SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

[captainawesome]

Hi,
Does anyone have advice for repairing a shape shifter tremolo pedal? Mine is not under warranty, and will not power on with either a battery or an adapter. the bypass works perfectly (of course), but the LED doesn't even come on.

Schematics? Repair guys? I'm really handy with soldering and such, but I didn't want to dive in without any advice. Thanks all.

 

[severthee]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

i have the same problem, the tremolo led doesnt blink anymore once you plug in a jack

 

[jeremy]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

welcome to the forum!!

if it isnt powering up at all then i would start at the power supply circuit, see where you a losing power. you will obviously need a meter

 

[severthee]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Hi jeremy, I have tried both a 1spot and battery, it usually starts blinking when i plug in a jack. can you help me on how i can use a meter to trace it? thanks

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Captainawesome: You should call in to Customer Service (805) 964 9610 and ask for Scott. He may be able to help you out.

It sounds like it could be D1. It's a protection diode that can blow if there was a voltage spike/surge or whatever. It's kind of like a fuse. It is black and probably won't look blown but may show a little melting or a shiny circle.

 

[severthee]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Good day frank, im the same guy with the problem with the twin tube.
im looking at it now , its a diode but seems like it has 3 legs like a transistor, it has something like KL3 written on it.. i really dont know how to check if its broken or anything, i have an old analog multimeter but i dont know which setting can check it. should i jumper something to see if it works without that diode? please help

 

[severthee]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

i checked for continuity.. and i found out the negative center of the dc socket is NOW connected to the positive leg of the first big electrolytic cap? does that mean that when the d1 blows, it grounds the circuit? how do i fix this?

 

[J Moose]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

If the protection diode is blown the pedal won't power up.

Really the best thing to do, especially if you don't know how to use a multi-meter or test parts is call SD support, get an RA# to send it back and have it fixed properly. Probably for a rather small nominal charge...

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Captainawesome: You should call in to Customer Service (805) 964 9610 and ask for Scott. He may be able to help you out.

It sounds like it could be D1. It's a protection diode that can blow if there was a voltage spike/surge or whatever. It's kind of like a fuse. It is black and probably won't look blown but may show a little melting or a shiny circle.

Is this a normal problem Frank? Sounds like you've ran into this before. Has there been a circuit change?

Luke

 

[selloutrr]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

I had a friend bring in a shape shifter pedal he purchased used in "not working" condition. I did a search a other then the owners manual I couldn't find any information. I contacted SD's tech department, but I have to be honest the quality of customer service was dissapointing! The guy didn't know the product, and just kept saying we can issue an RA for a repair but couldn't give even a ball park estimate of cost. Which felt frustrating since most companies can at least give an hourly rate. Let's chalk it up to being a Friday.

With that said here is how you
fix a semour Duncan shape shifter that is not powering up.

Remove the knobs pot nuts and Jack nuts and back plate screws

Get a friend to help you stretch the chassis and pull the card out

plug in 1/4" guitar cords to the in / out jacks

plug in a "good" 9v battery

set your multiple meter to dc volts place the negative lead on the ground of the input Jack or expossed cable. Looking at the battery follow the red wires up to the card and trace the "9v" threw to the wall power Jack. Then flip the card over and test "D1". On one side you will have voltage the other side "0"
if this is true. Here is the fix.

Just below "D1". Is a blue capacitor the pcb is labeled + facing toward the jacks and the burned diode. This burned diode that acts like a "fuse" is not needed and under spec'd you can bypass it by soldering a jumper wire from the "constant" lead of the wall wart "9v" power supply to the "+" contact Of the filter cap on the bottom of the pcb.

If you solder to the wrong possitive power lead when you use the wall power supply the pedal won't work it's a switching Jack shunting the battery when the Jack is inserted.

You can use alligator clips to test for power before you solder in the jumper wire. Clip and press the bypass switch the lights should come on. If not re attach the alligator clips and test for continuity I had a difficult time getting a good test point but after I did I soldered in the jumper and pedal was good as new!

This fix will void any warranty but it fix the diode issue and restore power.

 

[BJMGodSpell]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

I have the Shape Shifter Tap Tremolo that gets power but doesn't allow the signal to pass, happened suddenly. I've changed the battery and tried alternate power sources, nuthin'... Any suggestions on how to remedy this pedal welcome.

 

[Scott Marceau]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Email me directly: scott.marceau@seymourduncan.com

I'll take care of ya!

 

[Pow Wow]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Now it's my turn to experience what turns out to be a common problem.

As far as I can tell, Scott no longer works for SD, selloutrr's post comes pretty close to making sense without completely getting there, and I'm pretty sure I'm past warranty.

Since this is the most comprehensive page on the subject I've come across, I'm not sure what to do next.

 

[cmpmuller]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

This is fantastic! Revived my Shape Shifter this way! I made an account here just to thank you, selloutrr!! Thank you!

 

[Mincer]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Happy it helped!

 

[Chewbakka]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help- Tap tempo died

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help- Tap tempo died

Hi. I installed a jack in parallel to the tap switch so the tap tempo can be controlled externally.
The Tap switch just connects PIN3 of the PIC Chip to ground so this mod is not very complicated. Using a momentary contact on the external jack, I was able to control the tap tempo just fine.
Then I gave the pedal to someone who connected a DisasterArea SmartClock to control the tap tempo externally. It worked for a while and then tap tempo stopped working altogether. Not even the original switch in the box works any longer.
The SmartClock output is supposedly just a contact, no voltage is applied so I am a little baffled.
I figured the chip must still be working as the tempo can still be adjusted with the rate knob. The Tap switch simply connects PIN3 to ground. There is nothing in between that could have died.
I guess the programing of the PIC chip got confused somehow.
I have no way of checking the programming of the PIC chip and I would not know how. Is there a way to do a "Reset" or something.
There are some jumper Pins on the board that connect to 13, 12 and 11 of the Chip. Does anybody know what these are for?
Did anybody else have problems with the tap tempo?
Thank you.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

No tap tempo problems here. I haven't tried any mods, though.

 

[Aceman]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

About to buy one - timely thread

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

Ace, have you tried the Shape Shifter? It's so good.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SD Shape Shifter Tremolo Repair help

You may try sending this question directly to customer service (on the bottom of the home page). Unless someone was involved in the development of that project, there probably aren't a ton of people who are on the forum who would know the answer to this. Sending an email will get you to the people who actually designed it, so I'd start there. Report back, as it might help someone else.