Repairing a colorcound "supa-wah-fuzz-swell"

[birt]

Somebody's got one of these and asked me to repair it.
It works but the effect is quiet and there is a lot of noise/crackling..
I can't find the schematic anywhere.. how would you start examinating it?

i've got an audioprobe and a dmm, that would be good for a start after i checked all the connections right?


(i want to do it right and reapir the damn thing because that guy has to come quite far to get it here and i would be ashamed if i can't repair it or at least find out what's the problem.)

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

What kind of noise and crackling?

Likeliest problems:

bad pot
corroded and tarnished contacts, maybe in the jacks
electrolytic caps dry  or leaky
wires going to board corroded or breaking

[birt]

What kind of noise and crackling?

Likeliest problems:

bad pot
corroded and tarnished contacts, maybe in the jacks
electrolytic caps dry  or leaky
wires going to board corroded or breaking

that's the problem, i don't really know what's going on because the guy isn't very clear about it and all i got were a couple of e-mails.

but tnx for the tips

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If I was in your position Birt, I'd tell the guy that you are happy to look at the pedal & see if anything has come loose is worn out, but that you can't guarantee you can fix it.
After all, that is all that doctors and car mechanics can say (if they are honest).

[birt]

If I was in your position Birt, I'd tell the guy that you are happy to look at the pedal & see if anything has come loose is worn out, but that you can't guarantee you can fix it.
After all, that is all that doctors and car mechanics can say (if they are honest).

i guess i'll do that

[Dan N]

The fuzz is pretty much a silicon fuzz face with fixed parts instead of a "fuzz" pot, and the volume is set by an interior trim pot. Could his trim be set too low?

Crackly wah and volume pots are about the norm on vintage used wahs. The wah circuit is generic.

Best of luck to you!

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Interior trim pots (especially the single turn open type) are another notorious component for making noise, the wiper part tarnishes sometimes.
I have found 'crackle sources' sometimes by carefully tapping components with a pencil while the unit is running. Like a dentist :shock: OUCH! :x