New pedal - faulty or normal ? inc. video ** ALL FIXED NOW**

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:41 pm

Just picked up a Super Hard On clone last night on a whim from a London pedal maker.

When I collected it, he mentioned about it being very noisy on the upper register but he put this down to his cheap Behringer power supply. I requested a 9v connection be added which he said he hadn't done before to this pedal

I don't hear excessive noise or hum like I thought he suggested, and realise the crackle is normal... but is this sudden, slightly glitchy volume increase at 95% anything to be concerned about ?

[youtube][/youtube]

Does it happen with the real thing ? Should it be generally louder all the time ?

It happens with batteries or p/supply and is even noticeable on his original demos here:

at around 55 secs & 1.54

[youtube][/youtube]

Whats your verdict ?

cheers
Owen

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:53 pm

Looks like he used the wrong taper pot. It should be 5k reverse log. These are a little more expensive/trickier to get hold of than regular log or linear taper pots.

Open it up and if the pot doesn't say C5k on it return the pedal and ask him to build it properly.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:57 pm

Thanks, it has >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>V

@
alpha
OL3

on it.

Real problem ?

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:05 pm

Ah that's the rear of the pot.

You wanna see the front, where it says B250k on this one:

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:14 pm

Thanks !!

It has:

B 4.7 k

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:05 pm

Yep it's the wrong taper. If you mention this to the builder he should offer to replace it.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:10 pm

Do I request a 5k reverse log with C5k stamped on it... ?

or I can also request a refund with in 60 days.

Thanks for your help Tim, much appreciated. I should have held out and had you or mike build me something.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:40 pm

The Big Knob Pedals (hurr) guy outta just swap the pot out for you and offer to pay postage. That's what I'd do anyway.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:57 pm

Cheers Tim, I've emailed him so we'll see what happens.

Are these pots significantly more money that the ones that he's used or are they just less common ?

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:43 pm

Ok, so we emailed back and forward for most of the evening and he's trying to help me out.

He agreed that this should spread and graduate the volume increase, and If I get my hands on correct pot then he's happy to fit it.

He suggested this one: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=116 which works out about Â£6 delivered.

Does this seem right for the job ? Shall I go ahead ahead and pick one up ?

cheers
Owen

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:48 pm

Isn't that a reverse audio pot? Didn't Tim say you should get a reverse log pot?

It's a bit cheeky of him to get you to do the running around to fix the pot on the pedal he made. If he'll give you your money back I have a SHO clone made by Haze that is sitting around at home doing nothing at the moment.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:54 pm

Pfft, I dunno anymore...

Does yours have any similar issues ? wonder what pots Haze used or how he got around it. What would you want for it ?

To be honest with you I kinda prefer my cheapo LPB-1 for my applications

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:21 am

audio taper = log taper. remember logs from high school math? that is how the human ear perceives a smooth taper; in a curve rather than a straight line. linear taper will sound like a sudden jump in volume.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:45 am

othomas2 wrote:Ok, so we emailed back and forward for most of the evening and he's trying to help me out.

He agreed that this should spread and graduate the volume increase, and If I get my hands on correct pot then he's happy to fit it.

He suggested this one: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=116 which works out about Â£6 delivered.

Does this seem right for the job ? Shall I go ahead ahead and pick one up ?

cheers
Owen

He is taking the piss out of you. No way in hell should you be hunting for and paying P&P for a part that anyone worth their salt (no pun intended) building Super Hard On pedals should be using.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:54 am

Mages wrote:audio taper = log taper. remember logs from high school math? that is how the human ear perceives a smooth taper; in a curve rather than a straight line. linear taper will sound like a sudden jump in volume.

Yeah, i'm getting confused between log and linear taper - sorry.

othomas2 - i've PM'd you.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:03 am

Mike wrote:
othomas2 wrote:Ok, so we emailed back and forward for most of the evening and he's trying to help me out.

He agreed that this should spread and graduate the volume increase, and If I get my hands on correct pot then he's happy to fit it.

He suggested this one: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=116 which works out about Â£6 delivered.

Does this seem right for the job ? Shall I go ahead ahead and pick one up ?

cheers
Owen
He is taking the piss out of you. No way in hell should you be hunting for and paying P&P for a part that anyone worth their salt (no pun intended) building Super Hard On pedals should be using.

Probably is. However, he added a 9v adaptor in with the price and has been very quick to respond to emails etc etc. I paid Â£50 for it. He protests that if he was to add the correct pot which are few and far between then that would eat into his margins significantly... and that no one in the uk stocks these. I guess you get what you pay for in the end and he's building to a certain price point. He's built 40 of these so far so I'm surprised no one else has brought this up with him before.

Do you have these pots in stock Mike ? I'd rather pay you to sort this out if you were willing. parts & labour, waiting times not an issue.

cheers
Owen

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:12 am

othomas2 wrote:He protests that if he was to add the correct pot which are few and far between then that would eat into his margins significantly...

It's hardly a tiny cityscape in there - I think his profit margins can take it.

I think he's living up to his name, frankly...

Post by **Mike** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:13 am

othomas2 wrote:
Mike wrote:
othomas2 wrote:Ok, so we emailed back and forward for most of the evening and he's trying to help me out.

He agreed that this should spread and graduate the volume increase, and If I get my hands on correct pot then he's happy to fit it.

He suggested this one: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=116 which works out about Â£6 delivered.

Does this seem right for the job ? Shall I go ahead ahead and pick one up ?

cheers
Owen
He is taking the piss out of you. No way in hell should you be hunting for and paying P&P for a part that anyone worth their salt (no pun intended) building Super Hard On pedals should be using.
Probably is. However, he added a 9v adaptor in with the price and has been very quick to respond to emails etc etc. I paid Â£50 for it. He protests that if he was to add the correct pot which are few and far between then that would eat into his margins significantly... and that no one in the uk stocks these. I guess you get what you pay for in the end and he's building to a certain price point. He's built 40 of these so far so I'm surprised no one else has brought this up with him before.

Do you have these pots in stock Mike ? I'd rather pay you to sort this out if you were willing. parts & labour, waiting times not an issue.

cheers
Owen

yeah, but I'm off to the US next Tuesday until the 27th March unfortunately. Otherwise I would have definitely sorted it out with you. The offer still stands if you want to wait.

However the fact he's made 40 of these all incorrect without even the correct value OR taper pot kind of speaks volumes (again no pun intended) about his intentions. He's not interested in making a decent product or even providing you decent service (since when has a 9V socket been something you need to ask for - batteries are SHIT for the planet and have no benefit in sound in this design).

What I can do is just send you a C5K pot to get it fixed with if you want that route instead, pretty sure I have some lying around (by the way, they're not all that expensive, and if he's not buying parts from outside the UK, he's doing it wrong.)

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:24 am

Well they're British made by an American so I think it's all a little confused & his agenda isn't in the right place.

Ok Mike, if you could ship over one of those pots that'd be extremely helpful !!! I will of course give you what you're owed and more... I reckon I could solder up this bad boy...

thanks
Owen

Post by **Mike** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:30 am

No problems buddy, drop me a PM with the address and I'll check tonight and hopefully get in the post for you tomorrow.

I'm sure you'll solder it in fine but if you have trouble I can fix it for you when I'm back (or Tim would do so also I'm sure)

New pedal - faulty or normal ? inc. video ALL FIXED NOW

New pedal - faulty or normal ? inc. video ALL FIXED NOW