Ludwig Phase II, OLLLLLD Pedal

[Mars Amp Repair]

Hello folks,
Has anyone had any experience with this old pedal? I have repaired a problem of the pedal not working, but now it's a matter of 'how was this SUPPOSED to work when it was new!!' scenario.

Thanx to the good ole folks back in the day, there is a schematic glued to the inside of the unit, but it doesn't include all the switching on the top panel.

As with most analogue electronics like this, it has a multitude of adjustment trimmers only a few of which I have been able to determine what do.

At this point the main issue I need to ferret out is, the sound on the effects is very thin compared to bypass. Does anyone know if that is normal for this thing? Trying to trace the signal path through even with the schematic is very difficult.

I meter checked all the electrolytics for shorts & also jumped them to no avail.

The transistors all show proper voltages for they're particular species. According to the dealer, this model has been sold for nearly $4K so it is worth the time to repair it.

Anyone? thanx, glen

[ricach]

Found this comment in somebody's review of this on Harmony-Central:

The fuzz circuitry has very low output, and as a matter of fact, the whole unit has very low output in the signal process modes.

as I stated above, the unit has very low output. I verified this through converstions with three other owners of the unit. They all agree on this low output matter.

[Enzo]

If you HAVE the schematic, why not POST it?

[Mars Amp Repair]

ludwig phase II schemos

If you HAVE the schematic, why not POST it?

Good idea Enzo...I'll have to get my fax/scanner hooked up..it's a little squirrely to get it to scan properly though my Corel Paint program....glen

[Mars Amp Repair]

Ludwig Phase II schemos

Schematics attached...unfortunately without the interconnection diagram, it doesn't mean much. I hope this worked...glen

[Enzo]

Ooh, that will require some work to interpret.

[Mars Amp Repair]

Ooh, that will require some work to interpret.

Well,
I finally found some info on Harmony central lending some clues to what kind of effects this wierd pedal is supose to yield. 'OY-E,OY-E,OY-E,OY-E'. & it does that!
Sounds like me when I first layed eyes on that schematic

Also this unit has many slip on connectors on the 2 pcb's that all need to be hard wired after 40yrs of oxidation. That helped tremendously, also.

This unit like many analogue pedals has about 6 or 7 adjustment trimmers in it. I was able to determine what about 4 of them seem to do & get it aligned so it didn't oscillate, squeal, spindle, or mutilate the sound & actually make wah sounding type sounds.

The sound is very thin compared to the bypass mode (esp the fuzz), but many reviews on Harmony indicate that is normal.

glen

[52 Bill]

Have you checked all of the electrolytic caps in the signal chain? I've seen low frequency response die from dried out caps.