Buying Black Russian muff that needs some TLC

[nolageek]

I'm about to buy a black russian muff for $45 that needs the volume pot replaced. It's had some mods (bypass, 9v power jack, adjustable creamy dreamer) so I think it's worth it, but I have almost no experience soldering. I figure this is a pretty basic project for the weekend - but wanted to hear some encouraging words. lol Someone tell me how easy it is.

 

[MatticusMania]

Soldering a pot shouldnt be too hard if you know how to use a soldering iron.

Ive soldered tiny switches in pedals, input jacks, cable ends and various other connections.

 

[nolageek]

I own a soldering iron - "knowing how to use one" is open for debate. We'll find out.

 

[skulletwhip]

Practice on something first. Check out the Beavis audio website. They have a lot of tips and hints.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

Whoa, I totally thought this was a porno thread or something.

 

[metaball]

i did some research but ended up selling mine recently to help fund other projects.

Here are some links:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Electro_Harmonix_Russian_Big_Muff_Pi_Pedal_Mods

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http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/russian-big-muff-ac-dc-power-mod-329901/

the circuit board is much less crowded than the last Boss pedal i tried to mod.

 

[nolageek]

Thanks! I'm looking over as much as I can.

When I picked it up I found that he had removed the power starve pot/knob (but I'm pretty sure I found how to fix that. The main issue is that the volume is always at 10. The volume pot doesn't do anything. He had lengths of tape on the three unattached wires and said "buy a new 100k audio taper pot and connect the wire with the longest tape to 1, the medium tape to 2 and the shortest tape to 3"

So of course I did that (no solder yet) and the volume is still at 10 no matter what I do.

Any suggestions? I'm looking over schematics but I'm trying to find a simpler diagram that I can actually see how it's laid out on the board since that's easier for a newbie to see what wires go where.

Here's a (crappy) photo of the guts and (an even crappier!) photoshop diagram of the wires I'm talking about. I'll try to get better photos.. perhaps someone here can be all "OMG, that wire goes there, duuuuhhhh" and I'll owe them a beer sometime.

 

[nolageek]

Volume is fixed - used the wiring diagrams on this page:

http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_guts.html

Specifically this one:

http://www.kitrae.net/music/Images_Secret_Music_Page/V7_7D_Wiring_Diagram.jpg

Now I just need to figure out the power starve mod and um, order another pot with a shorter shaft.

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Don't judge.

 

[skulletwhip]

You can cut the pot down. You can use a hacksaw. No joke. It takes a while. But it works.

 

[metaball]

You can cut the pot down. You can use a hacksaw. No joke.

if it lasts longer than 4 hours call a doctor.

 

[nolageek]

You can cut the pot down. You can use a hacksaw. No joke. It takes a while. But it works.

Hacksaw'd that mo'fo. Perfect!

 

[skulletwhip]

Far out, man. Glad to help.

 

[nolageek]

Anyone have any experience with using the power starve mod with the russian Big Muff? Is it worth me putting it back together? I currently have a piece of electrical tape over the hole in the case.

I tried finding clips somewhere but came up empty.