EHX Steel Leather Trouble

ryansalmond · #1 05-17-2008, 05:59 PM

Hi.
I bought a knockout and a steel leather. Found the knockout to be excellent, but when I tried the steel leather it muted my signal when bypassed (making a loud click) and the positions of the knobs seemed to have no effect on the sound when turned on. Needless to say I returned it for a new one, which I just picked up. This one does the same thing when bypassed, except some notes can be heard if plucked very hard, and are produced with a small, tinny, distorted sound. When it's on it does seem to have an effect, adding treble to the signal, but the positions of the knobs seem to do very little again.

Might Electro-Harmonix have sent me back the same pedal? Or perhaps it's something to do with my set up?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Nappa · #2 05-17-2008, 06:01 PM

What is it's position in your chain?

bongomania · #3 05-17-2008, 07:09 PM

Dollars to donuts there's a grounding problem. Try powering it with a battery (not a battery snap on a 1Spot) or an isolated (single) wall-wart, and use it by itself with no other pedals between your bass and your amp. If it works fine that way, then some other pedal or power supply in your usual chain is conflicting with the S.L. via the common ground connections.

ryansalmond · #4 05-17-2008, 07:47 PM

Nappa: I tried it first in the chain (after the bass of course :P), the rest of the chain following =>Aphex Bass XCiter=>Ashdown compressor=>EHX Knockout=>Mesa Walkabout

The pedals are powered by a godlyke Powerall system (http://godlyke.com/shopping/pgm-more...age_num=1&=SID)

Bongo: Thanks. I'll try that.

Thanks for replying guys.

ryansalmond · #5 05-17-2008, 08:13 PM

Ok, so trying it under battery power by itself worked.

The manual says "...connect a 9VDC battery eliminator capable of delivering at least 100mA to the 9V power jack. The battery eliminator must have a barrel connector with center negative..."

What do I do?

bongomania · #6 05-17-2008, 08:34 PM

That describes a "standard" Boss-type power supply. Do any of your other pedals require a different type or polarity of plug?

ryansalmond · #7 05-17-2008, 08:36 PM

No they're all the standard.

Though I'm looking at the Knockout's manual here, and while I've used it just fine with a standard plug, it describes the type of plug it requires differently. "...minimum 50mA... inner ring negative, outer ring positive..."

bongomania · #8 05-17-2008, 08:37 PM

Do you have a cable tester? It could be whatever patch cable you were using before had a bad ground. Hmm...

ryansalmond · #9 05-17-2008, 09:01 PM

No cable tester. I'm using planet waves cable connectors though- so it's entirely possible one is faulty since a major part of the manufacturing process was left in my hazard-prone hands :P
I've tried it with the other pedals but still on battery power, just before the amp. It worked fine. Ideally of course I'd rather use the 9v. One of the other adapters maybe?

Happynoj · #10 05-18-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryansalmond

No they're all the standard.

Though I'm looking at the Knockout's manual here, and while I've used it just fine with a standard plug, it describes the type of plug it requires differently. "...minimum 50mA... inner ring negative, outer ring positive..."

That is the same as the Steel Leather one.

The only difference is that the mA requirement is lower, and you don't have to worry about that as long as your power supply can put out enough mA. Inner ring negative is the same as centre negative.

ryansalmond · #11 05-18-2008, 02:09 PM

Thanks Happynoj.