Distortion problems

red_ice

I have a ds1 that i use for about 2x8 seconds of a song but im having a problem with it. When i go to kick it in it cuts out for a 1/4 of a second or so. Complete silence from it, then it works perfectly.

I dont recall it ever doing this, i rekon its a new problem. Any ideas why its not just changing instantly into distortion?

I do have a Daisy chain going, but its only 4 pedals(tu2, boss eq, ds1, dd6), so it cant be a power issue.

One other question, somewhat related... I have an adapter that changes a daisy chain female and changes it to a 9v battery adapter. Since my bigmuff doesnt have any jackports for power, is it safe to use an AC power adapter when its made to take DC?

cheers

jonny oxford

red_ice wrote: »

I do have a Daisy chain going, but its only 4 pedals(tu2, boss eq, ds1, dd6), so it cant be a power issue.

One other question, somewhat related... I have an adapter that changes a daisy chain female and changes it to a 9v battery adapter. Since my bigmuff doesnt have any jackports for power, is it safe to use an AC power adapter when its made to take DC?

It does sound like you may have power supply issues,perhaps you shouldn't rule it out just yet. What exactly are the specs of the power supply your using?

Alanstrainor

How about removing the daisey chain and try running the pedal with the single plug? I would say that the power may be the issue. Even just to rule that out.

Voodu Child

red_ice wrote: »

Since my bigmuff doesnt have any jackports for power, is it safe to use an AC power adapter when its made to take DC?

No, not at all. Its not safe to use an AC adaptor with a DC pedal.

But I doubt you are doing that anyway, I think you're just mixing up the terms. The 'common' pedal PSU puts out DC. If you're powering a bunch of Boss pedals, that's what you're using. You can use a 9V DC adaptor with a battery connection/converter no problem (make sure the polarity is correct).

red_ice

jonny oxford wrote: »

It does sound like you may have power supply issues,perhaps you shouldn't rule it out just yet. What exactly are the specs of the power supply your using?

Im using boss everything with my boss rig. Im not one to mix and match when it comes to reliability, they were made for boss so i bought em!

Alanstrainor wrote: »

How about removing the daisey chain and try running the pedal with the single plug? I would say that the power may be the issue. Even just to rule that out.

Tried that, aswell, no joy.

voodoo_child wrote: »

No, not at all. Its not safe to use an AC adaptor with a DC pedal.

But I doubt you are doing that anyway, I think you're just mixing up the terms. The 'common' pedal PSU puts out DC. If you're powering a bunch of Boss pedals, that's what you're using. You can use a 9V DC adaptor with a battery connection/converter no problem (make sure the polarity is correct).

I have a boss adapter and a small converter that converts the boss female link into a 9v battery. Thats what its made for i can assume it would work. I just heard off my gfs dad that it might be dodgy and i really dont want to lose the muff, its too big a sound to miss.

Dord

red_ice wrote: »

I have a boss adapter and a small converter that converts the boss female link into a 9v battery. Thats what its made for i can assume it would work. I just heard off my gfs dad that it might be dodgy and i really dont want to lose the muff, its too big a sound to miss.

You can just open up the big muff and change the power supply jack. I did that on my old one (now sold). I think I put up pics of the mod here before... I'll see if I can find them.

Basically it's just replacing the EHX jack with a Boss style one. Worked fine for me.

Dord

Here ya go!! Sorry, they're blurry pictures... a few years old at this stage.





I got the replacement jack in Maplins.

red_ice

nice!

I was just considering making a truebypass box. I rekon thats my next project! :pac:

I think ill use that adapter tbh, im not one for messing with electrics!

Dord

Well, if you have one of the Big Muffs from the last few years then it's true bypass. If not you can modify it or get someone to modify it.

You're using it with bass, right??

red_ice

Dord wrote: »

You're using it with bass, right??

oh yes! Its rather chunky

Dord

Yeah, big muffs with bass are pretty cool. The only problem is they tend to cut a lot of lows.

I replaced mine last year with an awesome fuzz made by Guttermouth Electronics in the US. It's a bit more extreme than the Big Muff and a little less fizzy, and best of all it doesn't obliterate the lows!

No website for 'em at the moment though, it's still being built.

-=al=-

such a big casing for a simple circuit!

good mod tho

Dord

Yeah, a lot of empty space in there. It's perfect for trickin' out. :cool:

Some people have rehoused them into smaller enclosures too.

jonny oxford

red_ice wrote: »

I have a boss adapter and a small converter that converts the boss female link into a 9v battery. Thats what its made for i can assume it would work. I just heard off my gfs dad that it might be dodgy and i really dont want to lose the muff, its too big a sound to miss.

The boss adapter will have a 9V Dc output then I take it, if so (the output voltage will be written on the adapter itself) this will be fine to use.

As another poster already said make sure you take care with the polarity ( positive and negative in the right position).


Also your ds1 problem, the power input connectors on pedals can get damaged quite easily, while the pedal will appear to work normally if the pedal is moved slightly the power can be temporarily interrupted and will result in it cutting out temporarily. Wiggle the power connector when the pedal is on and see if there is any interruption.

red_ice

ill give that a go then, cheers

red_ice

It all of a sudden started to work again.. how queer?

On the note of the big muff. My god. I hooked it up to the daisy chain as my last 9v ran out in sound check at a gig on the weekend. That pedal has never sounded so big. Quality, i thought i was hearing it all with a fresh battery.. OH NO!