Switching pedal buffers

Darcy Hoover · July 28th, 2008, 09:34 AM

I seem to have a very intermittent loss of signal from my Fulltone FD-2, but it manifests itself with it on and sometimes when I switch it off, with the guitar signal to the amp getting quite weak then full again intermittently, and of course when on the drive function is variable when it happens.

It happens so infrequently it is hard to troubleshoot what is actually going on, but it is a bother when it does.

I'm just wondering if it's not the Fulltone at all but rather the inexpensive mechanical only switching pedal I'm using. The switching pedal just allows me to play straight through or include an effects loop, there is nothing electrical in it whatsoever, purely mechanical switches.

I've taken the switching pedal out and everything seems fine, but I can go for quite awhile without it happening either way, so it's not really sure that's the fix. The switching pedal does a good job of removing the hum from my pedal chain when I don't need it, but if I have a looper playing in the loop and switch it out, you can still hear it faintly. I'm wondering if some grounding issues or some such electrical anomoly is causing my intermittent problem, something a more advanced switching pedal with buffers would address?

Any feedback most appreciated!

Lance · July 28th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Hey Darcy....just an FYI. Earlier FD2s had so-so switches. When I had one, one of my switches crapped out. Mike Fuller seemed uninterested in repairing back then and sent a replacement for free. The soldering wasn't that hard other than attaching a little cap across two leads on the switch.

They now do repairs as part of regular service but you'll pay for it. I had my Clyde fixed and the price was reasonable.

For what it's worth, a switch failure is either intermittent or complete. A weak signal tells me something else is going on.

Are you sure it's the FD or the switch gizmo? "Weak" usually tells me tubes not pedals.

Darcy Hoover · July 28th, 2008, 03:43 PM

No, it's not tubes, been happening on three different amps, but as soon as it happens, it doesn't last long enough for me to troubleshoot. I'd say it goes to about 1/3 volume, then kind of back and forth from a third to full. I've completely switched around my pedalboard so maybe that'll tell me something next time it happens. Could very be the FD-2 switch, it is an earlier model. Thanks.

July 28th, 2008, 09:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Darcy Hoover Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 477	Switching pedal buffers I seem to have a very intermittent loss of signal from my Fulltone FD-2, but it manifests itself with it on and sometimes when I switch it off, with the guitar signal to the amp getting quite weak then full again intermittently, and of course when on the drive function is variable when it happens. It happens so infrequently it is hard to troubleshoot what is actually going on, but it is a bother when it does. I'm just wondering if it's not the Fulltone at all but rather the inexpensive mechanical only switching pedal I'm using. The switching pedal just allows me to play straight through or include an effects loop, there is nothing electrical in it whatsoever, purely mechanical switches. I've taken the switching pedal out and everything seems fine, but I can go for quite awhile without it happening either way, so it's not really sure that's the fix. The switching pedal does a good job of removing the hum from my pedal chain when I don't need it, but if I have a looper playing in the loop and switch it out, you can still hear it faintly. I'm wondering if some grounding issues or some such electrical anomoly is causing my intermittent problem, something a more advanced switching pedal with buffers would address? Any feedback most appreciated! __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/darcyhoover

July 28th, 2008, 01:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,180	Hey Darcy....just an FYI. Earlier FD2s had so-so switches. When I had one, one of my switches crapped out. Mike Fuller seemed uninterested in repairing back then and sent a replacement for free. The soldering wasn't that hard other than attaching a little cap across two leads on the switch. They now do repairs as part of regular service but you'll pay for it. I had my Clyde fixed and the price was reasonable. For what it's worth, a switch failure is either intermittent or complete. A weak signal tells me something else is going on. Are you sure it's the FD or the switch gizmo? "Weak" usually tells me tubes not pedals. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

July 28th, 2008, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Darcy Hoover Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 477	No, it's not tubes, been happening on three different amps, but as soon as it happens, it doesn't last long enough for me to troubleshoot. I'd say it goes to about 1/3 volume, then kind of back and forth from a third to full. I've completely switched around my pedalboard so maybe that'll tell me something next time it happens. Could very be the FD-2 switch, it is an earlier model. Thanks. __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/darcyhoover