Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › Russian Big Muff won’t light up

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  • July 31, 2009 at 1:27 am #78691
    h8mtv
    Member

    I have an old big muff and it no longer lights up or will activate. Sound passes thru and there is a slight tone difference when I press the button. I opened her up and checked all connections and they look good. I also replaced the 9v battery leads.

    Any ideas?

    July 31, 2009 at 2:12 am #100159
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Did you re connect positive to positive and negative to negative on the battery clip?

    July 31, 2009 at 3:43 am #100161
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Lay you odds the stomp switch is knackered.
    Get a new one at smallbear. 5 minute solder job and you’ll be in business.

    July 31, 2009 at 11:13 am #100165
    h8mtv
    Member

    Hmm, I kinda thought it could be the switch. The battery lead is soldered back color for color so unless the Russians use leads of different color I should be good there.

    Got a link to the switch I need?

    July 31, 2009 at 9:57 pm #100178
    h8mtv
    Member

    http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=119&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=45

    Would this do it for me?

    August 2, 2009 at 10:20 pm #100236
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    You can get 3PDT switches from here: http://diystompboxes.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=88ca091d5f0d55e9fd2ed7bc04c5106b
    from $6.25 each and shipping is generally cheap.

    Is yours one with the huge silver switch?
    If it is you will need to true bypass it. I’ve done diagrams how to do this here: http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o127/truthandshame/Big Muff/CCCPBIGMUFFTBD.jpg
    If it already has the blue switch just replace it wire for wire.

    August 11, 2009 at 8:41 pm #100506
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Smallbear has the big stomp switches too: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=454
    but the blue 3PDT switches are better quality.
    Depends on your version and what you want to do.

    August 15, 2009 at 8:47 pm #100614
    h8mtv
    Member

    I did the true bypass conversion on my black russian bigmuff with smaller switch. I am 99% sure it is all done correctly thanks to some coaching from Liberty and some others. It still does not function. I have not worked on this type of electronics before but I am an 11yr cable maint tech for the telco. I can read a meter, am familiar with working DC voltage and troubleshooting. What is my next logical step in troubleshooting this puppy?

    Currently it lights up and has sound when bypassed, dead with the light on.

    August 15, 2009 at 11:01 pm #100616
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator
    Quote:
    Smallbear has the big stomp switches too: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=454
    but the blue 3PDT switches are better quality.
    Depends on your version and what you want to do.

    Yes but they dont fit every russian, there three varieties of that big silver switch, I have the first version, smallbear sells the second version, and theres a third version. 2&3 arent compatible with the first version which is found on the first issue green muffs, not the folded ones, the cast ones.

    August 15, 2009 at 11:04 pm #100617
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator
    Quote:
    I did the true bypass conversion on my black russian bigmuff with smaller switch. I am 99% sure it is all done correctly thanks to some coaching from Liberty and some others. It still does not function. I have not worked on this type of electronics before but I am an 11yr cable maint tech for the telco. I can read a meter, am familiar with working DC voltage and troubleshooting. What is my next logical step in troubleshooting this puppy?

    Currently it lights up and has sound when bypassed, dead with the light on.

    Then your LED and bypass wiring is more than likely correct.
    Check the effect in/out wiring. Also check for solder bridges.

    Pots wired correctly?
    effect output is a wire coming from volume lug 2.

    August 24, 2009 at 11:29 pm #100894
    h8mtv
    Member

    Well I think my pots are wired correctly. Anyone do repair for those over their head?

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