Dumb Question RE:Wylde Overdrive

[ericthecableguy]

I've had this pedal for a few years and love the tone it gives an already overdriven amp.

But it don't work right.

I'm not asking for anyone to figure out how to fix it (yet :D ) but i'm just wondering if anyone off hand knows what could be wrong with it before i take it to a pro.

It only fully powers sometimes when i step on it. About 2/3 of the time i step on it, it produces a really weak signal.

Not good.
Any knowledge is great and pictures of the guts and whatnot are available upon request.

[Krunek]

This may be a dumb reply, but hey, you yourself saed it was a dumb question, so... :D
Before you take it to someone who will squeeze a fine sum of money out of you for almost nothing, do this, if you haven"t already.Chances are, you did, but just in case.Open the pedal.Take a clean cloth (cotton) and some alcohol.
Clean it inside, especially the connections. (hope this is the right word.)
Uhm, I don"t know how do you guys call it in English... It is a screwdriver
with a little light bulb on the end, indicating if you have power in a cord.
Plugg the pedal and check that out.Ispitivač, that is how we call it. (A crash course in Croatian ;) ). Also, if you have a spray that is used to remove grease or rust and stuff, I don"t know again how do you guys call it, apply
that on the inside of the pedal with no fear.If it doesn"t work properly after that, then take it to some "expert".Considering it is a few years old, you don"t have a warranty, and since it is not working good in any case, you can"t do any real damage, right?
Try that. Clean it up real good an look for any loose conections or stuff.If you haven"t done so already.This may sound silly, but try it out.Hope I helped some? ;)

[ren]

Another possible dumb reply.... power?

is it mains or battery? If battery, have you tried a new one? I used to have trouble until I started powering all mine through the mains....

You've probably tried that already....

[ericthecableguy]

THanks for the advice fellas. I will clean it and look for loose connections. It's pretty much the same with/without battery or plug. Thanks.

[ren]

I was thinking of power because as I think about it, electrical contacts are on or off, so if it sometimes worked and sometimes didn't, that could be dodgy/dirty contacts. But if you get any signal at all I would have thought it was making the circuit OK.

That may be too simplistic though.....

[PRSplaya]

That is a very typical problem with that pedal. Mine did it so bad one time, that it would get completely stuck. I took it apart, and took the switch out and took it apart and put it back together again... worked fine after that. Now, on occasions, if I don't click it hard enough, it will do that week signal thing, but stepping on it again will get it straight. I'd suggest contacting MXR about it. If they won't repair or replace it for you for free, maybe they'll send you a new switch.

[ericthecableguy]

I took the switch part and put it together properly, but now only the light turns on. Gonna try a new switch...otherwise.

[DAMAGED ONE]

DUUUUUUAAAAAAA

[HDJ]

I've been away from the site for a while, I'm back now (apparently).
Mine has done the same thing. I've learned to stomp on it a little harder.
I'll have to clean the switch, which seems to be the problem.

[ericthecableguy]

I took the switch apart and now it doesn't work at all. I might eventually replace the switch, but even then, do i really want an ureliable pedal? I mean read the reviews on www.harmony-central.com , so many folks have had this happen.

I said f*** it, and ordered an sd-1 off ebay used for $45CDN.

[elklandercc]

How complex is the switch compared to one on a foot pedal from an amp to switch channels?

I got one off ebay last week and its coming in soon. If I get the same problem, I'll simply just replace the switch. I had to replace a switch on my amp pedal, because it broke, and had no problems.

[HDJ]

Okay, maybe I won't take mine apart to clean the switch......
It can't be too hard to replace the switch.

[ericthecableguy]

Hmmm...Dug this thing up again.

A few months ago, I emailed mxr. They just said to call them. I got put through to piérre in Québec, who hardly spoke english. After 4-6 weeks, and $20, I recieved the wrong switch.

Screw mxr, I've searched for a while, anyone know any online stores where I can get a switch? Thanks tons in advance. :)

[strat-man]

Try here dude

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories.bok?category=Switches

[elklandercc]

Try Radio Shack before you get one from the net. Might save yourself some time.Take, the switch with you so you can match em up or ask for help.

[damaged]

IMO the Wylde Overdrive is just an expensive version of the boss sd-1 it only cost more beause it has Zakks name on it.

[ericthecableguy]

Thanks for the link strat-man.

Radio shack didn't have the right size, but thanks for the suggestion creta.

damaged-Your right to a point. I now have the sd-1 cause it's 100000X more reliable. It's just not the same though. It's so midrangey...could definately be improved.

But I'm not blowing $100+ on another zw44 so it can screw me. It's sad that MXR would allow such a shotty product on the market.

/rant

[elklandercc]

Could you take a pic of the switch (the back of it where the wires get soldered?) I can't imagine radioshack not having a simple on/off button switch unless MXR decided to use one of them 50 hook ups jacks.

[aschleman]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Switches_and_knobs/Fulltone_3PDT_Stomp_Switch.html

Chances are it looks something like this^^^

There's no doubt in my mind that the one that MXR uses is cheap... It's the common point of failure in all MXR boxes so I'd say replacing it would bring the pedal right up to snuff... It's got a true bypass too.

[strat-man]

Thanks for the link strat-man.




No worries dude, hope you get it sorted :)

[ericthecableguy]

Thanks for the offer guys...but i kinda took the liberty of showing the pedal who's boss :o .