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durango95
Copper Member
Canada
20 Posts |
 Posted - 11/26/2009 : 09:30:55
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Hiya all. Just a question about the trim pot inside of my Boss CE-2 Chorus. First off its 1987 MIJ, and i was searching for one for quite some time before i found this one locally. I kept reading alot of posts about the trim pot inside, saying you can adjust the level of the chorus effect. So being a chorus junkie i was excited to open it up (i think it was its first time open) and crank that pot all the way up! Cranked up it sounded extremely distorted so i tested and played with it, dialing it back from max till it sounded perfect. Sex in a box i refer to it as! 
BUT!! Lately ive been sourcing out a late 70's PH-1..and reading up on it ive found posts saying to NOT touch the trim pot inside because you can fry some components or overload them somehow!! Now thats got me worried about my lovely CE-2!!
Can i damage my CE-2 or shorten its life by just having my trim pot turned up to ooze out all that sexy chorus sound?
Thanks!  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 09:39:13
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G'day!
The trim pots in the CE-2 and other Boss pedals are not designed to be user tweakable. They establish set-points required for the electronics to operate within design parameters to give the "best" sound. Moving a trim-pot from the factory setting will certainly degrade the sound somehow - as you noticed with the increase in distortion on the CE-2.
I have not heard of any instances where a mal-adjusted trim pot has caused physical damage to components in a Boss pedal. Perhaps Dr.Bob has more information about this?
That being said, my advice would always to be to ensure all trim pots are at the factory settings for optimal pedal performance......
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 11:08:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
G'day!
The trim pots in the CE-2 and other Boss pedals are not designed to be user tweakable. They establish set-points required for the electronics to operate within design parameters to give the "best" sound. Moving a trim-pot from the factory setting will certainly degrade the sound somehow - as you noticed with the increase in distortion on the CE-2.
I have not heard of any instances where a mal-adjusted trim pot has caused physical damage to components in a Boss pedal. Perhaps Dr.Bob has more information about this?
That being said, my advice would always to be to ensure all trim pots are at the factory settings for optimal pedal performance......
Hi durango95, Laurie & Guys
There is a lot of MIS-information on the web.
Relating specifically to Boss pedals, I don't know of a situation where incorrectly adjusted trim pots have damaged a pedal.
There are other instances in & on other gear, where this could happen.
but it's typically with higher power gear, like bias on power amps & bias on tube amps.
And some very old TV's.
I can imagine a situation, where some heavy handed individual may actually crack or break the trimpot/s, which would make it look & sound like adjusting the trimmers made the unit fail.
But like Laurie pointed out, it's best not to mess with them, unless you know the correct setup procedure.
And in most cases with time based effects like,
Chorus, Delay, Phasers & Flangers....
you will really need a Scope (CRO) to set the timpots correctly or back to factory specs.
Regards Dr. Bob  |
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Miky
Silver Member
Czech Republic
184 Posts |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
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durango95
Copper Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2009 : 03:31:01
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Thanks for all the replies! Boy do i ever feel like a real jackass  , I vaguely remember how much i turned it so i can definately try to bring it back to close to where i started. Well now i know what NOT to do ever ever again. Damn internet ive seen lotsa posts claiming that trim pot is adjustable, DOH.
*UPDATE* - I opened her back up to try and dial her back to stock. AND low and behold right at the point i felt i had moved it from, there is a drip of green resin glue looking stuff, that corresponds with a drip on the trim pot itself! Is that something boss might do in the factory once its set? Either way once set there it really does sound extra sweet so i feel it must be correct! Thanks again guys  |
Edited by - durango95 on 11/27/2009 07:27:06 |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2009 : 14:58:12
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quote:
Originally posted by durango95
there is a drip of green resin glue looking stuff, that corresponds with a drip on the trim pot itself! Is that something boss might do in the factory once its set?
Yes, sometimes there is a drop of wax to stop the trimpot from being moved... Handy if you want to get it back to where it was |
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kittenface
Bronze Member
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2009 : 22:26:20
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resale value (if you ever intend to sell it) just went way down - I've rejected several CE-2's because the trim pot was messed with - the 'green goop' is a sealant to lock in the factory settings
enjoy! |
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durango95
Copper Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2009 : 06:49:16
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ahhh yeah i figured i was losing resale once i removed the first screw hah. Its all good tho, I got a good deal on the CE-2 too, little over half of what a new CE-5 would cost and im just such a huge fan of the chorus especially the vintage analog stuff i don't think i'll ever want to sell it  Now to source out a MIJ Flanger and Phaser  |
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71Smallbox
Copper Member
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2009 : 21:25:11
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Ever since I got my CE-5(I meant to say CE-2), I haven't touched my Electro Harmonix Small Clone. Great pedal!
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Edited by - 71Smallbox on 12/04/2009 17:34:49 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 15:12:36
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quote:
Originally posted by 71Smallbox
Ever since I got my CE-5, I haven't touched my Electro Harmonix Small Clone. Great pedal!
Hi 71Smallbox
That's a powerfully positive vote for the CE-5.
We/I usually he the story the other way around.
Do you know if you have the Analog one with the twin 8-Pin BBD's chips?
Or the later on with SMD Surface mount components?
Any secret setting you might want to share with the guys here?
Regards Dr. Bob |
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 15:52:05
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quote:
Originally posted by kittenface
resale value (if you ever intend to sell it) just went way down - I've rejected several CE-2's because the trim pot was messed with - the 'green goop' is a sealant to lock in the factory settings.
If it's put back to spec on a scope it's as good as new.. most collectors I know here don't check that stuff in a used pedal. Even I just put my trust in BOSS durability and repairability most of the time..
IF a pedal is being sold as NOS, they should absolutely be untouched.. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 15:59:54
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| Putting trim pots back to factory setting is easy, if a little time consuming. There are definitive instructions about how to do it floating around for several pedals - CE-2/3 and DM-2/3 at least. If the instructions are followed by someone competent, there will be no way to tell it wasn't done at the factory. |
Edited by - Laurie on 12/04/2009 16:28:11 |
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71Smallbox
Copper Member
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 16:27:14
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quote:
quote:Originally posted by 71Smallbox
Ever since I got my CE-5, I haven't touched my Electro Harmonix Small Clone. Great pedal!
Hi 71Smallbox
That's a powerfully positive vote for the CE-5.
We/I usually he the story the other way around.
Do you know if you have the Analog one with the twin 8-Pin BBD's chips?
Or the later on with SMD Surface mount components?
Any secret setting you might want to share with the guys here?
Regards Dr. Bob
Sorry everyone, I meant to say CE-2, apparently proofreading isn't my strong point! |
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 18:03:51
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quote:
Sorry everyone, I meant to say CE-2, apparently proofreading isn't my strong point!
:) Your original comment made sense to me since I've always felt that the analog CE-5 is the one chorus pedal I would keep if I could only have 1 (that and the Arion SCH-1 if I could only have 2). I kept a CE-2 just to "have" one. |
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 18:08:38
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quote:
Originally posted by kittenface
resale value (if you ever intend to sell it) just went way down - I've rejected several CE-2's because the trim pot was messed with - the 'green goop' is a sealant to lock in the factory settings
enjoy!
Wow, I hope you never buy anything from me.  I always put an analog chorus on the scope before I sell it & make sure the bias is set properly. I don't want buyers rejecting it because it isn't right (doesn't sound quite right or distorts easily). Many times, the way the goop is on the pot, it stays formed and separates cleanly from the pot & looks undisturbed. |
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CE-2 Trim Pot
