Trace Elliot Comp pedal repair?

[RobJ]

I have a TE dual compressor pedal and I'm wondering if anyone can make a recommendation for repairs. Based on symptoms the pots may need replacing or at a minimum there are some bad solder joints. The compression bit works fine it just gets crazy noisy if the pots are moved, tapping on them can make the noise go away and cleaning the pots yielded no improvement.

My apologies in advance if I posted to the wrong forum.

[Inconnu]

Originally Posted by RobJ

I have a TE dual compressor pedal and I'm wondering if anyone can make a recommendation for repairs. Based on symptoms the pots may need replacing or at a minimum there are some bad solder joints. The compression bit works fine it just gets crazy noisy if the pots are moved, tapping on them can make the noise go away and cleaning the pots yielded no improvement.

My apologies in advance if I posted to the wrong forum.

Have you checked the input gain transistor? I had a Trace Elliot SMX pedal and that particular transistor blew up quite a few times. The remedy was to replace it with one that had a slightly higher capacity (suggested by the electronics store, can't remember what value).

[RobJ]

Thanks for the tip; no I haven't, thought it's worth considering. As mentioned it actually works fine once you get it set. Just don't touch the pots.

[bongomania]

The "don't touch the pots" thing does indeed suggest one or more bad solder joints, as you said. If you're feeling handy, I'd get some Caig's ProGold contact cleaner, spray it into the pots, and work the pots back and forth a couple dozen times. Then re-flow the solder joints on and near the pots, just by holding a soldering iron tip against each joint until the solder turns bright silver.

[RobJ]

Yeah I was an electronics bench tech years ago and I think that's what's going on. My problem is time mostly and not so much ability. I've never used that brand of cleaner before, thanks for the tip I'll check it out.