crappy wiring in EHX pedals?

wshines1892 · #1 03-29-2011, 07:25 PM

I received an EHX Small Clone recently, and had it open to do some tweakage. I put the thing back together and it doesn't work

I opened it back up and 3 wires had broken at the solder joint.

I stick them back in, easy enough. Today, I notice the depth switch is no longer working. I open it up, and of course, another wire had snapped at the joint. I heat up the iron, put it back in, and as I'm putting it back together, the ground wire from the battery clip pops off the output jack.

After fixing the wire and putting it back together, I must ask. Does EHX just use cheap wire or what?

I wasn't roughing the board around while it was apart, no more pull on the wires than that which might commonly happen when moving stuff around. It just seems far too brittle.

RNV · #2 03-29-2011, 07:53 PM

I have a Small Clone that looked to be beat to piss when I got it of the bay, and it is fine. Oh, I also dropped it from about 20' onto concrete.

NortyFiner · #3 03-29-2011, 08:12 PM

EHX's QA isn't known for consistency. Sounds like you got a lemon.

darkstorm · #4 03-29-2011, 09:44 PM

Electro Harmonix allways had a reputation for failure. back in the 70's the basic attitude toward them was they sound great when they are working but pedal failure was to be expected in its future.

nsh50a · #5 03-30-2011, 11:40 AM

I have never been impressed with the wiring quality of EH pedals. The insides always seem a bit janky.

BruceBass3901 · #6 03-30-2011, 12:05 PM

I can honestly say that the only prblem I have ever had with an EHX pedal is the battery clip on my secondhand Knockout doesn't work. I have since owned a Bass Big Muff, a Bassballs and a Freeze and they all work fine

Explorer · #7 04-01-2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wshines1892

I received an EHX Small Clone recently, and had it open to do some tweakage.

This is interesting. The only trimpot biases the MN3004, no? It comes from the factory already adjusted to the sweet spot.

What was the "tweakage" for which you had to open it? Was it working before you had to open it?

When I buy gear, if it doesn't work, I just send it back. It's easier that way.

Corey Y · #8 04-01-2011, 12:42 AM

The wiring inside some EHX pedals is insanely fragile. I replaced the tone pot on my nyc big muff and the same thing happened. A buddy of mine fixed it for me and he ended up resoldering all the wires. Every one touched broke off. So something may have disconnected. I have plenty of other EHX pedals that I've had zero issues with, but I never opened them up.