Schlippy Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Anyone know of a good mail order pedal repair service? Bought a fuzzbox off here a few months back and the f***er up and died on me a couple of weeks after I started using it. Gave it to my usual pedals guy who had the backplate off and just handed it back immedately as too complicated for him, gave it a to a local "specialist" who kept it for two months before admitting defeat and passing it back as well. The manufacturer doesn't exist any more (it's the Lucid Audio FX Fuzz-O-Potamus, think it's been through more than one pair of hands on this board lol) so there's no way of getting advice about what went into the original build unfortunately. If it didn't sound so good for the brief time I had it I'd bin it off but it very quickly became my favourite fuzz and I'd really like to get it repaired if possible. Does sound like it's a bit of a nightmare inside tho. I'm based near Leeds, I've tried all the "big" names locally and while one isn't answering the phone, everyone else has passed on it so it's time to look further afield. Anyone know a good pedal repair outfit that would be up for a challenge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Is it analogue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schlippy Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 Appears to be, aye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Ok that should make it easier. Totally dead, you say? I wonder if one of the members of the DIY pedals thread would be able to diagnose. I have used a few places in the past including Keld Ampworks and Owen Electronics, but everywhere seems busy at the moment and it’s like small jobs aren’t worth their time (not a comment on these guys specifically). I wonder if you can find out who owned the company and get in touch. Luckily analogue fuzz circuits are fairly straightforward so it should be easy to fix (says me with zero electrical knowledge) so I should think any repair shop should be able to do it if they have the time and the inclination. But as you’ve found, that’s not often the case! Just another idea, you could try the University electronics department as they may have hobbyists willing to do it. I know it’s happened at the University of York before; they even have a repair ‘club’ - can dig out the details for you if you like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Two or maybe 3 transistors would indicate a fuzz face derivative - there's a wealth of information available online for this type of circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schlippy Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 Cheers folks, will give the universities a try and keep pestering anywhere that offers pedal repairs I guess. It's not a fuzz face clone by any means, the base sound is like a richer, "creamier" muff but with a ton of tonal options and a gated, sputtery "rip" that can be blended in, along with a clean blend. Was surprised to see how relatively straightforward the circuit looks, I imagine some of those components may be fulfilling dual roles, hence the bafflement of everyone I've shown it to. There's certainly some strange mojo under the hood, but in a good way lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Someone would need to trace the circuit out. I know a pedal expert, but he isn't taking on any repairs right now. A more in-focus close up with the idents on the transistors might help a bit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 On 15/01/2024 at 23:21, Schlippy said: Cheers folks, will give the universities a try and keep pestering anywhere that offers pedal repairs I guess. It's not a fuzz face clone by any means, the base sound is like a richer, "creamier" muff but with a ton of tonal options and a gated, sputtery "rip" that can be blended in, along with a clean blend. Was surprised to see how relatively straightforward the circuit looks, I imagine some of those components may be fulfilling dual roles, hence the bafflement of everyone I've shown it to. There's certainly some strange mojo under the hood, but in a good way lol. Here's the UoY workshop https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guitar-effects-pedal-workshop-tickets-799919840777?aff=oddtdtcreator I don't think you need to be a student to go, could be of interest Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Take two sharp pictures, i.e. one from each side of the PCBA (veroboard). I am pretty confident we can steer you to the right direction with the unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schlippy Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 That course is for university staff & students only, alas, otherwise I would totes have had some of that. Thanks for the advice and offers of help, have found a small shop relatively close by in Huddersfield who didn't seem to think it'd be an issue to fix, they gave us a two week turnaround so hopefully I'll have some good news to share soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 this may help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 On 18/01/2024 at 14:01, Schlippy said: That course is for university staff & students only, alas, otherwise I would totes have had some of that. Thanks for the advice and offers of help, have found a small shop relatively close by in Huddersfield who didn't seem to think it'd be an issue to fix, they gave us a two week turnaround so hopefully I'll have some good news to share soon. Let us know how it goes and who you used in Hudds, I’ve got a friend there so it would be good to know if a decent repair shop should I need anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 it's totally fixable, take a few hours to do rough trace .... I don't see any power protection diodes so imagine a power issues... I would start looking at that grey box and what that is and what would happen to it if over powered/reverse powered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 I also can't see two wires coming off the power socket - but presume they must be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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