I was cleaning out some old boxes and found this:
Who can give this a thorough servicing? Pots are scratchy and it doesn’t sound all that great.
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Servicing an Out-of-Production Pedal?
- Thread starter Folmeister
- Start date
Here's a list of pedal builders in Texas, maybe they help you with this... Screamin FX, Black Cat Pedals, Durham Electronics
Thanks! Knowing the history of this pedal, I am more than willing to ship out of state to find the right tech!
You mentioned that it doesn't sound that great, was it sounding better before? I just saw one like yours on reverb used and they are asking $470 for it, must be a good pedal...
I have zero experience with them, but Mimmotronics looks, on the surface at least, to be a good way to get something expensive fixed: [This invalid link has been removed]
I'd try to locate local builders to your area. But I mostly just want to say that's the cleanest Sub Designer I've ever seen!!!
If it's just scratchy pots, Deoxit is your friend. A little spray, work the knobs, check, repeat if needed.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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I was indeed a fantastic sounding, rather rare pedal with a sordid history. Southampton Pedals has done a recreation of it called the Ictineo that is a bit more affordable when in stock.You mentioned that it doesn't sound that great, was it sounding better before? I just saw one like yours on reverb used and they are asking $470 for it, must be a good pedal...
Another option would be to see if someone else that makes a clone of the Submarine Designer would be willing to fix it, as they are likley more familiar than most with the circuit.
Southampton for instance makes a fantastic clone, and have always been very helpful in my experience, if you don't mind shipping to Canada.
https://www.southamptonpedals.com/products/ictineo
You know, this thing is noisy. Got a whole ringing thing in the background when engaged. I am not trying to make anyone jealous! This was a TB thing that quickly passed. I am trying to understand what was so special about this pedal.
I know here in Austin Tone IO will service/repair a pedal. I’m sure there are folks up your way.
Hey, man! I'd *love* to fix that for you, but I don't think you're going to want to ship it to some dude in Australia, haha. Perhaps, if I've diagnosed the issue correctly, I can walk you through what you can possibly do to either correct it, or restore it to a "good enough!"
It can be done. I have a "ram's head" Big Muff. One of the pots gave out. It is a nylon shaft pot that is no longer made. But it is a common value. My local tech very carefully took it apart, installed a new wafer, reassembled everything, and it functions as new, with all the original knobs for the nylon shaft pots.
Another vote for DIY and Deoxit, amazing stuff that's exactly what a pedal tech would use and charge you accordingly.
I would think a complete fix by far most likely would just be as simple as opening the pedal chasing up and then generously spraying some electronics cleaner (they usually come with an attachable straw that allows you to spray the cleaner inside the pots) into the pots, giving them a series of full turn wiggles back and forth and then letting the cleaner evaporate completely before assembling the pedal again.
Worked wonders for my EHX Black Finger, when it started to sound weird, doing momentary volume jumps and tone changes and the pots being really scratchy when turned.
After having cleaned the pots it worked absolutely perfectly again.
Make sure it is legit electronic cleaner though, which will evaporate fully without leaving any residues and won't damage the electronics.
Worked wonders for my EHX Black Finger, when it started to sound weird, doing momentary volume jumps and tone changes and the pots being really scratchy when turned.
After having cleaned the pots it worked absolutely perfectly again.
Make sure it is legit electronic cleaner though, which will evaporate fully without leaving any residues and won't damage the electronics.
Do not generously spray contact cleaner on it. DeOxit D5 is recommended, and used sparingly. It does not evaporate, so you dont want to get it all over everything.
