Fender Boo/Wah pedal

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 9 Oct 2014 9:22 am

Just bought one on eBay. Was advertised works well. The volume part work great, very clear sound. However the side to side for tone isn't doing anything. Is this something that can be fixed easily? I don't know anything about them. Any info would be very helpful. Thanks

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 9 Oct 2014 10:40 am

It ought to be fairly easy to diagnose. Remove the bottom plate. See if the pulley is working right--is the string moving and is it connected to and turning the tone pot?
If yes, is the capacitor connected on both ends? Are all the wires on the tone pot intact or has a solder joint broken free?

Report what you find and if necessary I can shoot some pics of how it ought to look.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 9 Oct 2014 3:37 pm

The pot is probably just froze from non-use. Add a drop of oil or cleaner/lube where the tone pot shaft goes into the bushing and leave it sit overnight. (It should work the next day.)

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Oct 2014 5:01 pm

It could also not have the side to side hooked up with the string. My first volume pedal was one of these and I hated the side to side tone control. I disabled it as did another player I knew at the time.

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 9 Oct 2014 8:20 pm

Thanks for the advice. I am going to take a look at it this weekend. I watched a demo on YouTube where a guy has a triple neck fender. I really liked the sound he was getting with the side to side. But still very happy with the volume part. I just started playing about 6 months ago, and this is my first time using a pedal. I really like the sound I get especially with bar slants. Thanks again!

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 9 Oct 2014 8:50 pm

Found the problem. I don't know the names of parts, but the round plastic piece that has two wires to connect the pots. The wire going to the side to side pot, is broke. I suspect that someone might have disabled it like Richard talked about. All looks original and the strings both work fine.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 9 Oct 2014 9:11 pm

Post a picture. I suspect the "little plastic piece" is yje capacitor. Without which it won't work

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 10 Oct 2014 9:03 am

I know this is the problem. I would post a pic, but considering it took me about 10 tries to get a blurry version of my Fender for a profile pic, I don't have the patience lol. Gonna try and find someone to repair. Thanks

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 10 Oct 2014 11:24 am

Where in Ohio?

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 10 Oct 2014 9:07 pm

Chillicothe area, about an hour from Columbus, and Dayton, hour and half from Cincinnati.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 10 Oct 2014 9:32 pm

Yes. Home of the people who make ill-designed trucks (I drive a T-680).
If you were along 70, I could have offered to.
It's not a huge job, any music store with a repair service could do it.

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 11 Oct 2014 12:01 pm

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 11 Oct 2014 12:03 pm

There is the problem!

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Oct 2014 12:58 pm

I honestly can't make out what you are indicating.
Here is a picture of a pedal that works well.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 11 Oct 2014 3:17 pm

That would be the disc capacitor. You should be able to match it up as the markings are on the capacitor. Simple job to solder it in place.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 11 Oct 2014 11:37 pm

It looks like one lead to the capacitor (the little brown disc) is broken.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 12 Oct 2014 5:51 am

The ceramic disc capacitor's lead was cut where it joins the pot; done on purpose to disable the tone circuit. The angle of the cut would suggest Klein D209-4C diagonal cutters.

Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Oct 2014 5:58 am

Ah. I was making that break out as a shadow/twist.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 12 Oct 2014 6:12 am

Jon,
I recognized it because that's probably where I cut mine years ago. LOL

Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Oct 2014 6:19 am

Ha! Now if you say that you sold that pedal to Adam I'll say that you are cheating.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 12 Oct 2014 6:30 am

The easiest fix would be to just solder those two pieces back together. One drop of solder and you're done!

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 12 Oct 2014 7:21 am

Jon,
If I'm not mistaken, my old Fender pedal is in the Smithsonian Institution.

Jim,
Many times, I've tacked things together using your method. Not the best fix of course, not a lot o strength, but it should get the pedal working.

Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 13 Oct 2014 2:24 am

Craig Baker wrote:Jon,
If I'm not mistaken, my old Fender pedal is in the Smithsonian Institution.

Best regards,
Craig Baker

...I had no idea you were that old, Craig....

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Oct 2014 10:23 am

Come to think of it, I probably cut the tone pot out of the circuit, as removing just the string would leave the tone setting where the pot ended up being set prior to removing the string. Too many years ago.

Adam Johnson · Post by **Adam Johnson** » 14 Oct 2014 8:12 am

I am going to get it repaired. Is is that hard to use the up and down for volume without going side to side? Don't understand why it would need to be disabled if not a desirable sound? I know it's an antique pedal, I just want to be all original vintage Fender. Eventually I will get an amp from the same time frame, lol.