Crackling output on Boss pedal

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othomas2
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Crackling output on Boss pedal

Post by othomas2 »

I just bought a Boss RV3 (which is great !!) and there's a scuffling, crackling noise on the output 'A' mono jack socket.

I assume is that, due to the output B working fine without noise.

I've used some air duster and even some switch cleaner but to no avail. I've tried different leads as well.

Weird thing is there has been stints where it has been quiet....

Reckon there could be a loose wire perhaps ? or a faulty socket ?


any help would be appreciated.

thanks
O
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SGJarrod
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Re: Crackling output on Boss pedal

Post by SGJarrod »

othomas2 wrote: Reckon there could be a loose wire perhaps ? or a faulty socket ?
these 2 things would be the most logical.... does it crackle when u wiggle the cable in the jack?...if so its more than likely a bad jack
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch ;)
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Post by othomas2 »

Not is doesn't seem to differ when I do that... kinda sound like mild out of tune radio with static type noise. You certainly couldn't live with it, as it's pretty audible. It does seem to differ a little when moving it, but not necessarily the jack itself, just the unit as a whole.

I just spent a good 2 hours messing with it... no improvement. :(

I've tried about 5 different cables
Opened it up and blew inside and in the jack socket itself. (it's an enclosed jack block- or whatever you call it)
Tried switch cleaner (not sure I should have)
tried very fine sandpaper on the terminal incase of corrosion.
Tried battery power, tired powering direct.
tried hitting it.... nothing....
The only thing I haven't tried is setting it on fire which is quite tempting right now.

I'm now wondering if I can make do with input B instead ? Would there be any difference in comparison to input A mono ? they certainly sound the same I think.

Arghh... I'm sure this only happens to me. Thinking about buying a can of 'Air Duster' and seeing if that will do anything.

Could someone even fix this being digital and all ?
Last edited by othomas2 on Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SGJarrod
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Post by SGJarrod »

othomas2 wrote: Could someone even fix this ?
i'm sure someone can...but is reall hard to diagnose in a thrad...... is it new, take it back... u work at a shop right?...do u deal with Boss warranties there?
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch ;)
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Post by othomas2 »

No, it was discontinued a long time ago... they're pretty sought after now, mainly due to artist relation. I just paid £110 on this one secondhand which is a good price. :shock:

We do deal with Boss, I wonder how they'd feel about looking at it....
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I had it posted to the shop, plugged it in... it was noisy !! I sprayed it with the air duster at work... didn't check again there. Got it home plugged it in. Deadly quiet !! I assumed it was just the amp / guitar at the shop or whatever that was'nt liking it, rather than the air duster.... so now I'm wondering if that did have some affect even just temporarily.

One day later... it's noisy again... hmmm....
Last edited by othomas2 on Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by johnnyseven »

I'd have a word with the person you bought it from and get them to pay for it to be repaired, unless they mentioned this fault when they sold it.
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George
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Post by George »

tl;dr - have you checked the soldered connections inside?
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Post by Doog »

Does any of the modes or settings have an effect on the problem?
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Post by othomas2 »

It all seems as should be inside... no loose wiring etc.

I've never noticed a single Boss pedal go wrong in the 3 or so years I've worked in the guitar shop. Trust my luck !!

I sprayed it with the newly bought air duster and still no improvement !!

I used it for a while just now and it has seemed to improve a little whilst playing. The audible scuffling noise seems to tame some what but it's still there !!

I've left it powered on incase that has some kind of affect on reducing the noise further.... perhaps it's had so little use in recent times that is just needs some use !?! *hoping.

The noise does seem to fluctuate when moving around the room... almost like RF interference. I'm pretty sure the jack socket is still at the heart of it... ut I don't know.

I investigated further and the 2 jack are mounted to a circuit board so I imagine it'll be a mare to sort out.

*sigh, I've drank a bottle of wine to try cheer myself up but it's still pissing me off lol. It sounds perfect in every other respect !!! Argh.

I've emailed the seller to see what he a has to say.

F**k S**t C**t !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Fran »

othomas2 wrote: *sigh, I've drank a bottle of wine to try cheer myself up but it's still pissing me off lol.
Have you tried pouring wine into the input jack? I read somewhere it works, but it has to be chardonnay.
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Post by othomas2 »

Only sauvignon blanc or Soave ??... not even sure thats a description of wine.

2 for £5 !! :D F**k this pedal.
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Post by George »

othomas2 wrote:Only sauvignon blanc or Soave ??... not even sure thats a description of wine.

2 for £5 !! :D F**k this pedal.
Sauvignon blanc is a wine made from that variety of grape; Soave is a wine from a region called Soave.

There. That's the one way I can actually help in this thread.
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Post by othomas2 »

Thanks !!!

If Fran says pour chardonnay into it then that's what I'll do.
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Post by johnnyseven »

othomas2 wrote:Thanks !!!

If Fran says pour chardonnay into it then that's what I'll do.
Don't expect the seller to honour whatever guarantee it may have had if you do.

Seriously though, if you bought it via ebay and the guy shrugs your complaint off - just lodge it as an 'item not as described' and ebay will side with you and you'll get your money back.
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Post by George »

Yep, eBay and PayPal will fight your honour to the hilt and claw it back if you did the transaction by the book.
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Post by othomas2 »

Like I said earlier, when I got home it was working fine... so I left good feedback.

Now I'm kinda screwed ...
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Post by George »

Still give it a shot, worst case scenario is they say you're not covered.
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Post by othomas2 »

Well, I phoned Roland to see if they could sort it.

They recommended I send it to an out of warranty repairs guy that previously worked for the Roland returns department for 25 years.

So this morning I shipped it to him. Right now I just want it sorted so he seems like a good man for the job. If he can't sort it then I'll just pay for return shipping.

Fingers crossed he can otherwise I'll sell it on as faulty and find another. Win some you lose some....

thanks
O
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Post by johnnyseven »

othomas2 wrote:Like I said earlier, when I got home it was working fine... so I left good feedback.

Now I'm kinda screwed ...
You should still be able to claim through ebay, seriously they'll probably still side with you even if you have left feedback. Just because the fault wasn't apparent when you first used it doesn't mean it wasn't there, maybe you were so excited you just didn't notice it.
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Post by othomas2 »

I don't mind doing that... but surely the seller will want the unit back ? Surely they'll take from his account ?

I can't see how I'll get money back plus keep the (possibly repaired ?) pedal.