Sick Teese Wah

[gez]

For the record

I was not suggesting that this pedal be reverse engineered.  I asked whether it was an inductor wah just to make sure that I had given the right advice.  Had this been a Twin-T or something else it might have been a different problem.

[Geoffrey Teese]

Hi Deep Blue and Everybody,

I believe Deep Blue emailed me privately about this problem.  However, just in case...

From the description of the problem, I would think the problem is with one or both transistors.  The chances of an inductor going bad are quite slim, but not impossible.  Likewise, a capacitor as I don't use NOS parts that have little life left in them.

If the wah is pre-2002, the problem could be with the Carling on/off switch.  While we can easily find 30 year old Carlings in Thomas wahs that work perfectly, their failure rate for new product is insanely high.  Carling has finally admitted that their switches have issues and they are reworking their tooling.  If we're all lucky, they'll fix their problems and we will all be able to depend on their switches again.  Carlings used to be the best in the business and I'm looking forward to their returning to the same pinnacle.

Whatever the issue, I will fix it for the cost of return postage only.

Email me directly for more information.

For the record, I currently use BC239B transistors in only one wah model.  All the rest use custom made transistors that are not available on the open market.  The inductors I use are custom made for me according to the old Thomas Organ Company engineering specs.  My stack of dimes inductor is more than size 14/08 ferrite and a bobbin as used by Dunlop and others.  The actual ferrite material is 100% the same as that used by Thomas as I have the engineering specs and have conversed (many years ago) with their former inductor manufacturer.  It seems now that some people are calling their inductors a stack of dimes simply because they are the same size and are made to look like the old ones.  My halo inductor is 100% accurate to ONE of 7 (that I personally know of) different types of halo inductors that JEN used when building the Vox wahs.

Peace, Love, and Wah,
Geoffrey R. Teese
www.realmccoycustom.com

[Arno van der Heijden]

Mr. Teese,

Is there a specific reason why your wahs use a 10uF electro instead of the usual 4.7uF? Does it have an influence on the sound?

[cd]

If you take GT's suggestion and read RG Keen's Technology of the Wah - http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/wahpedl/wahped.htm - here's what RGK has to say about it:

(In regards to the cap, it's) "Important that it be large enough to bypass all signal at its (+) terminal to ground. From 4.7uF on up, little effect on sound. As it gets smaller, the sound becomes more of a loudness variation and less of a wah. If this cap is defective, wah pedals sound like volume pedals."

[Arno van der Heijden]

I have read that site again and again over the last five years.

From 4.7uF on up, little effect on sound.

And that's why I asked myself why he used a 10uF cap.

[Geoffrey Teese]

Mr. Teese,

Is there a specific reason why your wahs use a 10uF electro instead of the usual 4.7uF? Does it have an influence on the sound?

Hi,

There are specific reasons for everything I do with wahs.  BTW, 4.7uF was only the US standard in the old wahs.

Peace, Love, and Wah,
Geoffrey

[jimbob]

Arno van der Heijden- you can always buy one and take it apart and figure it out. I thought about doing that one day one i learn what it all means....I assume no one will take this wrong....not that ill care...but,  one day i hope to own one of everything. A little variety ya know.

[cd]

I have read that site again and again over the last five years.

Well, then I suppose you've had plenty of time to replace a 4.7u with a 10u.  What affect does that have on the sound?  If the difference is marginal or inaudible (as theorized - I've never tried it myself) the reasons could be infinite.  A batch of 10u caps were bought insanely cheap so in they went... 10u caps were bigger/smaller/fit better... let's try something different, 10 instead of 4.7... etc. etc. etc.

[swt]

Hi guys, with respect to GT, i'll have to end the quest for that wah, but as i have already told you, the general mods in RG's are just fine, the biggest difference is in the tapper pot and inductor. If you want a cool sounding wah, just change the transistors to bc109, emiter res to 270 to 330 ohms, 33k to 56k or 68k (100k in mc coy's), and 1k5 to 1k8 or 2k.
IMHO the cap make a huge difference, i have tried it, but didn't like it in my modded vox, because the inductor can be better that dunlop's but is crappy compared to teese's wahs.
Hope Geoffrey will stay with us in this forum, it's an honor to have such respected people, like him, zachary, or mrhuge. Thanks a lot for your work Mr teese, and don't give up the quest.

[RedHouse]

Mr Teese, I'm glad you chimed-in.

I don't think anyone one here will impact your income or market share, but it's good to know you come here and I'm sure all will respect your wishes.

There has been a question regarding wah pedal shells for some time here, and other places, and I was hoping you might chime in on that without hurting your livelyhood. Could you tell us where we can get wah pedal shells at a reasonable price, like who makes em? I contacted Dunlop about it before and they want $60 for one, I e-mailed you before and you said you don't sell parts anymore, so could you throw us a bone here?

[rolls]

As a newbie here 1st post-- i have to say--redhouse..do you really think this guy cares to help? can you see where he has chimmed in the past to help or contribute? No. Im suprised at all the arse kissing to a person who only chimes in to say "dont steal from me!" as if anyone here was really gonna take over his business--right :lol: Mr teese, I'm sure you make a quality product ..but come on ..seriously..I would say most here are here to learn to make and build his/her own pedals and effects.. Not to clone a a Teese wah..It looks like people here just wanna learn what it takes to make what they got better or for educational purposes.

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:38 pm    Post subject:  

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Arno van der Heijden wrote:
Mr. Teese,

Is there a specific reason why your wahs use a 10uF electro instead of the usual 4.7uF? Does it have an influence on the sound?


Hi,

There are specific reasons for everything I do with wahs. BTW, 4.7uF was only the US standard in the old wahs.

Peace, Love, and Wah,
Geoffrey

Now thats helping the community

[Nasse]

Considering the large tolerances of electrolytic caps, I quess for best tone you should hand pick the right value ones.

"This house is made of selected bricks. The good ones were selected for another project"

[Fret Wire]

1st post, and not off to a good start. Rolls, you missed the mark on what this forum is about. Go back and read old threads. The man is an active pedal builder who requested that his specs not be published. The forum respects that wish, even though individually, not everyone agrees. But they still honor these requests, even though there's differing opinions on the ethics of it all. No big deal, no ass kissing, no problem. Your post is the kind that makes these guys not want to come back and help. And don't be niave, plenty who check out this forum would like Teese's wah values.

You can still learn, build, and modify pedals without having to begrudge those who make a living doing it.

[Lonestarjohnny]

Fretwire, All is Cool with me,no bone's to pick with no one. But what I see is a person with only 3 post's accredited to his name, what i think is, why not come and enjoy the Forum, It's a great place, got lot's a good people on it.
Plus its what he should have done in the first place,establish some good P.R. for his product !
Johnny

[rolls]

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:30 am    Post subject:    

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1st post, and not off to a good start. Rolls, you missed the mark on what this forum is about. Go back and read old threads. The man is an active pedal builder who requested that his specs not be published. The forum respects that wish, even though individually, not everyone agrees. But they still honor these requests, even though there's differing opinions on the ethics of it all. No big deal, no ass kissing, no problem. Your post is the kind that makes these guys not want to come back and help. And don't be niave, plenty who check out this forum would like Teese's wah values.

You can still learn, build, and modify pedals without having to begrudge those who make a living doing it.

This isnt a popularity contest here Fret-Is this what you really feel or what you think others would like to read..Seriously--the guy doesnt care. 3 whole posts..hmmm..there are others here that make a bad ass product--Joe davisson exmpl...you dont see him crying a river. But, thats not the point..Oh..btw..ive read enough here to realize that if anyone doesnt agree with the majority--hes burned at the stake..hehe esp. about ethics in the pasts threads ive read..Hungry wolves to the meat..So u say im not off to a good start? Is this cause i dont agree w the majority? Thats really sad..

Plus its what he should have done in the first place,establish some good P.R. for his product !
Johnny

I agree w that as well.. Just good Pr.

I used to want a Teese wah,,until recently. He not the only one that makes good wahs either. I wont steal/clone to get one, and if i did i wouldnt re-sell it ect..But if i had the greater knowledge about the product I certainly wouldnt make 3 posts to a forum as he did. I wouldnt give all my secrets either--now that would be dumb. But id throw the dogs a bone..Because if they really wanted it(the schem or rev eng.) that is possible as well for a few bucks and a little work.

[Fret Wire]

Rolls, I wasnt talking about your comment's as a popularity contest kinda thing. Nor I did say what I did because you expressed an opinion. More along the lines of you should have something better to say like introducing yourself or asking some building advice or giving it. Or maybe asking why guys like Teese doesnt post. Maybe you percieve it to be cool or hip to slag a pedal builder..I don't know. And no, you don't have some special opinion that differs from the majority. You sound like you have the "Welfare Mentality", where you do nothing to contribute, and expect those who do to hand it over for nothing. Nothing cool, hip, maverick, or pushing the envelope about that. Now that's sad.

Don't give out secrets, but throw us a bone? Try asking questions or learning about the wah ckt. The wah circuit is widely available to anyone. The particular values Teese use's is really all he has, don't expect him to give them away. Try what alot of us do, learn and experiment.

This is a big forum that's helpful and friendly. Many people and many different opinions. And we still respect each other, help each other, and get along.  I'm not attacking you for having a different opinion, but for having a shit attitude for a newcomer to the forum.

Maybe I've misjudged you. I'm sure you'll prove me right or wrong soon enough.

BTW, you can email him directly at his site and ask him these questions you asked him publicly.

[Peter Snowberg]

Very well said Fret Wire.

This thread sure turn a turn for the nasty, but at least I'm encouraged by the fact that nasty around here generally means something less than throwing beer bottles.

Magicians do not give away their secrets. That's the code.

Pedal builders who don't wan't their secrets given away here get their wish. That's the code.

There are so many good circuits available freely to the DIYer that nobody should be put out by the lack of availability of a Teese, a Vex, a Barmentloo, etc. schematic. I have only tiny violins for people who whine about such things.


Geoffrey, welcome (back, I think) to the forum. I believe I saw you post in at leats one of the past incarnations of Aron's forum. The general level of respect toward boutique builders who what their wares kept under wraps is pretty good. If I see any info about the insides of your stuff posted here in the future, I'll remove it. I'm going to have to start a new thread to keep track of all the folks who don't want their circuits posted.


Rolls, welcome to the forum, but please, you act like people inherently owe the masses something for some reason. The real world doesn't work like that. When you build limited production hardware for a living and you depend on owning a nitch, there is absolutely NO reason why you should even mention what you do in public if you don't want to not attract the attention of people who wouldn't hesitate to clone your work.

[rolls]

Fret-clever comments. :lol: ""Welfare Mentality", ect.. I got a kick outta that. :wink:

Rolls, welcome to the forum, but please, you act like people inherently owe the masses something for some reason. The real world doesn't work like that. When you build limited production hardware for a living and you depend on owning a nitch, there is absolutely NO reason why you should even mention what you do in public if you don't want to not attract the attention of people who wouldn't hesitate to clone your work

I can see your point..I dont think people inherently owe the masses. Just that they can so easily fall victim to rev eng ect.. as the large corps. So when people make threads asking about tracing the circuit--maybe this thinking can be deterred by saying, "I can lead you in the right direction, ect.." rather than, "Dont take from my family! Take from those who are dead or out of business!" Like thats really ethically better-ok maybe a little.
But,  I think when it gets down to it I was just saddend/dissapointed in Mr GT's response. I think i hoped on seeing someone "famous" like this to chim in a little differently..More like, "Hi all! ect.."

Pete- you have such a damned nice way of making your point. Not that Ill agree with it all though.

[aron]

Geoffrey wrote me a letter a long time ago in 1998. He asked that I don't post the info for his RMC3 wah (not that I had it).

He offered to fix that wah for the price of postage; to me that's good service. I wish all the manufacturers offered this kind of service on their products.

I think we should feel honored that some well known individuals frequent the forum. I know I do.

Aron

[gez]

Many people here don't register under their own name.  For some it's for the purpose of lurking, but you never know... (I'm Prince Charles)