Why the clear blob? Can't adjust MXR el grande.

[scullum]

Went to adjust the internal trim pot for the deep switch on my MXR el grande fuzz and found a clear blob over the pot which is stopping me from adjusting it.
Sorta tried taking it off but it's stuck fairly well and was moving the pot too much, so I gave up cause I didn't wanna wreck it.

Am I missing something? What's it there for?
Any ideas on what I should do?

Also it seems theyve set it at about +15dB and the factory setting is sposed to be +10dB. I've read other people have had different factory settings too, weird.

Looks like this:

[bongomania]

The purpose of the blob is to keep people from tampering with the trim pot. Some trim pots, when tampered with, will make the pedal sound bad or not function properly. Whether that pot is "one of those", I don't know.

[scullum]

Ok yeah but I'm pretty sure this trim pot is supposed to be adjustable. Plus I've seen other el grandes without this on the pot...

[grygrx]

Yes, it should be adjustable.. at least according to the manual.




and a shot of mine (which also had issues)

[LowB-ing]

Not only should it be adjustible, but adjusting it is key to making it sound its best. Factory setting is sort of muddy sounding, and yours have even more mud dialed in

Set it to CUT bass about halfway. (Halfway between center and zero) This brings out the mids nicely and still leaves you plenty of bass. You'll have to set the voume a bit higher to compensate, but the pedal has gobs of volume boost available so thats not really a problem.

[rcubed]

Looks like a bit of hot glue on it. I'd think it would pop right off. Mark the current location with a pen before you play around with it so you know where the factory setting is.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by scullum

Ok yeah but I'm pretty sure this trim pot is supposed to be adjustable. Plus I've seen other el grandes without this on the pot...

did you buy it used? seems to me somebody might have put a dab of glue in there out of pure retardation

[warwick.hoy]

I would think that you could hold the pot in place with a pair of flat nose, vise grip, or channel lock pliers and pry that blob off of there. Maybe apply a small amount of heat with a hair dryer to make it a little more pliable. Someone shoot me if these are bad ideas.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by grygrx

While it IS adjustable, the primary reason the trimpot is in there is for factory calibration. they just decided to promote it as an "extra feature". It is possible that (the instruction manual graphic aside) that position was the proper factory setting for that particular pedal

or not, just sayin

[*insertcoolname]

I opened up my 105Q (also MXR obviously) and noticed the same thing on the two trimpots as well. Maybe it's an MXR thing?

[scullum]

Hmm grygrx it looks like mine has the same broken trace too.

Originally Posted by LowB-ing

Set it to CUT bass about halfway. (Halfway between center and zero) This brings out the mids nicely and still leaves you plenty of bass. You'll have to set the voume a bit higher to compensate, but the pedal has gobs of volume boost available so thats not really a problem.

Thanks I'll try that, assuming I can get the blob off
Otherwise I was thinking of selling it and buying a Supercollider, assuming I could get one. But I'd really like to see what this can do cause it's got potential.

Originally Posted by RCCollins

did you buy it used? seems to me somebody might have put a dab of glue in there out of pure retardation

Nah I bought it new which makes me think I shouldn't be tampering with it. At the factory they might have decided that for this particular pedal this is the only setting it should be at. Maybe it burst into flames at other settings hehe, who knows

I think the blob goes down into the the hole as well, which could be a problem...?
I'll try again tomorrow. Hair dryer could be the go.

Thanks for the input guys.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by scullum

Nah I bought it new which makes me think I shouldn't be tampering with it. At the factory they might have decided that for this particular pedal this is the only setting it should be at. Maybe it burst into flames at other settings hehe, who knows

I think the blob goes down into the the hole as well, which could be a problem...?
I'll try again tomorrow. Hair dryer could be the go.

Thanks for the input guys.

Personally, I would go ahead and tweeze it out. Or just return it - I got one of these and I really didn't like it much at all

[JAUQO III-X]

I took a look inside mine today and there is no glue or anything covering the trim pot.

[scullum]

I got it off
I used plyers mainly.
Still don't see why they'd put it on there.
I set it at around -8dB and cranked the volume. Sounds much better. Will see if it works in a band situation tonight.