Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › Please help with Russian Big Muff!!!

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  • March 10, 2009 at 2:04 pm #77873
    B.Daws
    Participant

    So I picked up a Russian Big Muff from a pawn shop and guess what…it has a few problems. All was well except the volume knob (which only worked between 11-2 o’clock). I thought it was a bad potentiometer so I bought a new one and same issue. I then noticed it had been wired for True Bypass with a 3DPT switch and that it didn’t look right at all. So I rewired the switch and it’s not working at all now lol. The circuit board has a couple of severed traces on it (the True Bypass one and another one that looks as if it was created ) and the wiring looks really funny to me. Can anyone open their Russian Big Muff (it is the black one) and send me some detailed pics of the front and back of the circuit board? (I would really like to just rewire the entire thing). I don’t understand schematics that well but I need the visual to run all of the wires and make sure everything is good to go. Please please help me as I really love the sound of this pedal and would like it to be working ASAP! You can post the pics on here or send them to me at bradley.dawson@gmail.com (as much detail as possible would help). On the other hand if anyone can guide me to some pics or wiring diagrams that would be greatly appreciated as well! Thanks for all the help and info my friends :)

    March 10, 2009 at 9:11 pm #94374
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    I made some diagrams of the black sovtek muff, just re wire it using this one.
    http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o127/truthandshame/Big Muff/CCCPBIGMUFFTBD.jpg
    If it doesnt already have a 3PDT switch just buy one form smallbear electronics.
    Rewiring it is easy and only takes 10 minutes and you’ll learn a bit too.

    March 10, 2009 at 9:13 pm #94375
    B.Daws
    Participant

    Ned, you are a lifesaver! That is just what I needed. I already do have a 3pdt switch and look forward to getting this thing crankin’ tonight. Thanks again.

    March 12, 2009 at 11:22 pm #94439
    B.Daws
    Participant

    Didn’t work. Now the LED works but no sound when it’s on or off. I think I see what the problem is, where you sever the trace by the input jack is it the trace or between the wire/resistor thats on there(tough to tell from the diagram). Also is the old (bottom right) corner of the jack supposed to be wired to anything? It looks as though both paths to the input are grounds and that’s it. I wired it like the diagram so I don’t know. Any help or ideas would be appreciated! Here are some pics…

    DSC03506.jpg
    DSC03507.jpg
    DSC03510.jpg

    March 12, 2009 at 11:59 pm #94440
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    If you wired it identical to my diagram it will work because I made that diagram form my own unit when I modded it and mine works.

    Look at your last photo>The input jack wire must be soldered to the bottom right lug )back view) of the 6 lugs on the input jack, that will be your input wire and it will go to the switch.

    March 15, 2009 at 5:11 pm #94543
    B.Daws
    Participant

    Thanks Ned. I was thinking that was what wasn’t connected correctly and that was it. I’m back to my original problem though, the volume only works from 9-11 o’clock now (it worked 11-2 when I first got it but the volume sounds the same as it does now even though it’s in a different position on the pot). I have switched the pots and still the same problem, It is like the volume has been suppressed to only working 1/3 of the potentiometer. I assume that the other parts of the switch are being grounded out and thus not working when I rotate it to that point (but I am not sure 100% by any means). Anyone got any ideas?

    March 15, 2009 at 8:21 pm #94546
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Retrace your work, you have probably made a mistake somewhere, you will find it given enough time.

    March 16, 2009 at 3:48 pm #94563
    B.Daws
    Participant

    I was doing some reading and some other people claim the volume issue is the same. My Russian BMP is a little older version (yellow) and is this volume thing normal? I bought a new Russian BMP to compare the wiring and it looks right…the volume on the new one works all the way. I’m so lost…

    March 16, 2009 at 8:50 pm #94576
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    I dont have that problem on my sovteks, I have 3 of them.

    March 16, 2009 at 11:20 pm #94580
    B.Daws
    Participant
    Quote:
    I dont have that problem on my sovteks, I have 3 of them.

    Hmmm….I have no clue.

    March 18, 2009 at 6:35 pm #94634
    B.Daws
    Participant

    So I get home yesterday and am playing the BM and I’m like it’s not loud enough maybe I can just turn it up a little before it cuts out and to my amazement if works…wtf? How does that happen…It’s just sitting there mounted to my pedal board and one day nothing…the next day…just like new. Is this normal for the Russian Muff to have a mind of its own and constantly be messing with you?

    March 18, 2009 at 9:13 pm #94641
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    No of course not, it sounds like the volume pot is dodgy!
    You can buy exact replacements here: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=159 they are expensive and not very good quality pots anyways but the knobs you have will fit these pots.

    March 18, 2009 at 9:42 pm #94645
    B.Daws
    Participant
    Quote:
    No of course not, it sounds like the volume pot is dodgy!
    You can buy exact replacements here: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=159 they are expensive and not very good quality pots anyways but the knobs you have will fit these pots.

    Here is where it gets crazy…I already ordered one from small bear and soldered it in lol.

    March 18, 2009 at 11:17 pm #94646
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Without testing the pots with a DMM and completely rewiring it i dont know what to tell you dude!

    March 19, 2009 at 2:13 pm #94663
    B.Daws
    Participant

    Now it isn’t working again lol. The only guess to me is a short that is grounding out 2/3s of the pot…who knows? THanks for all the help though.

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