Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › Vintage IC Big Muff won’t really bypass

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  • May 29, 2009 at 4:32 am #78209
    devnulljp
    Participant

    I just got a 1980 IC Big Muff — a 3003 board with tone bypass — but it doesn’t really bypass.
    When you switch the pedal off, there’s a lower volume fuzzed signal overlaid on the clean signal.of course, you don’t notice it when the pedal is engaged, but when off it’s annoying.
    Any idea what would do that? Is it most likely just a bad switch or something else?

    May 29, 2009 at 10:31 am #97127
    The EH Man
    Moderator

    Bypassing the Tone stack routes the signal through a resistor, usually 100k. Even so, the signal should be louder than w/ the Tone because the mids aren’t being scooped. I would guess you need to replace or clean the switch. It’s relatively easy to disassemble the switch and clean the contacts. You may not have to even unsolder any wires to do it.

    May 29, 2009 at 10:46 am #97128
    nightraven
    Member

    i’ve heard this very often.. it seems to be the biggest complaint about the IC Muffs. a simple solution would be to true bypass it. i’m planning on doing it to my Deluxe Muff (also IC) because the buffer in that isn’t the greatest and it probably isn’t with yours either so it could be pretty beneficial as well as solving the problem!

    May 29, 2009 at 4:26 pm #97142
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Thanks both for the info.
    Ron, do you mean I should clean/replace the tone bypass switch or the stomp switch?

    I was pondering true bypassing it anyway, so maybe this makes the decision a little more urgent.
    Do you guys routinely true bypass your vintage muffs? (I just counted and I have somehow accrued 9 of them…and only my Lamb’s head is TB)

    May 29, 2009 at 10:41 pm #97156
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    Its because its not true bypass and or the switch is dodgy, just TB and you wont have a problem.
    I TB all my vintage muffs.

    May 29, 2009 at 10:56 pm #97157
    devnulljp
    Participant

    Followed Ron’s advice and pulled the tone bypass switch apart — it was really quite revolting in there. All yellow smoker grunge.
    Quick blast with contact cleaner and it’s good as new.
    Thanks

    May 29, 2009 at 11:39 pm #97160
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    I thought you were meanign the footswitch,LOl

    May 30, 2009 at 12:42 am #97165
    devnulljp
    Participant
    Quote:
    I thought you were meanign the footswitch,LOl

    I wasn’t sure where the problem was, so I started on the tone switch and it cleared the problem right up. +1 for experience I guess.

    May 30, 2009 at 12:57 am #97166
    Ned Flanders
    Moderator

    You like the IC muff sound? it kinda reminds me of a regualr muff played thru a marshall.

    May 30, 2009 at 3:10 am #97167
    devnulljp
    Participant
    Quote:
    You like the IC muff sound? it kinda reminds me of a regualr muff played thru a marshall.

    Jury’s still out as I’ve only just got it going properly — I’m comparing everything to a 3003 lamb’s head w/ FS36999/2N5133 that’s pretty hard to beat. It’s different, but in the same ballpark. A bit tighter sounding maybe? I’ve got an old IC Little Muff (which is a muff fuzz no a big muff right?) too, which sounds completely different again.

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