yamaha SB 40

[phaseman]

Hi people, I went to a music service shop today to see if they have a inductor I could use for wah, and some other stuff...  I didn't find what I was looking for but
I saw a yamaha pedals combined in 1 box (the word is "rack"?). It seems to be an old gadget. It's got (input to output) : octave, flanger, dist and chorus efects  (I might be mistaking about the order...)
They could not let me try it because the owner of the service was not around    
Thus, I got nothing to my ears.... I never liked procesors and multi efects but I think this might be different.
I spoke with the owner of the service (later, on the phone) and he told me that it is for sale, the price would be 100 euros... (fair price??)
I'll go tomorrow again with my guitar test it...
I've never heard any of yamaha pedals so I don't know what to expect...
I checked the web about Yamaha SB 40 and all I could find was a little pic    (I thought, OK thats the 1  )

But I couldn't find any review or anything like that...

So, my question is this : can anyone tell me something about yamaha SB 40?
Do any of you own it?
How does it sound like (compare to boss BF3, DS2 , CE2, marshall JH1)?

Thank you in advance

[petemoore]

  I think I had one of those given to me, looks kinda alot like it.
  It had 4 analog effects in it. The plug had 1/2 broken, so I was able to try them out. I thought they all sounded dull, but with no idea if that's 'right or the way these are.
   How does it sound like (compare to boss BF3, DS2 , CE2, marshall JH1)?
  Well if what I had worked right and is what you showed in the pic, any of the above..I didn't find much use for the built in hardwired effects, seemed like the HF's may have been 'tamed' across the board so that 4 at once isn't rediculously noisy...etc. I think I dwiddled the knobs sufficiently, but didn't get much kick from the unit, decided it was done for [course it did have the plasic broke DC jack rippin' on the PCB traces thing going against it too].
  I haven't checked the exchange rates nor overseas 'values'...but I'd go 4 or 5, then use it for parts...not really that many good parts though either.

[phaseman]

 Thank you petemoore! This means a lot to me.

Even though I have got those efects (somy diy, some stock) I was (and I think, still am  ) very eager to hear that box....
It seems that I won't be able to try it tomorrow. I'll go to that store sometime during this week...
Of course, I'll post my comments about it.

P.C. I hope this thread wasn't the wrong 1, since the forum is about diy gadgets     

Marko

[MartyMart]

I have a couple of those units, which were also available as "stand alone" pedals
they dont have a 9v connection, but rather a "molex" plug inside, so without the
surrounding enclosure, four of them would "slot" into that picture of yours as
a small "system"
BTW The Flanger is perhaps the best analog flanger that I've ever heard !! truly
lush and gorgeous, right through to self oscillation
The other one I have is a booster/EQ pedal, which is also quite cool.
Snap it up, the flanger/chorus alone will be SUPERB to add to your collection

MM.

[any]

I own a SB 40 System board myself, along with about 10 yamaha 01 series pedals.
When the pedals are mounted within the systemboard they are connected through a 5 pin connector
at the top of the pedal. (where a 9v connection would be with a regular boss pedal)
You can however use any of these pedal seperatly by unscrewing the attachement plate.
(two screws above and below the pedal) and disconnecting the 5 pin multi connector.
After this procedure you can remove the attachment plate from the pedal by unscrewing al 4
of the corner screws, lifting the housing, removing the attachment plate and reassembling the
pedal housing without the plate. (it is normaly securely lodged in between the two halves of the pedal housing)
After this you are left with a regular stand alone pedal although there is no 9 volts adaptor connection
so you will either have to use batteries or a battery snap to barrel connector.

As far as the quality of the sound is concerned, I'd pay 100 euro's for the flanger and chorus alone if I had too.
(I allready own two of them for stereo operation) The Flanger can be either subtle "chorus-like" or extremely
over the top. "Speed" set at zero stops the flange cycle to let you use the "manual" and "resonance" knobs
to dial in all kinds of steel drum, ring modulator and allout weird effects.

The Chorus is a good analog Chorus comparable to a CE-2 allthough with it's own character.
Plug in a dummy jack in the "stereo output" at it's front panel and you get what to my opinion
is the most bubbly chewy vibrato I've ever heard!

Octaver is comparable to an OC-2 and nothing really special, the distortion is bland and uninspiring...

Just noticed Marty allready pointed some stuff out but I think some of my comment still stands.... 
(And nice to see you own some of those 01 series yamaha pedals as well Marty!)

PS: My first post after moving to New Zealand! (the Yamaha pedals are still stocked in The Netherlands)

[MartyMart]

My bands singer Blake, is from NZ and I've been there on tour, where are you ?
Gorgeous country BTW, it's "Middle Earth" down to a tee  !! 

Took me three years to find that Flanger after reading about it over at Jacques site
www.ts808.com  !!
I think it cost me £68 but worth EVERY penny  !

MM.

[any]

My bands singer Blake, is from NZ and I've been there on tour, where are you ?
Gorgeous country BTW, it's "Middle Earth" down to a tee  !! 

Took me three years to find that Flanger after reading about it over at Jacques site
www.ts808.com  !!
I think it cost me £68 but worth EVERY penny  !

MM.

I'm in Wellington, great people and lot's of places to gig here! (way more then what I'm used to in The Netherlands)
I'll pick up the DIY again in a couple of months, got some serious itching hands allready! 
If you ever find the CH-01 chorus, snatch it! It has the most wicked leslieish vibrato sound when you plug the dummy cable...