Help a newbie?

fltpkr · June 16th, 2008, 01:28 PM

I was given an RX Overdriver from Prescription Electronics by a friend who no longer used it because of a broken switch. It is either "on" or "off" with no bypass. So, thinking this might be a simple repair to start me on the road to building/modding, where do I start? Is it as simple as 'buy a new switch, install same as the old one', or is there more to it? My soldering skills are OK, I bought Terry Downs video and have wired a 4-way switch tele that seems to be working pretty good.
One question that occurred to me was how to orient the switch if I buy a new one. Are all DPDT switches the same? Would it be OK to replace this with a 3PDT switch and maybe add an LED since it doesn't have one? Since it would have 9 terminals, how would I position it in the box? Are all terminals the same? Are these questions as dumb as they sound?

vjf1968 · June 16th, 2008, 03:52 PM

No such thing as a stupid question. I would imagine that it would just be a simple task of wiring a new switch since switches tend to wear out eventually. I am planning to pick up some kits from BYOC in the next couple weeks so you are ahead of me in the DIY game.

fltpkr · June 16th, 2008, 04:39 PM

Thanks vjf1968. I'm a little concerned because the box has so many components, and it may not be just the switch, but I figure that's the best place to start. Time to get a multimeter, I guess, and learn how to use it.

vjf1968 · June 16th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Go to BYOC's website. They have a troubleshooting diagram to check for continuity and signal flow. I know you have a different pedal but flow is flow. I have the Yardbox and that didn't seem too complicated componentwise but then again I'm just learning also. I would get a pedal from BYOC and put one together so that way you can get a feel for how these things work and then try it on the Perscription Electronics one. If your going to start on the road you might be better off to start from the ground up. Just a suggestion.

fltpkr · June 16th, 2008, 05:26 PM

And an excellent suggestion, at that. I signed up with the indyguitarist site and will do one of their basic builds and maybe one at BYOC also. I'm really kind of excited to do this, I hope to eventually build a 5e3 kit.

fltpkr · June 17th, 2008, 12:01 PM

OK, so I found the solution, and the pedal works great, better than it ever did before. I would strongly recommend the Indyguitarist site for anyone new to electronics who wants to get a better understanding of this stuff works.

June 16th, 2008, 01:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
fltpkr Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregoon Posts: 838	Help a newbie? I was given an RX Overdriver from Prescription Electronics by a friend who no longer used it because of a broken switch. It is either "on" or "off" with no bypass. So, thinking this might be a simple repair to start me on the road to building/modding, where do I start? Is it as simple as 'buy a new switch, install same as the old one', or is there more to it? My soldering skills are OK, I bought Terry Downs video and have wired a 4-way switch tele that seems to be working pretty good. One question that occurred to me was how to orient the switch if I buy a new one. Are all DPDT switches the same? Would it be OK to replace this with a 3PDT switch and maybe add an LED since it doesn't have one? Since it would have 9 terminals, how would I position it in the box? Are all terminals the same? Are these questions as dumb as they sound? __________________ The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.

June 16th, 2008, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
vjf1968 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Age: 40 Posts: 896 7 Photos	No such thing as a stupid question. I would imagine that it would just be a simple task of wiring a new switch since switches tend to wear out eventually. I am planning to pick up some kits from BYOC in the next couple weeks so you are ahead of me in the DIY game. __________________ "the cult aesthetic of liking only what's obscure is just as sick of being mindlessly led around by the nose" -Mark Mothersbaugh

June 16th, 2008, 04:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
fltpkr Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregoon Posts: 838	Thanks vjf1968. I'm a little concerned because the box has so many components, and it may not be just the switch, but I figure that's the best place to start. Time to get a multimeter, I guess, and learn how to use it. __________________ The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.

June 16th, 2008, 04:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
vjf1968 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Age: 40 Posts: 896 7 Photos	Go to BYOC's website. They have a troubleshooting diagram to check for continuity and signal flow. I know you have a different pedal but flow is flow. I have the Yardbox and that didn't seem too complicated componentwise but then again I'm just learning also. I would get a pedal from BYOC and put one together so that way you can get a feel for how these things work and then try it on the Perscription Electronics one. If your going to start on the road you might be better off to start from the ground up. Just a suggestion. __________________ "the cult aesthetic of liking only what's obscure is just as sick of being mindlessly led around by the nose" -Mark Mothersbaugh

June 16th, 2008, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
fltpkr Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregoon Posts: 838	And an excellent suggestion, at that. I signed up with the indyguitarist site and will do one of their basic builds and maybe one at BYOC also. I'm really kind of excited to do this, I hope to eventually build a 5e3 kit. __________________ The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.

June 17th, 2008, 12:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
fltpkr Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregoon Posts: 838	OK, so I found the solution, and the pedal works great, better than it ever did before. I would strongly recommend the Indyguitarist site for anyone new to electronics who wants to get a better understanding of this stuff works. __________________ The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.