Author Topic: Issue with a pedal (Read 112 times)

tmoney61092 · « **on:** October 18, 2011, 02:28:06 PM »

I was given an Ibanez SF10 flanger and LOVE IT!!! apparently these are pretty rare and it sounds abosolutely amazing, all analog and just a dream. only issue is that when it's hooked up, my volume drops by at least 3/4's even when it's not on and it's super annoying because I can't use it because of this. anyone know what I could do to fix it or even how to diagnose what's wrong with it? i don't know that much about electronics like these so probably taking it to someone to get it fixed is the best idea

~Taylor

stout71 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:11:06 PM »

Are you using other pedals as well? What's your setup? Sometimes it's the daisy chain effect that will kill the volume, because there can be voltage loss. Does the pedal take a 9-volt battery? Have you tried changing it?

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2011, 04:28:30 AM »

What kind of amp are you using taylor? If you're using an effects loop it's possible that it may have a trim pot (external or internal) to increase or decrease the gain when the loop is switched in. My fender preamp has a simple knob next to the loop sockets but other amps may have something else. Just a thought. It's also possible for the pedal itself to have a gain trimpot inside.

Graeme

pace · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2011, 05:22:10 AM »

It's not a true- bypass pedal. There is a way to mod these pedals, but installing a DPDT switch in these means either scrapping the original housing, or drilling a hole thru the actual 'pedal'...... Take a look at Analogman's website, it's a good reference for Ibanez pedal mods......

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2011, 02:30:18 PM »

so by it not being a true bypass pedal that would create the volume drop? I've seen video demonstrations of these on youtube and it didn't sound like the amp was straining to make it audible. but I've tried this with 9v batteries, an adapter, straight into several different amps, on my bass pedalboard, on my brother's guitar pedal board and no matter what it has the volume drop to the entire series of pedals. guess i'll look through that guys website, thanks for that pace, didn't even know about him

~Taylor

stout71 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2011, 02:37:02 PM »

If it's not a true bypass pedal, it will have all kinds of other effects on the sound, in addition to the volume loss. Even the placement within the series of other pedals can change the sound, sometimes dramatically. Most of those older pedals didn't have true bypass. I bet you could get the same model pedal and plug it in and it would sound a little different than this one. Gotta love analog. Don't get me wrong, I'm an analog nut!

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2011, 09:53:29 AM »

A good phaser (one with true bypass) should not have a volume drop when it is off. But it will have one when it's on, just the nature of the beast.
You could use a loop pedal to keep it out of the signal chain when you don't want to hear it. Just keep the phaser pedal always on, and switch it into the chain with the looper when you want to hear the effect. You could even add a booster pedal to the loop and leave that on, too, so that when you switch the looper to hear the phaser effect you would get a little boost to compensate for the inherent volume drop they have.

(Message edited by Benson_Murrensun on October 20, 2011)

briant · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2011, 12:34:53 PM »

I use one of these to work around this very problem. It gives you 4 true bypass loops to isolate problem children and avoid tone-suck from pedals which are not true bypass; or do obnoxious things to input/output volume with no way to adjust them.

There are other similar true bypass effects loop pedals from other companies which have more/fewer loops if having 4 is not your thing.