Ibanez TS9 Repair

[JoshW]

Hi all,
I recently just dug up an Ibanez TS9 that I bought 2nd hand about 3 years ago. The FET switch broke off it and it has been in storage ever since; it did work before. I could not locate another as the switch PCB was damaged and they are extremely hard to find in the UK. I recently just bought a 3PDT switch and attempted the true bypass modification to the TS9.

I finished the wiring and plugged it in. The light comes on when switched on which must mean theres some hope of repairing it. There is signal going through when it is switched off; my guitar sounds just the same as if it was plugged directly in the amp. However, when I switch the pedal on, I can still hear the guitar but it seems to have taken away quite a bit of the volume and it sounds quite dull; none of the dials work on the pedal also. I can't seem to locate the problem.

When doing to modification, I ended up taking 8 parts off the PCB (not sure if this is correct???), following the guide to making a TS808 True Bypass on SuperSonicmods.com. I also used the Keeley TS9 True Bypass guide off indyguitarist.com as a guide aswell. Since the pedal was in a bad way, I have had to use some new hookup wire in different places. It also seems that one of the traces has been pulled up where the blue wire goes to (from one of the pots). I have had to scratch some of the PCB coating off and solder the wire further up the trace.

I have included some pictures and would be really grateful for any advice that could help me resurrect this pedal.

Many Thanks,
Josh. 

[petemoore]

  RG said something about a new 'article at GEO related to the FET switching, haven't checked it out yet so can recommend that.
  RG wrote the debugging page which refers to the DMM and audio probe for the FET's and anything else.
  The knobs should/will work right, [as labeled, good volume boost, gain] but only when they are controlling the working TS circuits.

[JoshW]

Couldn't really find anything on GEO. Not sure why its like this; the switch turns on the light but the volume lowers and also the clarity. The dials don't do anything on the pedal; can't understand it really as I think they're all wired up properly?
Desperate to get this one working. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Josh

[tasos]

i would suggest an audioprobe...timeconsuming but great for debug...

[JoshW]

I will make a DIY probe if I cannot find out this problem. I can't understand this at all; the signal is going through when it is off and it still goes through when its on; just no overdrive and the volume and clarity are reduced. If it was wired wrong, I wouldn't get any sound at all??? Please excuse me btw...I'm not very knowledgable on this kind of stuff.

Have I taken out the wrong parts from the board do you think?

[tasos]

I will make a DIY probe if I cannot find out this problem. I can't understand this at all; the signal is going through when it is off and it still goes through when its on; just no overdrive and the volume and clarity are reduced. If it was wired wrong, I wouldn't get any sound at all??? Please excuse me btw...I'm not very knowledgable on this kind of stuff.

Have I taken out the wrong parts from the board do you think?

it might be this...for example if you icreased some resistors....you would get clean sound...if you post a schematic you will draw from your pedal...i can tell you whether it is the wiring tat makes things the way they are...thanks...

[JoshW]

This is the schematic for the original with the FET switching system:
http://stompbox.cafe24.com/image/ts-808-schem-1024.jpg
http://www.muzique.com/schem/ts808.gif

This is the schematic for the true bypass TS9 (or similar I think):
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/ts-808_sc.gif

I don't know how to read schematics like this so I'm pretty useless with these 

Thanks for your help,
Josh.

[tasos]

http://faq.rayd.org/read_schematic/  this is how to read a schematic...the one i beggining with...and if you haven't read craig anderon epfm...you should!you really should!

[geertjacobs]

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/bosstech.pdf

The great article from R.G. from last week.

[JoshW]

Hmmm....still can't understand why it's like this???
Has anybody else had problems converting an Ibanez TS9 or has instructions pics of a completed one so I can compare??
Many Thanks,
Josh

[JoshW]

UPDATE:::
I have just rewired the jack as I was thinking to myself; it can't be right that the pedals lights are still on when there's no jack's plugged in. I rewired it, looking at a picture of a TS9's jacks. The pedal now operates properly in the respects that the light goes out when a jack is pulled out.
However, there's a new problem now; I think 2 of the dials work on the pedal now, but it seems to be making a squealing sound which goes away when the pedal is switched off. The volume and clarity problem has gone away but the pedal sounds like a fuzz pedal at the minute with a bit of overdrive?
Surely this is on the right tracks now???
Many Thanks,
Josh

[tasos]

audioprobe

[JoshW]

I touched up some of the solder joints around the jack area that looked a bit messy.
I'm now getting a boosted overdrive signal; however I am getting a lot of squeal from the pot with the green and brown wire (Drive Control). WHen I keep it low, and the guitar volume on full, it sounds alright except not much overdrive. When I turn the control up, I get an unberable squealling sound when the guitar volume is turned up; do you think this could be a cold solder joint?

Many Thanks,
Josh.

[Hides-His-Eyes]

Solder bridge somewhere? Squealing often means feedback (output getting back to the input)

[JoshW]

UPDATE:
The pedal is now fixed as far as I can tell (not heard it for about 3 years  )
I re-wired the switch with some new wire and rewired all of the jacks with new wire;
the squealling issue seems to have gone and the pedal seems to be working like new.
I just have to drill the case for the new 3PDT switch 

[tasos]

great!don't ruin the case while drilling it!haha good luck!