*** happened to my Flanger

VTheHTyphoon · #1 05-10-2011, 09:52 AM

So I have been buying pedals for a pedalboard I want to build and so far I have 3. A Dunlop Bass Wah, EHX Bass Blogger, and an MXR EVH Flanger. I have been messing with order for these three in order to build a mini pedalboard to mount them on for bringing to practice. Well yesterday, I finally get all my settings right and the order I want them in and I slapdash a small wooden construct for them to sit on. I am happy with how it appears and I go to sleep.

This morning I wake up eager to test the setup out and I when I turn on my power strip, all my pedals are off like I left them. However now I can hear the sweeping of my flanger in the background of my amp. True bypass disappeared overnight. I go to switch on my flanger and I cant play any notes it just blares a distorted sweep. I can't imagine what the problem is since the setup hasn't changed since yesterday when it was working fine.

Any suggestions?

Floyd Eye · #2 05-10-2011, 09:53 AM

Turn the pedal off? Check power supply. Try a battery. Return pedal or sell it and get an Ibanez FL9.

VTheHTyphoon · #3 05-10-2011, 09:54 AM

when the pedal is off you can still hear a sweep in the background even when I am not playing. This wasn't happening last night when I was setting up my effects

Floyd Eye · #4 05-10-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTheHTyphoon

when the pedal is off you can still hear a sweep in the background even when I am not playing. This wasn't happening last night when I was setting up my effects

Try a different power supply. That's probably not the problem, but exhaust all the possibilities YOU can before getting rid of the pedal and getting the Ibanez.

VTheHTyphoon · #5 05-10-2011, 10:04 AM

ok this is odd so I connect my cables with little livewire 6" double right angle cables and the solution was literally taking out the cable between the flanger and blogger and turning it around.

Floyd Eye · #6 05-10-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTheHTyphoon

ok this is odd so I connect my cables with little livewire 6" double right angle cables and the solution was literally taking out the cable between the flanger and blogger and turning it around.

Are you talking about daisy chain ( power supply) cables or 1/4" patch cables?

VTheHTyphoon · #7 05-10-2011, 10:16 AM

they arent power cables I am talking Patch cables. I didn't know it mattered what direction they went in. I am sort of a noob when it comes to setting up effects.

Floyd Eye · #8 05-10-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTheHTyphoon

they arent power cables I am talking Patch cables. I didn't know it mattered what direction they went in. I am sort of a noob when it comes to setting up effects.

It doesn't. Most likely you got crappy cables. The little Hosa 6"ers aren't top notch, but they're decent and they're $4 a piece. Get you some. OR better yet, spend a little more and get some Mogamis.

VTheHTyphoon · #9 05-10-2011, 10:48 AM

Ok so now I am questioning my own sanity. I got everything working in right order and I set it all back up on the pedal board reconnect all the cables and it starts ****ing up again. Is my pedalboard the problem? its just wood with velcro.

Floyd Eye · #10 05-10-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTheHTyphoon

Ok so now I am questioning my own sanity. I got everything working in right order and I set it all back up on the pedal board reconnect all the cables and it starts ****ing up again. Is my pedalboard the problem? its just wood with velcro.

BUY DECENT CABLES. If this doesn't solve your problem, the pedal is defective.

VTheHTyphoon · #11 05-10-2011, 10:54 AM

ok look if I had money to go out and buy decent cables on the offchance that its the cables and if it isnt oh well then yes I would do that but I am not loaded with money to spend on cables. it works sometimes and then weirds out on me if you have a suggested fix that might be like "your pedal board is causing it" or "it needs to be set up this way" anything besides buy better cables/buy a better pedal then tell me because right now I am sort of strapped for cash.

Floyd Eye · #12 05-10-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTheHTyphoon

ok look if I had money to go out and buy decent cables on the offchance that its the cables and if it isnt oh well then yes I would do that but I am not loaded with money to spend on cables. it works sometimes and then weirds out on me if you have a suggested fix that might be like "your pedal board is causing it" or "it needs to be set up this way" anything besides buy better cables/buy a better pedal then tell me because right now I am sort of strapped for cash.

I understand your plight, believe me, I'm married so I am perpetually broke, but dude, if you can't scrape up $12 for cables nothing anyone here can say will help you with this pedal. The only "Free" fixes are, check the power supply or try a battery ( which I already told you). Try the pedal by itself, without the board and without other pedals and with each of your cables. See what I mean? Process of elimination. Personally I think if the problem went away when you changed the cables around it is most likely cables. Either way, $12 seems like a reasonably small amount of cash to eliminate cables as the culprit, does it not?

BruceBass3901 · #13 05-10-2011, 11:04 AM

It is impossible that a bit of wood and velcro is affecting the pedal. To me, it seems that the patch cables ARE the problem. These pedals are pretty idiot-proof in that they have an in, and an out and a power socket. The MXR EVH Flanger requires a 'standard' centre negative supply, so check that your supply is centre negative. If it is, then it is the cables. It might just be a quick fix if you know how to solder and can check that the wire isnot exposed or contacting somewhere it shouldn't

My name is Mudd · #14 05-10-2011, 11:05 AM

+1 to the cables...remember that they are part of your overall signal chain and can have as much effect as a bad preamp or anything else between your bass and your amp. Good cables are a good investment.

blastjv · #15 05-10-2011, 11:53 AM

Oh, and I don't think the EVH Flanger is True Bypass...

Why not just replace that one cable for a couple of bucks if you can't afford $12?

-JV

VTheHTyphoon · #16 05-10-2011, 01:35 PM

ok so I went out and budgeted some $12 cables. I plug them in and they work fine.... the only time it really starts wonking is if I start screweing with the power supply. I have batteries in it as well as backup so unless I am unplugging the power supply during play it should be fine haha