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guirat
Silver Member
United Kingdom
186 Posts |
 Posted - 01/12/2007 : 18:37:57
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I've been testing out a TW-1 I bought recently.
It works, but intermittently.
The problem seems to be with the Down/Up switch, the signal is being cut at this point in the circuit.
All wires seem to be connected properly, and if I physically push down on the switch I get the effect through it. If I don't push down then there is no effect (or any sound at all). Pass-through sound works fine. Could the switch be worn out? It only seems to be part of the circuit when the effect is 'on'.
I'm not sure whether to try spraying out the switch with contact cleaner (can I get this from somewhere like Maplins?) or if I'll need to replace the switch. Would anyone know a good place to look for a replacement switch, it's a 2-position. I could open it up again and look for any markings on it if required.
Thanks. |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2007 : 18:53:54
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yup i would try contact cleaner first. if that doesnt do it, i would try touching up the wires with some fresh solder, and if that doesnt work, i would recommend calling roland for a replacement switch. just make sure that the switch is the problem. |
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guirat
Silver Member
United Kingdom
186 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2007 : 18:59:58
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Thanks, I'll have a look for some cleaner next time I can visit the shop. I've never used it before, I assume it's a bit like WD-40? (don't worry, I won't spray anything in there except 'official contact cleaner').
It's good to hear Roland may have a suitable part, it must still be in use on another current pedal? I'll call them if the switch doesn't work after a spray. |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2007 : 14:52:42
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actually ive heard of people spraying air into their electronics before. my friend had a non working Playstation before and he took out his air compressor and blew it out and it worked fine.
it doesnt sound like this would help you for a pedal, but if you have one, its worth a shot |
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guirat
Silver Member
United Kingdom
186 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2007 : 01:57:07
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I got a can of contact cleaner tonight, so had a go at repairs.
Here are pictures of the insides of the 1978 Touch Wah TW-1:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah01.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah02.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah03.jpg
Thanks StratoSphere for your comment, "make sure that the switch is the problem". After opening up the pedal I soon found that my initial diagnosis was wrong, at least it seems so at this point.
First I took apart the main stomp switch and cleaned it out, and found I now had passthrough and effect sound. Cleaning the up/down toggle switch had no effect - this switch had been working all along I think. If it's of interest, the toggle switch is on-on, 6A 125V AC, MS 328A Japan.
One problem I do notice though, unless anyone else has this pedal and finds the same: When the effect is on, the SENS pot acts like a volume control, the effect only being as loud as passthrough when turned to the extreme left (as opposed to extreme right as one might think). Turning it to the extreme right turns down the volume to zero. Is this normal behaviour, or a dirty/faulty pot?
I have it working now, but I can't help feeling something isn't right, unless that pot is maxed out you're going to get a volume drop when the pedal is engaged.
Edit>> Unless this is the way a TW-1 works, I haven't actually had the chance to use it at volume yet. I know it is sensitive to pick attack, so maybe it sounded very low because I was gently strumming the strings while testing.
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Edited by - guirat on 01/18/2007 02:03:22 |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2007 : 13:27:24
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| the TW-1 is very dynamic. if you pick hard enough, you might even hear a slight popping sound. you can hear this on the CS-1 as well and thats why i love both of these pedals. ill check my TW-1 later to see exactly what the Sens knob does. ill see if mine keeps volume |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2007 : 13:56:01
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quote:
Originally posted by guirat
I got a can of contact cleaner tonight, so had a go at repairs.
Here are pictures of the insides of the 1978 Touch Wah TW-1:
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah01.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah02.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k134/redxxvi/boss/touch_wah03.jpg
Thanks StratoSphere for your comment, "make sure that the switch is the problem". After opening up the pedal I soon found that my initial diagnosis was wrong, at least it seems so at this point.
First I took apart the main stomp switch and cleaned it out, and found I now had passthrough and effect sound. Cleaning the up/down toggle switch had no effect - this switch had been working all along I think. If it's of interest, the toggle switch is on-on, 6A 125V AC, MS 328A Japan.
One problem I do notice though, unless anyone else has this pedal and finds the same: When the effect is on, the SENS pot acts like a volume control, the effect only being as loud as passthrough when turned to the extreme left (as opposed to extreme right as one might think). Turning it to the extreme right turns down the volume to zero. Is this normal behaviour, or a dirty/faulty pot?
I have it working now, but I can't help feeling something isn't right, unless that pot is maxed out you're going to get a volume drop when the pedal is engaged.
Edit>> Unless this is the way a TW-1 works, I haven't actually had the chance to use it at volume yet. I know it is sensitive to pick attack, so maybe it sounded very low because I was gently strumming the strings while testing.
Hi guirat,
I think your pedal works fine.
Do you have a clear switch TW-1? Not really sure if I understand your problem, but it seems that you feel pedal does not work when you press it down, press down again and it works. Is that right?
Another thing: With a lot of older pedals you get this: Switch them on and a nanosecond there is no sound, this is especially the case with the first issue=clear switch, silverscrew, pedals.
As far as the Dynamics of the TW-1 is concerned: It surely is a strange beast, and your findings about the Sens. knob acting as a volume are not entirely wrong: The TW-1 is very different from any other Dynamic Filters I do know of, it seems that the filter does stay in one area for a while, and you can change this by having the Sens. on low.
Try and experiment, and listen to what it does. Try it first with clean sound as your signal will be so much clearer so you can hear all the changes.
Overal I think the TW-1 is great,but you need to get used to it a little. Recently I have been usings it for applications where I would normally use a conventional Wah for, and I really like it, but the pedal can still surprise me at times, get me into thinking:"Heh is there something wrong here?"
Your "Volumedrop" is the filter hanging in there, yep very unusual for a Dynamic Wah to stay that long in one area, so keep the Sens control down, also try playing with different dynamics, the harder you play, the longer the filter stays in one area, but keeping the Sens. down should eliminate that problem.
I know the whole feel is strange and makes one feel:"There must be something wrong here"
Funny that there have been so little discussion about the nature of this pedal on the rest of the forum, perhaps this post may make other members check out their TW-1's more closely [Keep playing those pedals, instead of keeping them in your collection behind closed doors ] |
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guirat
Silver Member
United Kingdom
186 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2007 : 16:30:10
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Thanks very much for your replies,
I've been having fun today playing through the pedal, trying different settings. It can be almost like a phaser pedal on some settings.
The volume drop I mentioned yesterday doesn't seem to be there now that I am actually playing normally with a plectrum - effect and passthrough can be set to be at the same level. When I tested it yesterday, I had the pedal case apart, maybe that was affecting the sound (lack of case earth perhaps?).
There is still an occasional momentary drop in volume/scratchiness which could be a connection somewhere in the pedal (or even my guitar, which I hastily wired up, it needs wiring properly).
It is a clear switch, yes. I'll try keeping the SENS down as you suggest and see if it helps. Thanks.
Edit>> It does seem to be the guitar output jack that is causing the current dropouts. The pedal's really good, it brightens up the tone a lot (well, it is a wah I suppose ), and on some settings seems to add to the distortion if I play the strings hard, maybe acting like a booster? I like the sound anyway. |
Edited by - guirat on 01/18/2007 17:30:38 |
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TW-1 Down/Up Switch
