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Picked up a broken Whammy 4, hate myself.

Started by AntKnee, October 08, 2014, 02:15:08 PM

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AntKnee

(Also posted this at DIYSB.)

Well, I got this thing for next to nothing, and figured I would try to get it working.

D'oh!

The Whammy powers up, some lights constantly remain on, and it only puts out clean signal regardless of the output used or if you hit the footswitch. I can't get any effect from it. I can't get the lights to turn off. I got a new factory AC power supply, and it still has the same problem.

It may not even be worth the trouble, but I will take any advice anyone has on where to start poking at this thing. It does not seem to be the typical power supply or calibration problem.

Here's a pic of the pedal with the random lights stuck on.
I build, and once in a while I might sell, pedals as "Vertigo Effects".

Jopn

Tried this?

What is the reset and pedal calibration for the Whammy 4?
Disconnect power.
Press and hold the silver footswitch.
Connect power.
Wait until the light blinks several times.
Let go of footswitch.
Move the pedal all the way through it's full range of motion.
Press and release the silver footswitch again.

AntKnee

Quote from: Jopn on October 08, 2014, 02:23:47 PM
Tried this?

What is the reset and pedal calibration for the Whammy 4?
Disconnect power.
Press and hold the silver footswitch.
Connect power.
Wait until the light blinks several times.
Let go of footswitch.
Move the pedal all the way through it's full range of motion.
Press and release the silver footswitch again.

Yes, sir, I have tried it.
It turns on and goes straight to the odd lights turned on. It won't calibrate.
In more detail, after connecting the power cable it does nothing for a couple of seconds, then goes to the pictured lights that are stuck on. The footswitch does nothing. I hear only bypassed signal through both outputs.
I build, and once in a while I might sell, pedals as "Vertigo Effects".

Jopn

Anything suspect looking on the inside?  True bypass mods on these are fairly frequent.  This could be one of those mods that went wrong (cut the wrong trace).

copachino

have you tried a switch???, may be that the switch its worng, i have this one bad too, but mine its something really hard to fix
Affiliations: madbeanpedals fan and pedal porn lover....

Govmnt_Lacky

#5
Posted this on the DIYSB site as well....

Found on several sites (including the Digitech forum) that the power supply is a problem with these. Allegedly, it does not cut the mustard as far as voltage goes. There were a few reports of people using a Line6 or POD power supply and it working great.

http://digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_thread.asp?productid=42&thread_id=1025792676

Scroll to the bottom for more info. TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK  :o

EDIT: More info here too

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=82383.0

flanagan0718

Look at it this way. You now have a BADASS enclosure you can strip and use for a super cool build if you cant get it going!

selfdestroyer

Quote from: flanagan0718 on October 08, 2014, 06:22:25 PM
Look at it this way. You now have a BADASS enclosure you can strip and use for a super cool build if you cant get it going!

Agreed, Weener and a 1 knob fuzz and you would not have to drill a hole lol

Cody

AntKnee

Quote from: flanagan0718 on October 08, 2014, 06:22:25 PM
Look at it this way. You now have a BADASS enclosure you can strip and use for a super cool build if you cant get it going!

I know! I have a couple other back up ideas to explore if I can't fix it.

I will update after I open it up for probing later.
I build, and once in a while I might sell, pedals as "Vertigo Effects".

flanagan0718

Quote from: AntKnee on October 08, 2014, 08:31:28 PM
Quote from: flanagan0718 on October 08, 2014, 06:22:25 PM
Look at it this way. You now have a BADASS enclosure you can strip and use for a super cool build if you cant get it going!

I know! I have a couple other back up ideas to explore if I can't fix it.

I will update after I open it up for probing later.

GUTS GUTS GUTS

AntKnee

Well, I don't see any obvious cut traces or attempts to bypass it or anything.

Gut pictures here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/41onp0wdweu6iwl/AAAFWIZwjPaehaTlh3RQVhFka

I build, and once in a while I might sell, pedals as "Vertigo Effects".

pk1802

Maybe try reseating the EEPROM(I think that is what it is called???). On the Line 6 x4 pedals, reseating sometimes does the trick if the pedal is glitching out like that.

Jopn

Quote from: AntKnee on October 09, 2014, 11:06:08 PM
Well, I don't see any obvious cut traces or attempts to bypass it or anything.

Gut pictures here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/41onp0wdweu6iwl/AAAFWIZwjPaehaTlh3RQVhFka

The regulators certainly look like they've taken some heat.

wgc

That big Motorola qfp looks like it has some solder bridges on a few pins. Some might be intended but hard to say since not all of them look uniform. You can try wicking it and see if there's a trace connecting them or not.

I suspect this had an issue, probably needed a reset or had a bad solder joint to one of the jacks, but the tech dove into trying to resolder a few other things and now it needs a bit more love.
always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.
e.e. cummings

Govmnt_Lacky

Still no measurements from the regulators or power test points??

Everything about this scenario smells like a power problem. Can't get much further until the OP does some measuring...  :-\