Recommended FX tech in London for EHX Micro Synth?

[Huw Foster]

Hey there, hope the title sums it up - my Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth is playing up (as all EHX pedals seem to eventually). I'd like to maybe couple this with some modification, like having the LED indicate that the effect is on, and not just the unit itself. Can anyone recommend a shop or tech in/around London? I'm currently in SW, just in Surrey near Surbiton, Kingston etc but central London or elsewhere is fine.

The problem in brief is this: the filter sweep is very temperamental. Most of the time it works, but for reasons unknown it often gets 'stuck' on whatever the start frequency is set at. I have discovered that giving the top panel a 'tap' (read: punch if I'm really frustrated) in the right place gets it working again, albeit for the short term. However, this is hardly good practice and I'd really like to have it back to full strength.

Incidentally, I took it to CCGX in Hampton Wick a while back and explained the problem. They left it with their tech and it came back to me with no apparent defect. I tried it out in the shop and it seemed to work ok (albeit with a guitar - I think the tracking from an active bass accentuates the problem). Not long after that the filter sweep problem became apparent on gigs again.

Any help is greatly appreciated - I really would like to get it seen to though. I should also mention that I've tried adjusting the trim pot on the underside to no effect.

[Protium]

Is it a big older one in the steel case? I'd offer to take a look at it, except I'm up in the north west. The LED mod is really simple, just a case of swapping a few wires around. The circuit boards are a pig to work on though, two sandwiched boards with loads of little wires between them

[Huw Foster]

Yeah it's one of the older models. Thanks for offering to look at it - if I'm stuck for solutions I wouldn't mind sending it your way. I also gig up north fairly often so if it works logistically a meet-up wouldn't be out of the question!

Edited September 27, 2011 by Huwberry

[Huw Foster]

Gonna bump dis.

[chris_b]

Peter Woods (07929 709 326) is a tech on the Richmond/Kew borders. He repaired a friend’s valve amp and had a Fender Rhodes in pieces when I was last there. I'm sure he could manage effects.

He seems to have just the right mix of tech, geek and mad professor!

[Huw Foster]

Cheers Chris! I'll get in touch with him shortly.

[Huw Foster]

Just thought I'd let you all know that I [i]think[/i] I sorted it out myself, without having to leave it with a tech. I don't want to speak too soon though!

I decided to open it up to have a look myself - it's well beyond warranty so there was no perceivable harm in doing so. I couldn't see anything obviously wrong with it (i.e. loose parts or disconnected wires), although it was a bit intimidating to be confronted by two circuit boards! I did, however, notice a second trim pot (aside from gain) that I'd either forgotten or not known about at all. To my ears, this trim pot controls a sort of noise gate - is this right?

Anyway, I found I could negate the problem detailed in my initial post by adjusting the gain and gate trims, combined with finding the optimum 'trigger' setting. As it turns out, I didn't need to have the trigger fader quite as high as I previously thought.

Cheers for all the help and advice - I've actually asked for help with this issue before, but gave up in that instance. Hopefully I've found the solution this time - I'm glad I've not had to spend any money on it at least!

Huw