Wah repair

[njschenck]

So, I built a wah for a friend.  Worked great - has a Q selector and everything.  Only problem is, he dropped it and now it's not working.  At first, there was no sound when engaged, but now, after replacing both transistors and all capacitors on the main board, there's sound when engaged - only, it doesn't wah.  The Q Select changes the Q audibly, but the rocking does nothing.  Checked a new inductor, but I haven't had the inductor in anything to know if it's functioning properly.  Any thoughts... besides give up...?

Thanks

[jonathan perez]

get a meter that can measure inductance, see if the inductor works.

check wires, resolder everything.

[Barcode80]

sounds an awful lot like a broken inductor. sounds stupid, but have you checked the pot/gear area to make sure everything is rolling correctly?

[njschenck]

Not stupid at all - I did check the impedance of the pot and it seems to be working fine.  It's weird, but for some reason, despite the fact that the signal, though not correct, is going through the circuit, I can't get my multimeter to beep when I check for a connection between tip to tip... I don't get it.  This thing worked (but it was dropped, I think)...

[Barcode80]

tip to tip won't read continuity unless it is true bypass because off the resistors/caps/etc in the path. the DMM will only beep when there is strict continuity, with no or miniscule resistance. if the pot is working properly, then it sounds like either the inductor is bad or there is a short somewhere between 2 of the pot lugs, which would mean it has a constant resistance which would prevent it from sweeping. also, you can get crybaby innards real cheap on ebay, might be worth a couple bucks to buy one to test certain parts (i.e. if you wire that board up in place, does the pot sweep then, etc.

[njschenck]

That's a good point - it's been so long since I've finished this it seems I've forgotten my basics...

Thanks for the tip on the cry baby innards.  I'd already ordered a Fasel inductor before consulting the forum for advice because it seems like a busted inductor, but I don't trust myself enough to go with it.

Thanks again.

[jonathan perez]

inductors dont break too easily once installed, unless you drop it with the bottom plate open and onto a rocky ground or something similar.

again, i would check every solder.