Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › “BLACK RUSSIAN” Big Muff: Fuzz FADES OUT after about 30 seconds EVERY TIME I turn it on
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November 26, 2009 at 9:09 pm #79395fikusMember
I have been trouble shooting this brand new looking Version 8, smaller box, BLACK RUSSIAN BIG MUFF since I bought it used a few months ago.
When the pedal is engaged THE FIRST TIME of the day, it works for about 30 seconds and then the output signal just slowly fades out. If the amp is really loud, I can hear a faint signal trying to drip through after the sound dies out. The bypass signal is loud and clear. When I disengage/rengage I hear nothing when the pedal is on, just a faint sound if the amp is loud. The bypass signal is loud and clear.
So if I unplug the pedal and let it sit all by itself on a shelf, and try it out again the next day (or week or month) the exact same chain of events repeats itself again. Just like a Big Muff “Groundhog Day”.
I have powered the pedal with 9 volt adapters, alkaline batteries, non-alkaline. With no other pedals in the signal chain. Still no luck.
Any suggestions appreciated.
December 1, 2009 at 9:00 pm #104595fikusMemberBUMP –
December 1, 2009 at 9:07 pm #104596B.DawsParticipantGet a new one! I just had one sell on eBay for $70 which I thought was crazy. What kind of amp are you using? I have no idea what to tell you about this problem.
December 1, 2009 at 11:20 pm #104610Ned FlandersModeratorYou know the input is on the left and the output is on the right I assume? I’ve had this symptom from plugging in a pedal backwards once….I dont recal which pedal it was but it wasn’t a big muff.
December 2, 2009 at 12:50 am #104628SanquiFlerbMemberQuote:You know the input is on the left and the output is on the right I assume? I’ve had this symptom from plugging in a pedal backwards once….I dont recal which pedal it was but it wasn’t a big muff.I once plugged it incorrectly and it did not work for some seconds and then at low volume. It just did not work, at any given volume. Symptoms show that there could be a power problem? or maybe with an internal component, like a cap or something. I really don’t know, I’m not a tech, but I do own a Russian bmp (small enclosure), and it doesn’t seem like wrong plugging as far as I can guess. Anyone with a little bit more of experience? Btw, is it the small box version? Because you said its v8 and the small, but I can’t recall which version is which. (In other words, which version is the bigger black one).
December 2, 2009 at 8:56 am #104645devnulljpParticipantLiberty is way more of a tech than I’ll ever be, but that’s weird — sounds like a capacitor dishcarging maybe or a bad trannie? Does it have an LED?
Dumb questions — is there a battery in it? Is the battery good? If you take out the battery and run from an adapter does it change? Is the adapter good?December 3, 2009 at 12:14 am #104704SanquiFlerbMemberQuote:Liberty is way more of a tech than I’ll ever be,With that said I feel like I’m no one contradicting to a goddish tech, or something :lol:.
December 3, 2009 at 1:10 am #104710electro-melxModeratorQuote:Quote:Liberty is way more of a tech than I’ll ever be,With that said I feel like I’m no one contradicting to a goddish tech, or something :lol:.
lol, I wouldn’t call him ‘supertech’ but he does know his muffs inside out.
December 4, 2009 at 2:58 pm #104811fikusMemberQuote:Quote:You know the input is on the left and the output is on the right.Yes I knew that but I reversed the cables just for kicks. No luck. They are correctly labeled.
Quote:— sounds like a capacitor dishcarging maybe or a bad trannie? Does it have an LED?
Dumb questions — is there a battery in it? Is the battery good? If you take out the battery and run from an adapter does it change? Is the adapter good?The battery is a new alkaline. Also tried my main pedalboard power supply. It works intermittently either way.
Quote:Get a new one!… What kind of amp are you using?…A new one yes, Great Advice! BTW, I’ve been using a Harmony 303B (8″ Jensen & a volume knob).
With all my recent troubleshooting, I was able to get this Big Muff to run for about 10 minutes. If it started to fade out I just boxed it’s ears (or gave it a strong tap with me knuckles). Then I walked away for a smoke and when I returned it stopped working again. It won’t pass sound when engaged (but the led lights up OK). When the effect is off, the bypassed sound is loud & clear.
I opened it up and everything looks fine & dandy. Can’t see any lose wires or bad solder. The ground is attached.
I am almost ready to throw in the towel. Thanks for the advice one & all.December 4, 2009 at 3:53 pm #104812B.DawsParticipantIf you are going to throw it away, send it to me instead and let me have a look and work on it! I have brought a pawn shop BMP back to life before! It had a weird issue where the volume only worked between 11 and 2 o’clock and I just rewired the entire thing. PM me if you are interested in trying this. I am in Memphis, TN.
December 4, 2009 at 8:26 pm #104821fikusMemberThanks for the offer dawson1488 but I will get my feet wet and try to fix this one. If I ruin it for good, I’ll keep the box to rehouse something in.
December 4, 2009 at 11:15 pm #104835SanquiFlerbMemberIf you’ll rehouse something else on it, send me the board
btw, I live in Argentina (just kidding guys eh)February 22, 2011 at 6:14 pm #114437guitarslinger21MemberI know this is an ancient bump, but I’m having the exact same problem with my V7D Big Box Black Russian.
I’m hesitant to start replacing caps.
Has anybody figured this out yet?
Thanks!!
February 23, 2011 at 11:43 am #114445fikusMemberQuote:Has anybody figured this out yet?Mine is still in the same shape as described above. Have not got around to tinkering with it yet.
February 23, 2011 at 2:58 pm #114446friedjesseradioMemberif its a slow fade then im guessing the capacitor?
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btw, I live in Argentina - You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
