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warmlion
Copper Member
USA
5 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2008 : 16:26:25
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| Looking for information on a problem I have with my DC-2. I've searched all over and have not seen this mentioned anywhere else, so I'm wondering if it is just a problem with the pedal I own. My DC-2 distorts very easily. Even plugging a Strat with low output single coils straight into the pedal and strumming a chord too hard causes an unpleasant crackling distortion. Any signal hotter than straight from the guitar becomes almost unusable. Is the amount of headroom somehow tweakable within the pedal itself, is this just the nature of the pedal, or could it just be a problem with my pedal? Thanks. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 16:39:22
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Hi warmlion
Welcome to the forum from Australia.
I don't own a DC-2, so I am unfamiliar with them.
Perhaps one of the other members will chime in.
Has it always been like that?
Or did something happen to it recently?
Regards Dr. Bob |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 17:59:47
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| I never had any problems with unwanted distortion from my DC-2 even when using it with high output pickups. It sounds like a problem with your particular pedal. I don't know if there are any internal pots that would allow you to tweak the input level. You might want to try different cables and also clean the connectors with contact cleaner. Bad cables or dirty connections can cause crackling. |
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warmlion
Copper Member
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 18:42:54
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| Well, to make a long story short. I don't remember if it has always done this. A friend of mine bought it used back around 1990 and then gave it to me. At the time I used it a little and then it sat unused for years. I recently started using it to do some recording and found the problem. |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 20:50:55
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| if it sat for a long time it could be bad electrolytic caps |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 18:36:43
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I've had a peek at the schematic. It looks quite "standard" for this era Boss pedal - most of the gain stages use opamps and it would be rare for an opamp to fail the way you described. It might be an electrolytic as zentropa mentioned, but the type of distortion you described often also comes from failed silicone (transistor or chip).
It MIGHT be the low voltage supply rail. Do you have a way of checking the voltage at pin 1 of the BA718 chip? Should be 7VDC.
Other than that, it looks like it would take a signal generator and oscilloscope and trace the signal through the pedal.
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Edited by - Laurie on 07/05/2008 18:39:19 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 18:51:23
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Hi warmlion
I know this might sound dumb.
And I don't wish to discount, that fact that you might have a component related or PCB fault.
But are you running the DC-2 from a power adapter, or a battery?
If from a battery, have you tested it with a know good Alkaline type battery?
And can you measure the voltage on the battery you are currently using.
If from a power adapter, can you measure the voltage that the adapter gives out?
Is it a regulated one, or better still is it a genuine PSA type from Boss?
We have seen a few problems sometime back, that were from an aging battery, that was still in its plastic wrapper, but was really flat.
And remember that the electro. caps in power adapters dry out & go bad as well, because most adapters are fully sealed-no vents, & the internal temperatures do get quite hot, leading to the drying out of the electrolyte inside the electrolytic caps.
Regards Dr. Bob
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warmlion
Copper Member
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 19:19:37
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| Thanks everyone for the replies. I am using a fairly new PSA adapter to power it, about a year old. I don't have the technical know how to trace the signal path with a scope, so I'll probably have someone take a look at it. Thanks again. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 19:34:54
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quote:
Originally posted by warmlion
Thanks everyone for the replies. I am using a fairly new PSA adapter to power it, about a year old. I don't have the technical know how to trace the signal path with a scope, so I'll probably have someone take a look at it. Thanks again.
Hi warmlion
Have you actually tried it with a known good battery?
Does your PSA adapter work Ok, on other pedals?
Regards Dr. Bob
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 19:37:54
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quote:
Originally posted by warmlion
Thanks everyone for the replies. I am using a fairly new PSA adapter to power it, about a year old. I don't have the technical know how to trace the signal path with a scope, so I'll probably have someone take a look at it. Thanks again.
Not sure where in the USA you are, but if you wanted to send it to Canada it would be no problem to have a look at it for you. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2008 : 01:15:48
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| A friend has just given me his DC-2 to do some maintenance on (fixing an intermittent switch, etc). I'll have a listen and see if it does anything like you are describing. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2008 : 07:37:56
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Welcome to Bossarea warmlion!  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2008 : 14:43:21
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Just tried the DC-2 and it shows no sign of distortion even with a really hot signal coming in from the CS-3 (gain cranked all the way).
There IS a bunch of crackling on one of the outputs - from a dirty output socket - but it's not distorted, just crackly.
Looks like you've got a dead one pardner. |
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Topic |
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DC-2 distorts easily
