gs_triumph Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 (edited) Hi, I just bought a used TC Spark Mini boost pedal. There is fairly obvious pop when engaging it. Is that normal? I was hoping to run it last in chain before the amp, but it would not be usable. The pop is less pronounced if I slot it in before my flanger. Only other boost I've used is a Rodenberg LPD and that was silent. Edited October 21, 2017 by gs_triumph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 I've had no experience of the mini spark but I did have the full sized Spark Booster, and I still own a couple of other TCE pedals too, and the switches have all have dead silent when switching them on and off. It sounds like something is not quite right with the one you have bought, unfortunately. However, I'm no expert on electronics so I can't offer any insight as to what might be causing the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 I have the mini spark and it's silent when switching on. It's presently at the end of the chain with no issues whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 Thanks guys. Sounds like this one may be faulty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 [quote name='gs_triumph' timestamp='1508654778' post='3393510'] Thanks guys. Sounds like this one may be faulty [/quote] Unfortunately so. Are you able to contact the guy who you bought it from to see what he says? If that doesn't get you anywhere, maybe start a thread in the repairs section to see if anyone there can help you out? For example, if it turns out to be a dodgy switch you might be able to replace it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 Previous owner sez he never used it so didnt experience it doing that. Bought it new two years ago. Never even plugged it in. To be fair, it does look like it has never been touched. No glue marks, rubber feet still in box etc. Anyway, he wasnt for taking it back. I'll be using at a rehearsal tonight so I'll see how it fairs in with the rest of the band. Easy to be picky in the house on your own. Not running it last makes difference. I'll see if it's tolerable. Only need it for one song along with the flanger so hopefully it won't be too obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 Pedal performed flawlessly tonight. Totally silent in switching off and on. I was using same bass, same cables, my own head, same as I use at home, only difference is it's their cab. I use a pedaltrain volto power supply so can't even blame the mains. (Obviously the amp is plugged into the mains) I arrived at rehearsal first so had a chance to set up and check it before anyone else arrived. Any ideas why it might be noisy in the house and not at the rehearsal rooms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkydoug Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 hope you don't mind me hijacking this... what does the tone spark sound like? There's nowhere that says it is a tube preamp emulator, but that is my guess ... or is there something else going on? Cheers, Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 [quote name='gs_triumph' timestamp='1508967266' post='3395756'] Pedal performed flawlessly tonight. Totally silent in switching off and on. I was using same bass, same cables, my own head, same as I use at home, only difference is it's their cab. I use a pedaltrain volto power supply so can't even blame the mains. (Obviously the amp is plugged into the mains) I arrived at rehearsal first so had a chance to set up and check it before anyone else arrived. Any ideas why it might be noisy in the house and not at the rehearsal rooms? [/quote] That sounds good, hopefully it was just one of those things and won't happen again. [quote name='funkydoug' timestamp='1509009306' post='3395935'] hope you don't mind me hijacking this... what does the tone spark sound like? There's nowhere that says it is a tube preamp emulator, but that is my guess ... or is there something else going on? Cheers, Doug [/quote] What do you mean by the tone spark??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 I think he may be confusing it with the full size TC spark pedal which I think does a preamp/ mild overdrive thing if you dial it in, the mini just the clean boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkydoug Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 yes, sorry everyone! getting my spark pedals mixed up. There's the 2 by TC and one by Tone City (called All Spark). Is the TC mini a totally clean boost then? no added magic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Yup, just a straight boost and it seems pretty transparent in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Yup... Just makes it louder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkydoug Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Ok - thanks for clarifying that. Much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenjames Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 Sorry if this is obvious, but have you checked that it’s not something about how the power is wired? My experience went like this: I had a large number of pedals daisy chained off a single (fairly high powered) supply. (High powered pedals (100mA): TC vortex mini, TC HOF mini Mid powered TC PolyTune mini (80mA IIRC) And lots of low powered: Bass Big Muff Pi deluxe, MXR bass comp, MXR bass preamp, EHX small stone, Ashdown BEF) What I noticed was there was a massive click when switching some of the pedals (TC Vortex and Small Stone). ) When I wired it using a new PSU (TRex Junior), I put the higher powered ones on their own isolated 9V. And the clicks went away. Might be worth trying, or at least run the TC spark on its own and see if that makes any difference. I was too lazy to read the OP properly, sorry, but if it’s a full size version (not mini) then does it click when it’s powered from a battery? HTH, ignore if not relevant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gs_triumph Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 Thanks chickenjames, I use a pedal train Volto power supply. It's essentially it's a rechargeable 9v battery with two outputs, Each has a 3 plug daisy chain plugged in. I don't think the two outputs are isolated from each other tho. Hopefully I'll get a chance to run it in the house again tomorrow and fingers crossed it will just work... As it did in rehearsal. 🤞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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