common problem

[Coley]

i've had this common problem with MANY effects i've attempted to repair or that have died on me.

the two most recent being: MXR phase 90, vintage microsynth

for the microsynth: when i plug it in and flip on the power, you can hear the hu of my guitar through the amp and my guitar plays through. But it sounds like a synth fuzz that has no sustain, and not much gain at all. It's basicly just the guitar clean, but when you play chords or strum hard, it crackles and distorts slighty. when i flip the power switch off, it does nothing. the power led does not ever come on. maybe it's just burnt out?

oh and it changed SLIGHTY when i moved 1 or 2 of the sliders a little bit. but it was still the same, clean sound with a nasty crackley distortion sometimes. there was no.... synth sound. and for the phaser, no phase sound.

could it be:
-a faulty power on- off switch?
-cold solder joints/ dead wires?
-faulty or dead transformer? / problem with power getting to the circuit?
-fried IC's or transistors?
-something else?


has this happened to any of you? or am i just cursed...

thanks,
coley

[AllyP]

Try reading the FAQ on debugging on this page and on Geo...They really are good and easy to follow

Have you tried using an Audio probe?  This might help!! (See the FAQ)

Try rebuilding the effects on protoboard and see if they work there...if they do its a bad PCB/solder joint most probably!!!


Have fun.... :wink: