I concur with others who say they appreciate the difficulties being included. It is not merely because of down-to-earthness and humility being so admirable (it is all that and more), it is also because that is the type of difficulty lots of projects present that lots of TH-cam types would leave out or skip to show it done right. You hit a pothole and told people where it was... that is as helpful as seeing just the start and end.
I really appreciate you showing failure and the level of effort required to fix that sort of failure. when I succeeded where you failed it was only because I opted for adding liquid flux ... plenty of sentence enhancers were used and a few walk away and calm down moments were had
I have a Lovepedal Zendrive Black Magic with that same circuit board and it had a dc jack that wouldn’t work with a battery. It was brand new and I didn’t want to send it back to Lovepedal! The contacts that are supposed to make contact without a dc cable were spread apart so I needed a new jack. I couldn’t get the board out but I found that I could get it out by prying one side with a small flathead to get the jack out and then the other side came up pretty easy. I didn’t need to desolder the jacks. I just took it nice and slow prying between the circuit board and the enclosure. Just replaced the dc jack and it’s good now. I was kind of scratching my head about it but now I know it can be done without breaking anything!
Man, that looks like so much fun- I think I'm going to start building. I've played all my life- in my fifties now, but only got into pedals about 3-4 years ago- and every since it's like it's been a slow steady march toward the inevitable- becoming a builder. First you just get into the pedals, then you find you're interested in the topology and how they work, and then you catch yourself watching 1 hr-2 hr vids of ppl building and repairing stuff- it's time to go for it. Tbh I'm surprised, I didn't think this would be something I would get into. But that is my nature- I got into watches, started collecting them- then started repairing and modifying them. Got into fishing- started making lures. Got into knife collecting and learned not only how to make knives but how to work leather so I could also make sheaths. I can't just like something- I have to be obsessed with it, know everything I can about it, and then try to make it myself.
Yay, a sound demo! Thank you. After fixing my old Distortion+ a half dozen times back in the ‘80s, I finally did the same rebuild thing to it and that’s what got me into pedal building. Good job!
Have you tried the “pool of solder” technique over multiple pads, so all of the component legs can fall out at the same time? Have you tried the original AD712 chip?
Great vid as always! I like how you showed every single step of the rebuild but kept it very entertaining to watch. Did you figure out why the pedal was malfunctioning to begin with?
Arg… freaking lifting pads. Nothing bums me out more then a lifted pad during building, even when I’m being very careful. I just want to throw the lamb pcb haha.
so what're you gonna do with the extra boards ;) haha These type of pcb designs are always tricky.. sometimes you get lucky and the jacks arent so snug so it can be popped out. But yeah you need better desoldering stuff to do these hardware mounted pcbs- also a judicious amount of flux helps but the powered vaccuum pump or hot air rework station are the best way to go.
As soon as you started desoldering the in and out I felt dread. I've been there. Too bad. But I'm sure it sounds basically the same. If I bought a Zendrive and it had your board in it I'd be fine with it. Haha. It might even be better made. I haven't been able to watch the DR103 builds. I'm insanely envious. Serendipitously, I had built a DIY Baja DR103 the previous week to your project start. I had decided that it was the best amp sound that I had ever heard. Maybe one day. OH, try a Greer Lightspeed into the HIWATT. It sounds amazing through the solid state version.
I haven't, just checked it out. Interesting, but one of the issues on this repair was the excessive heat over time which softened the adhesive holding on the copper pour, causing it to essentially fall off. The benefit of a good vacuum desoldering gun is that it heats the parts about as much as the original soldering, and hopefully does not stress that adhesive any more than necessary.
@@graybenchelec Another problem with most electronics made currently, is that they aren't made strong enough to be repaired. I work in electronics in my professional life and even the stuff we make only takes so much abuse.
@@graybenchelec Isn't that the truth. I've been buying nonfunctioning guitar related gear for a few years and repairing it as a hobby. If I can keep something useful out of the landfill, I'll sure try.
do you guys have any experience in the Electric mistress v2 from 1976 i have one and i think its not up to its fullest sound wise and it also has the volume drop when engaged over my vintage big muff. do you guys have any idea or how to fix it? i can probably send it in if you guys accept that
Sorry not too familiar with that pedal. I'm also not accepting outside work right now. I would go hunting on the DIY forums (freestompboxes.org, diystompboxes.com/smfforum/ ) to see if anyone has dealt with the same. Good luck!
The ZD is one of the few where you can hear the difference between op-amps. Try it yourself, it's pretty unmistakable. The AD 712 sounds like butt in that circuit, to these ears. The NE 5532 is better, but there are a number of chips that sound really good in the ZD. Funny that the ZD bears some similarities to the tube screamer, as I wouldn't bother swapping op amps in any TS pedal, but it's worth auditioning different op amps in the ZD. Keith Aviles of Machine Head Pedals did a long post about this on the TDPRI. He's extremely knowledgable, and gives a ton of good information in that post from several years back. It's worth hunting down. He explains specifically why the Zen Drive allows for the difference in op amps to be heard so clearly, when almost every other drive pedal doesn't. check it out.
You need a better desoldering tool. Even if you aren’t using a vacuum pump a Soldapullt is way better. Also you should have a real set of nut drivers. I don’t know why people use those 3D printed things. Manufactures don’t use that junk.
Those PCBs are a joke! The bean counters are saving the company's every cent possible but making the pedal almost impossible to service . I bulid pedals on verboards and everyone hand with a soldering iron can modify or repair them with no difficulties. Sanding the transistors? You can find Zendrive layouts and schematics online with all the info. What a joke must be doing that useless job. Different ICs do make an audible difference in a low part count pedal like the Zendrive.
I concur with others who say they appreciate the difficulties being included. It is not merely because of down-to-earthness and humility being so admirable (it is all that and more), it is also because that is the type of difficulty lots of projects present that lots of TH-cam types would leave out or skip to show it done right. You hit a pothole and told people where it was... that is as helpful as seeing just the start and end.
I really appreciate you showing failure and the level of effort required to fix that sort of failure. when I succeeded where you failed it was only because I opted for adding liquid flux ... plenty of sentence enhancers were used and a few walk away and calm down moments were had
Yeah hindsight is 20/20. Hopefully a nice vacuum desoldering gun is in my future!
I have a Lovepedal Zendrive Black Magic with that same circuit board and it had a dc jack that wouldn’t work with a battery. It was brand new and I didn’t want to send it back to Lovepedal! The contacts that are supposed to make contact without a dc cable were spread apart so I needed a new jack. I couldn’t get the board out but I found that I could get it out by prying one side with a small flathead to get the jack out and then the other side came up pretty easy. I didn’t need to desolder the jacks. I just took it nice and slow prying between the circuit board and the enclosure. Just replaced the dc jack and it’s good now. I was kind of scratching my head about it but now I know it can be done without breaking anything!
Cool to see someone else using all the 'no-no' desoldering techniques, like pushing a compnent leg through with a hot iron, etc. I'm not alone!
There's two kinds of techs in the world; those who admit to moving components around with the iron tip, and liars.
Man, that looks like so much fun- I think I'm going to start building. I've played all my life- in my fifties now, but only got into pedals about 3-4 years ago- and every since it's like it's been a slow steady march toward the inevitable- becoming a builder. First you just get into the pedals, then you find you're interested in the topology and how they work, and then you catch yourself watching 1 hr-2 hr vids of ppl building and repairing stuff- it's time to go for it. Tbh I'm surprised, I didn't think this would be something I would get into. But that is my nature- I got into watches, started collecting them- then started repairing and modifying them. Got into fishing- started making lures. Got into knife collecting and learned not only how to make knives but how to work leather so I could also make sheaths. I can't just like something- I have to be obsessed with it, know everything I can about it, and then try to make it myself.
You might try Superwick 425-lf lead free braid to get components out. It's like magic compared to other braids
Yay, a sound demo! Thank you. After fixing my old Distortion+ a half dozen times back in the ‘80s, I finally did the same rebuild thing to it and that’s what got me into pedal building. Good job!
Glad you enjoyed!
Live my Love Pedal Zen Drive🎸❤🎸❤
🔊Well done, very informative 🔩
Thanks!
Interesting video.
What Im puzzled about are those sound clips, as this is nowhere near of what should Zendrive sound and behave like 😮
Have you tried the “pool of solder” technique over multiple pads, so all of the component legs can fall out at the same time?
Have you tried the original AD712 chip?
Why do they make those damn tracks and pads so small????? Very frustrating when it comes to repairs. Great video, thanks.
Yeah beats me. Thanks!
Great vid as always! I like how you showed every single step of the rebuild but kept it very entertaining to watch. Did you figure out why the pedal was malfunctioning to begin with?
Unfortunately not.
Arg… freaking lifting pads. Nothing bums me out more then a lifted pad during building, even when I’m being very careful. I just want to throw the lamb pcb haha.
Damn*
The jack desoldering gave me anxiety
so what're you gonna do with the extra boards ;) haha
These type of pcb designs are always tricky.. sometimes you get lucky and the jacks arent so snug so it can be popped out. But yeah you need better desoldering stuff to do these hardware mounted pcbs- also a judicious amount of flux helps but the powered vaccuum pump or hot air rework station are the best way to go.
Yeah I did try that, I would have had to wedge against the PCB itself and potentially do damage that way. I’m planning to get a desoldering gun soon.
Could you do the Fender Trapper dual fuzz pedal?
Great vid... Im really interested in your method of making the PCB. Could you do a vid on that?.
I'm still learning myself, I highly recommend effect layout's series: th-cam.com/play/PLGCa8FTMTY-kNAt2E9UarHVlrpjTFkNGu.html
As soon as you started desoldering the in and out I felt dread. I've been there. Too bad. But I'm sure it sounds basically the same. If I bought a Zendrive and it had your board in it I'd be fine with it. Haha. It might even be better made.
I haven't been able to watch the DR103 builds. I'm insanely envious. Serendipitously, I had built a DIY Baja DR103 the previous week to your project start. I had decided that it was the best amp sound that I had ever heard. Maybe one day. OH, try a Greer Lightspeed into the HIWATT. It sounds amazing through the solid state version.
Yeah it was always going to be an uphill battle. I'd like to think it would be indistinguishable sonically.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get it for on eBay?
$130ish I believe
Have you had any experience using Quik Chip? Their de soldering alloy is a life saver. All be it expensive.
I haven't, just checked it out. Interesting, but one of the issues on this repair was the excessive heat over time which softened the adhesive holding on the copper pour, causing it to essentially fall off. The benefit of a good vacuum desoldering gun is that it heats the parts about as much as the original soldering, and hopefully does not stress that adhesive any more than necessary.
@@graybenchelec Another problem with most electronics made currently, is that they aren't made strong enough to be repaired. I work in electronics in my professional life and even the stuff we make only takes so much abuse.
@@jesseyasaitis9036 Yeah, not much incentive to make repairable goods when there's profit to be made on forcing people to buy a replacement instead.
@@graybenchelec Isn't that the truth. I've been buying nonfunctioning guitar related gear for a few years and repairing it as a hobby. If I can keep something useful out of the landfill, I'll sure try.
do you guys have any experience in the Electric mistress v2 from 1976 i have one and i think its not up to its fullest sound wise and it also has the volume drop when engaged over my vintage big muff. do you guys have any idea or how to fix it? i can probably send it in if you guys accept that
Sorry not too familiar with that pedal. I'm also not accepting outside work right now. I would go hunting on the DIY forums (freestompboxes.org, diystompboxes.com/smfforum/ ) to see if anyone has dealt with the same. Good luck!
The ZD is one of the few where you can hear the difference between op-amps. Try it yourself, it's pretty unmistakable. The AD 712 sounds like butt in that circuit, to these ears. The NE 5532 is better, but there are a number of chips that sound really good in the ZD. Funny that the ZD bears some similarities to the tube screamer, as I wouldn't bother swapping op amps in any TS pedal, but it's worth auditioning different op amps in the ZD. Keith Aviles of Machine Head Pedals did a long post about this on the TDPRI. He's extremely knowledgable, and gives a ton of good information in that post from several years back. It's worth hunting down. He explains specifically why the Zen Drive allows for the difference in op amps to be heard so clearly, when almost every other drive pedal doesn't. check it out.
What was the original issue with the pedal?
Not sure, it became moot one I wrecked the original PCB
@@graybenchelec Imagine it was the opamp... Fucking socketed opamp that you have no way to acces :(
To me you just build the new one?
Can I buy a pedal from you?
Keep an eye on my Reverb store, when I have pedals to sell that's where they'll be! reverb.com/shop/grays-gear-depot-7
Time to buy a Hakko desoldering gun, you're gonna just end up ruining board like that.
Indeed I did. Hopefully soon, they're not cheap!
@@graybenchelec Mine paid for itself in like 3 or 4 jobs.
@@ScottyBrockway I hear that.
You need a better desoldering tool. Even if you aren’t using a vacuum pump a Soldapullt is way better.
Also you should have a real set of nut drivers. I don’t know why people use those 3D printed things. Manufactures don’t use that junk.
I'll check that out, thanks!
Those PCBs are a joke!
The bean counters are saving the company's every cent possible but making the pedal almost impossible to service .
I bulid pedals on verboards and everyone hand with a soldering iron can modify or repair them with no difficulties.
Sanding the transistors?
You can find Zendrive layouts and schematics online with all the info.
What a joke must be doing that useless job.
Different ICs do make an audible difference in a low part count pedal like the Zendrive.