OMG, what to do in this situation?

**TheFantod** · #1 09-07-2010, 07:38 PM

Word's gotten out around town that I'm good at fixing pedals. A guitard friend of a friend contacted me and asked me to look at his Boss DS-1. He tried "fooling around with it" and of course it stopped working. So I say, "Sure, I'll give it a shot."

I get it home today and plug it up. Light comes on, but no sound comes out, on or off. Hmm..okay, better open her up. I turn off the amp, unplug the input jack.......

and the light stays on.

I looked down at it, first a moment of confusion, then the revelation of the truth. I then started braying with laughter like a donkey. My wife was talking to her mother on her phone, and her mom heard me laughing.

I don't know what to say to the guy. I mean, if I tell him the truth, he's probably going to feel like a complete idiot. So I'm thinking of telling him he just broke one of the input wires instead.

I mean, yeah he is a guitard, so it would be fun to hate on the guy, but I just don't have it in me to do it. I'd rather tell a white lie then make him feel like a complete moron.

Still, I'm going to giggle about this for days....

NateS · #2 09-07-2010, 07:43 PM

it took me a moment to figure out what he had down wrong.

i've done that before. it sucks.

mcrracer · #3 09-07-2010, 07:50 PM

I don't feel like thinking anymore today. I fixed a tube amp and continued building another. So what was it???

DanAleks · #4 09-07-2010, 07:50 PM

OK, feel free to call me a moron because I know nothing about electronics, but I've read this about 20 times and STILL have no frickin' idea what you're talking about.

Clue me in...

Yurtra · #5 09-07-2010, 07:53 PM

I'm not entirely sure, myself. My first guess would be to say that he somehow reversed the input and output.

NateS · #6 09-07-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yurtra

I'm not entirely sure myself. My first guess would be to say that he somehow reversed the input and output.

ding ding ding!

when he unplugged the input jack, the light should have gone off.

Shiftkitty · #7 09-07-2010, 08:08 PM

That story just made me feel so much better. I've been having a rough time while my husband recovers from back surgery (He's finally doing better! Yay!), and I found an old pedal I've had for years. I plugged it in backwards, and when it didn't work I said "Hmm, did I hook it up right?" and checked.

Yeah, that story just made me feel like a genius!

brickerenator · #8 09-07-2010, 08:15 PM

Phase 1: Acquire Pedals
Phase 2: ????
Phase 3: Profit!

DanAleks · #9 09-08-2010, 05:38 AM

AH! I thought the output was unplugged, too.

Thanks!

phatbass · #10 09-08-2010, 05:48 AM

Charge him 50 bucks and tell him you had to de-polarise the flux capacitor. That'll make him feel better

cassanova · #11 09-08-2010, 06:28 AM

Just tell him the truth this way he won't make the same mistake again.

Then start charging people that bring you their pedals if they want them fixed.

MatticusMania · #12 09-08-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

Just tell him the truth this way he won't make the same mistake again.

Then start charging people that bring you their pedals if they want them fixed.

+1

But charge your friend at least $10 for your time.

totallyfrozen · #13 09-08-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFantod

...I don't know what to say to the guy. I mean, if I tell him the truth, he's probably going to feel like a complete idiot. So I'm thinking of telling him he just broke one of the input wires instead.

I mean, yeah he is a guitard, so it would be fun to hate on the guy, but I just don't have it in me to do it. I'd rather tell a white lie then make him feel like a complete moron...

The world's full of thieves and liars; don't be one of them.

WayneS · #14 09-08-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFantod

I mean, yeah he is a guitard, so it would be fun to hate on the guy, ...

Lets make fun of him because he plays a guitar. That should be a barrel of laughs.

**TheFantod** · #15 09-08-2010, 05:40 PM

Unfortunately, there's no "Sarcasm" button under the text options. That was my point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

Lets make fun of him because he plays a guitar. That should be a barrel of laughs.

Slax · #16 09-08-2010, 05:53 PM

I'd let him know the truth of what was wrong with it. If he was tinkering with it, he's probably looked inside before he gave it to you. I know for me, I'd rather know that I made a stupid mistake like swapping the input and output instead of being told I made an even dumber mistake by not checking for a disconnected wire...

mongo2 · #17 09-09-2010, 03:20 AM

I'd just tell him the truth so he can learn frorm his mistake.

Kawai-chang · #18 09-10-2010, 07:48 AM

Have a chuckle with him, show him what he did, then ask him if he wants you to do the "Keeley" mod to it.

Drum up that pedal modding business! You can make some good $ and get a loyal clientele.

Pedal mods are a great way to supplement the income. That's how Fulltone, Z Vex, Way Huge, etc. all started.

pharmakon · #19 09-10-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brickerenator

Phase 1: Acquire Pedals
Phase 2: ????
Phase 3: Profit!

+1

It was the Pedal Gnomes!!

MEKer · #20 09-10-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

I'd just tell him the truth so he can learn frorm his mistake.

the only correct answer