help ! what i do wrong with distortions ?!

nochtanseenspecht · October 04, 2008, 07:06:50 PM

several times i was investigating differend fx machines,when came across a dirty distortion, quickly i blew
the divise... no more sound... dead... i'm allmost sure it was the distortionbent that caused the dead in these
occasions... so. who can shine his/her light on the situation $:-\$

Signal:Noise · October 07, 2008, 06:44:52 PM

Almost certainly put too much current through a chip or something

americantourist · October 07, 2008, 08:34:46 PM

it is very easy to overload a chip when bending. always use a resistor inline with your probes when looking for a bend, dont just use a wire to attach two points. its easy to silently burn out a black blob or other IC by accidentally sending too much voltage through an unsuspecting pin. standard proceedure dictates, when modifying a device only ever use batteries. once running on batteries, with the case open and board exposed, moisten the tips of your fingers and touch various points. the moisture will help conduct, and your body will provide 'some' resistance (and capacitance, we are afterall bags of salty water). this way you can probe for good bends and not blow the thing out in the process.

but remember, after you find your bends, even stable bends, you still need to watchout. don't directly connect two points without some resistance unless you 1.) know full well the bend is stable 2.) you don't mind burning out the device!

sam

nochtanseenspecht · October 07, 2008, 10:02:21 PM

okay thanks for your reactions !
but i always do it the way you say, then i find good distortion, and quickly the machine dies..
now i suspect transistors to be to weak for my bending powers

do they easily blow ?

Circuitbenders · October 07, 2008, 10:38:12 PM

If you were getting savage distortions you might be messing with and blowing an op-amp in the output section.

Stay away from the power supply areas and the output amp areas and you should be alright.

nochtanseenspecht · October 08, 2008, 01:09:06 AM

Cheers Crusty Paul,
i guess i blew some output opamps then... (always stay clear from the power area)
see if i could messure and replace them .

since i have no more interest in toybending and only go for fx and midigear,
it is getting a bit an expensive hobby with my recent bad luck

Signal:Noise · October 08, 2008, 10:57:17 PM

I blew up 3 keyboards in a row...including and SK1 I'd paid more than I'd have liked for.

In fact, if anyone has an sk1 that powers up, but doesn't make noise of any sort I'd be interested in purchasing it off you.