Aphex repair

[Mr. Foxen]

Scored what I thought was a bargain priced Bass Xciter on the bay, but it suffers from crackles and loss of signal as the leads move. Its kinda ok stuck down on the board, but its still dodge to be hoping like that. Think its the classic board mount jacks problem. How hard is it to fix? Worth just openin and new jacks on it? I'm fairly experienced tinker and am liking what it does. Is it a case I'd have to do something like this eventually anyway if I wanted to use one?

The dude is being cool about returning, but leaves me outta pocket one way post and with no pedal, vs. a bargain price pedal.

[cheddatom]

I would take the jacks off the board by using some wire, if that doesn't solve it, replace the jacks, if that doesn't solve it........... no idea.

[johnnylager]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='284767' date='Sep 16 2008, 09:09 AM']I would take the jacks off the board by using some wire, if that doesn't solve it, replace the jacks, if that doesn't solve it........... no idea.[/quote]
I'd buy mine for £50 inc postage, some paint taken off by velcro on the bottom, otherwise pukka nick actually.

[1976fenderhead]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='284591' date='Sep 15 2008, 10:27 PM']Scored what I thought was a bargain priced Bass Xciter on the bay, but it suffers from crackles and loss of signal as the leads move. Its kinda ok stuck down on the board, but its still dodge to be hoping like that. Think its the classic board mount jacks problem. How hard is it to fix? Worth just openin and new jacks on it? I'm fairly experienced tinker and am liking what it does. Is it a case I'd have to do something like this eventually anyway if I wanted to use one?

The dude is being cool about returning, but leaves me outta pocket one way post and with no pedal, vs. a bargain price pedal.[/quote]

I had a similar problem with both my Aphex Punch Factory and my MXR Stereo Chorus. Was pretty convinced it was the jacks as I'd lose or regain signal when I moved the plugs. Turns out it was a broken switch both times. Now what does a broken switch have to do with moving plugs inside the jacks I have no idea, but that's what it was and a new switch solved it both times.

Not saying it's definitely your case but thought it might be useful for you to know this other possibility...

In my case first pedal was under the warranty so it was free to replace, the MXR was fixed by a tech in Denmark Street for a tenner.

[Mr. Foxen]

That sounds interesting and likely, the switch and the di socket are basically the only things holding the pcb in, so flexing the jacks would be straining the switch connection. Might try hardwiring it on. The dude is cool about returns and refunded me already, but I might say don't worry, as a new one would break the same eventually.

[1976fenderhead]

These Aphex pedals are infamous for their terrible switches that break all the time btw so that really may be it...

[escholl]

the contacts could just be dirty, or one of the jacks could just have wiggled loose of its solder connection -- the only way to find out is to take a look. be careful of the 14 pin IC that's in there as it is somewhat sensitive to static, etc...nothing to worry about too much though, the whole circuit is pretty simple. the easiest fix, for me, was to take some pickup mounting foam and wedge it in so that when the jacks pulled in or out, the force was applied to that, and nothing else.