaving it there, take it with you, and then put it back on your board and see if it behaves differently

that's a good idea. it just occurred to me, too, that the dirgemaster has germs in it, I forgot about it because I never turn it off. I wonder if there might be more to this velcro-y-ness than just the hoof. I'll do some detective work and report back