Electroharmonix Bass Microsynth PROBLEM

Spinal Tapper · #1 08-26-2009, 11:41 AM

I don't use my EHX Bass Microsynth very often, I keep it safe in a box on my shelf - anyways, I went to mess around with it the other day and I noticed it wasn't working properly.

The signal was INCREDIBLY weak when I ran it w/out the effect and then when I clicked the pedal, there was NO sound coming out of it at all!

Has anyone had this problem? Am I being specific enough? I'm not very good with electronics, but any info would help!

Thanks

gastric · #2 08-26-2009, 12:01 PM

Wrong power adapter?

FunkyPunky · #3 08-26-2009, 12:08 PM

Did you check your cables? Once had problems just like you discribed and found out it was due to lousy cables.....

-FunkyPunky

**TheMutt** · #4 08-26-2009, 12:08 PM

Did you use the right power supply?
Do you have a multimeter to test the power supply?
Was the power switch slid to the correct position, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Was the power/in/out jack(s) on the BMS loose or appear to be broken, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Is the stomp switch on the BMS in proper working order, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Do you use active basses and not have a fresh battery, or is the jack to your bass loose/broken, and do you have a multimeter to test this?
Were your cables that you were using in proper working order?

If all of that checks out, it's more than likely a problem with something in the unit and needs repair.

Spinal Tapper · #5 08-26-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

Did you use the right power supply?
Do you have a multimeter to test the power supply?
Was the power switch slid to the correct position, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Was the power/in/out jack(s) on the BMS loose or appear to be broken, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Is the stomp switch on the BMS in proper working order, do you have a multimeter to check the contacts?
Do you use active basses and not have a fresh battery, or is the jack to your bass loose/broken, and do you have a multimeter to test this?
Were your cables that you were using in proper working order?

If all of that checks out, it's more than likely a problem with something in the unit and needs repair.

Hmmm, well I will check my cables - I regularily use the same cables to jam at home, so I know they WORK...don't know how good they are tho I guess...

I don't have a multi-meter, but I am using the correct power supply. The unit turns on, it's just producing a weak signal when dry and NO signal when wet - maybe a faint fuzz or hiss coming from the speaker tho...

I also tried my active and passive basses...

Thanks for the suggestions

**TheMutt** · #6 08-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

Hmmm, well I will check my cables - I regularily use the same cables to jam at home, so I know they WORK...don't know how good they are tho I guess...

I don't have a multi-meter, but I am using the correct power supply. The unit turns on, it's just producing a weak signal when dry and NO signal when wet - maybe a faint fuzz or hiss coming from the speaker tho...

I also tried my active and passive basses...

Thanks for the suggestions

Hope everything works out for you. Were it not for the huge size, I'd still have one of these (don't like the way the XO sounds).

groooooove · #7 08-26-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

I don't use my EHX Bass Microsynth very often, I keep it safe in a box on my shelf - anyways, I went to mess around with it the other day and I noticed it wasn't working properly.

The signal was INCREDIBLY weak when I ran it w/out the effect and then when I clicked the pedal, there was NO sound coming out of it at all!

Has anyone had this problem? Am I being specific enough? I'm not very good with electronics, but any info would help!

Thanks

i know exactly what the problem is. its an electro harmonix product...

i dont care what kind of reputation EHX has around here, everything i bought from them died by no fault of mine. on my BMS one of the sliders stopped working. my POG came broken, had a muff and bassballs die on me...

avoid ehx.

Gashaponcito · #8 08-26-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

i know exactly what the problem is. its an electro harmonix product...

i dont care what kind of reputation EHX has around here, everything i bought from them died by no fault of mine. on my BMS one of the sliders stopped working. my POG came broken, had a muff and bassballs die on me...

avoid ehx.

Was your BMS the big version?

neatobassman · #9 08-26-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

i know exactly what the problem is. its an electro harmonix product...

i dont care what kind of reputation EHX has around here, everything i bought from them died by no fault of mine. on my BMS one of the sliders stopped working. my POG came broken, had a muff and bassballs die on me...

avoid ehx.

damn, you are the most unlucky guy in the world. I have a buddy who has nothing but EHX pedals and has been playing them all for like 6 years now, no problems at all.

Spinal Tapper · #10 08-26-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatobassman

damn, you are the most unlucky guy in the world. I have a buddy who has nothing but EHX pedals and has been playing them all for like 6 years now, no problems at all.

+1 everyone I know who use EHX have always had reliable pedals...well, anyhow, I'm gonna take it through a few more tests at my friend's studio where he has multiple cables and things we can check out...maybe I can at least pinpoint the problem.

fightthepower · #11 08-26-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

The unit turns on, it's just producing a weak signal when dry and NO signal when wet - maybe a faint fuzz or hiss coming from the speaker tho...

This is what two of my Moog pedals sounded like when the preamp's (or something like that) blew out recently... If the old big box BMS's have 'always on' preamps, then it sounds like the same thing may have happened to you.

Basstovsky · #12 08-26-2009, 03:56 PM

Once in a while my old BMS has an issue like this, I wasnt using the filter section so i had the "trig" all the way down. With the effect on I kinda fiddle with the trig slider while playing a note (or anything) until the effect kicks in, take the trig back out and it plays fine until days weeks or months later when it randomly happens again.

It may also be an issue like fightthepower said, with the preamp, personally I did the tru-bypass mod so that circuit is no longer used in my pedal.