crybaby problems

[msclford]

I took apart my crybaby tonight because I wanted to switch a few things around after modding it a while back. I did the true bypass, gain resistor, vocal resistor, low range cap, and mid boost resistor mods found at this page, and also removed the buffer circuit last time. This time I wanted to replace the gain resistor with the original value, and switch to a different model of cap for the low range. When I went to test it out tonight, it was dead! Signal passed through when the effect was turned off, but not when on. I tried a good battery, made sure that it was powered, but with no luck. I'm a beginner at electronics - any advice? What should I check first? Help!!

[msclford]

I've tried desoldering and resoldering the parts and even the switch that I put in, with no luck. If I plug the cords into the wrong jacks, it does let some sound through when engaged, but it's kind of a backward volume pedal rather than a wah. I've tried testing for voltage between the ground wire and about every connection on the board. I'm stumped. Any advice how I should go about troubleshooting this? How much would I have to pay someone to figure it out for me if I don't prove to be capable?

[jaysg]

You could dig in deeper and buy a replacement board at BYOC. Either a) bad component, b) bad solder joint, c) mis-wire.

[msclford]

Sorry, Andreas from the website emailed me and I never updated this thread on the board. Turns out it was something simple - I had the wrong value in there for the resistor. I put a 390k in instead of 390ohm.

[TD_Madden]

which model Crybaby and how old? I have a new "standard" model that I bought a couple replacement boards for so I could test mods. Only about $20on eBay for each of the boards. I also bought a replacement board (more $'s) for the "Jimi Hendrix" model, but it turns out the only difference is one cap's value.....

I've also been playing with both a red and a yellow Fasel inductor..so far, the red seems to be the one I prefer (clearer sounding). Sounds GREAT in the hendrix board.

[TD_Madden]

I also left the buffer inplace.....from what I've read, there's no great advantage to removing it.

[msclford]

I don't know exactly how old. I bought it off of a friend, the board is green on both sides, if that says anything. How big of a difference does the inductor make on the overall sound of the wah? Is it subtle, or drastic?
BTW, I had to chuckle when I saw that the Hendrix wah costs more. I read that about the only difference being that one cap when I was studying up on mine. I did change that cap, and I like it better with the .022.

[TD_Madden]

I wanted to have the board around to play-with......but that certainly IS an expensive cap at $17....

The inductor change does seem to make it clearer, but maybe not worth it in a stage situation.

[Spence]

Actually, the right inductor makes a massive difference and especially in a live situation. The halo inductor found in the Clyde McCoy Wah pedals were really a holy grail. I have made a lot of halo inductors and all my customers agree that their wah pedals become the pedal they have been looking for all along.

[spiderman2812]

This site may help http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castl...enfuz/wah.html I used it to do my mods. I would start 1st by checking the switch with a continuity meter to make sure you have it wired right. hope this helps

[msclford]

This site may help http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castl...enfuz/wah.html I used it to do my mods. I would start 1st by checking the switch with a continuity meter to make sure you have it wired right. hope this helps

I actually fixed this quite a while ago. It turned out to be a resistor that I had misread, i.e. 270k instead of 270 ohm. Thanks, though.