Dan Echo help

[Zip]

So I have a Dan Echo pedal. Looks like it spent time in the South Pacific during WWll. After using lots of DeOxit, it works with both 9v battery or wall wart, but it doesn't do anything. I mean it doesn't change the signal at all, doesn't change the volume. Just lights up and looks pretty.

Any suggestions from some of you guru's? I don't mind pulling it apart or heating up a soldering iron, as it's only useful as a doorstop at this point. Thanks!

 

[Spudman]

It's probably fixable if you get power, but finding out what it is is going to take some sleuthing. If you pull out the circuit board do you notice any obviously burnt components?

 

[Ch0jin]

I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the pedal, so without having it in front of me with a multi-meter in my hand I dunno.......

Not to shoot Spud down, but depending on how the bypass is wired, an LED lighting might not mean anything at all. In a true bypass switching setup, the LED is on a completely independent circuit. You could literally remove all the bits that make the effect work and the led would still shine proudly....

Spud is spot on with the visual inspection part though. Have a look for corrosion, liquid damage, cracks, burnt out bits, wires that don't go anywhere (because the have broken off) Given that it was used in the defense of Iwo Jima, all these are possible

 

[Zip]

OK. I'll pull it apart today and let you know what I find. Thanks!!

 

[Zip]

OK, here's some gut shots:

You can see in the 2nd pic, the PCB looks pretty gonzo (in my unprofessional opinion). That's the smaller 'daughterboard' card plugged into the bigger board, and the one that the juice flows through. Giant doorstop, or can I fix it? Opinions??

 

[Ch0jin]

Jeez man. If I was still in the repair game professionally I'd tag that B.E.R. immediately. "Beyond Economical Repair"

Seriously, there is a lot of corrosion going on, meaning you would have to remove every single component from the PCB, strip it back to the copper traces and then go at it with a razor blade to cut out the corroded traces and replace with wire, drill out and through PCB connectors and replace with wire, re-coat the board in lacquer and hope you found all the corroded parts. Then replace every electro cap, all pots, sockets and connectors. Probably a good idea to replace all the resistors too, either replace the IC's or sand down the legs, and on it goes...

If this was the last of it's kind and the future of mankind depended on it, Yeah I reckon I could make it work. Otherwise, throw it back in the creek it came from

 

[Commodore 64]

I have one of those pedals and it sounds like *** anyways. I say chuck it. I haven't found a Danelectro pedal that I like yet. Tried Rocky Road, Fish N Chips Reverb, Cool Cat Tremolo, and Danecho.

 

[Spudman]

I have one of those pedals and it sounds like *** anyways. I say chuck it. I haven't found a Danelectro pedal that I like yet. Tried Rocky Road, Fish N Chips Reverb, Cool Cat Tremolo, and Danecho.

Well, you're missing the Chicken Salad. Great pedal fo sho.

But ya, the Echo might be more headache than you need to get it working. However, you can turn it into a great classroom experience and see if eventually you can get it working, but I wouldn't invest any money in it, just time.