Help repairing a Vox 847A wah?

[JohnHorne]

So the pot in my Vox wah was terribly scratchy so I asked my local music store to order me a replacement pot.

Sounds like the guy on the other end of the phone was unsure of what I needed and what I got is a pot, but there's no housing really, and no place to solder the connections to!

As I look around the web I don't see much in the way a replacement pots for wahs - am I missing something? Should I just buy a new one? I didn't think this would be a difficult part to find...any help would be appreciated.

[devnulljp]

Post a pic of what you got.
The pot you want looks something like this:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/BlkWah.jpghttp://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/DunWahII.jpg

You can get them on smallbear (http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories.bok?category=Wah-Wah+and+Swell+Pedal+Parts%2C+Wah+Inductors) among other places.
For that wah, I'd hunt on ebay for Whipple and get his pot + inductor kit. it'll sound a million times better. promise.
EDIT: In fact, here's the very thing (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300331851821)
http://i23.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/d4/58/872a_1.JPG

[Freedom]

The V847A's pot looks like this:


http://www.imageshack.gr/files/px6o447p25c9oeqirewf.jpg

It's not a good photo and i can't figure out if its a sealed pot or not (i don't have it with me right now to check it out). If its not sealed i would try some deoxit or similar product first...

It seems like there is a pcb soldered on the pot's lugs...

[devnulljp]

Yikes, what the hell is that thing?

[Freedom]

Yikes, what the hell is that thing?

Yeah, i know...believe it or not that's a brand new V847A...i don't know if there are any differences between the older and newer batches but thats how the new ones look... ;)

http://freedom.uns.gr/Vox847A.html

I wonder how difficult is to desolder the small pcb, install whatever wah pot you like (100K, icar) and solder it again... :crazy

[stinkfoot]

The problem is that there's a couple of parts on that pcb as well, so ripping it out and hooking up a regular wah pot may not be the best option. You might be able to adapt the connectors on a blacktop wah pot to fit the holes in the pcb, but by far the easiest route is to simply order a replacement from Vox. You'd get the pot + pcb, and just have to fit the connector on there and mount it in place.

/Andreas

[JohnHorne]

Interesting. The guts of my Vox wah does NOT look like what Freedom posted. I don't have that mini PCB across the pot.

What the store rec'd from Vox looks like this:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/DunWahII.jpg

but what is in the pedal looks more like:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/BlkWah.jpg

but it's a sealed pot, and the part that looks like rubber or plastic here is metal in mine (it's probably almost 20 years old) and if it can be taken apart it looks like you'd need special tools.

Thanks for the help so far!

[Freedom]

Interesting. The guts of my Vox wah does NOT look like what Freedom posted. I don't have that mini PCB across the pot

That's good news then, but are you sure yours is the V847A (and not the V847)? Does it have a DC input jack for a psu? Check the bottom plate, is it made in USA or China?


What the store rec'd from Vox looks like this:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/DunWahII.jpg


Yeap, thats the HotPotzII, sealed...


but what is in the pedal looks more like:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/BlkWah.jpg

but it's a sealed pot, and the part that looks like rubber or plastic here is metal in mine (it's probably almost 20 years old) and if it can be taken apart it looks like you'd need special tools.

Yeap, you've got to replace it then, not much you can do if its sealed...good news is you can choose to install any standard wah pot you like... ;)

[JohnHorne]

Okay - maybe I'm incorrect about the model number. I've got no DC and it's made in the USA. I have some velcro on the bottom that may be covering up the model number.

What can I do with the pot that looks like this just give it back to the store and tell them it's the wrong part?
http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/DunWahII.jpg

[stinkfoot]

That doesn't sound like a V847-A to me. I'd say it's a regular V847, which is nice, since it is much better, if you ask me. The Hot Potz II will work just fine, but is a little fiddly to install due to the wiring post-style soldering lugs. You need to twist the wires around the posts, and solder them.

http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile764.html

/Andreas

[kevinhifi]

Yeah, it is the wrong part.

+1 on the whipple recommendation. Makes a huge difference

[Freedom]

Okay - maybe I'm incorrect about the model number. I've got no DC and it's made in the USA. I have some velcro on the bottom that may be covering up the model number.

No worries man... ;)

You've got a V847 for sure... ;)


What can I do with the pot that looks like this just give it back to the store and tell them it's the wrong part?
http://www.smallbearelec.com/stores/sbe/catalog/DunWahII.jpg

The HotPotzII (100K) should do the trick...you have many other options but the HotpotzII will get the job done...i have installed one of these in my early 90ies JH-1 wah...it's been alive and kicking for the last +10 years...

[JohnHorne]

So there seems to be some disagreement on whether or not I rec'd the correct part.

I think I'm going to try to wire it as in stinkfoot's link. Any objections to going that route...

[JohnHorne]

BTW My wah also flops to the toe position. I don't know when that happened. Any ideals on how I can tighten it up?

[Kind Of Loud]

I just recently did mods to my VOX v847. Along with the info from Stinkfoot, here are a couple more.....

http://www.home-wrecker.com/wahmods.html

http://www.wah-wah.co.uk/

From Area 51, I installed a Carling DPDT switch, wired for true bypass.
Also from area 51, i installed their CTS Icar pot.
For a new inductor, I went with the Whipple.

For replacing resistors, I removed the 33k and went to a 56K (vocal mod)
510ohm replaced with 330ohm. (more gain/bass for the TB mod)
1K5 replaced with a 2.2K (mid range), and lastly the 68K repalced with a 47K. (volume and gain for the TB mod)

All totaled, a little over/around $55.00. So give these mods a try. I think you'll be impressed with the results. Good luck..!!!

[Bloodbath]

BTW My wah also flops to the toe position. I don't know when that happened. Any ideals on how I can tighten it up?

Replace the pot first. Sometimes the old pot gets so "loose" it can't hold the treadle up. Also loosening the screw and pressing the white tension flange against the linear gear helps. Finally you can try to tighten the two screws/nuts on the tension bar that holds the treadle to the base. Doing all of these should help.

I like the HP II pot. I recommend it.

[JohnHorne]

Replace the pot first. Sometimes the old pot gets so "loose" it can't hold the treadle up. Also loosening the screw and pressing the white tension flange against the linear gear helps. Finally you can try to tighten the two screws/nuts on the tension bar that holds the treadle to the base. Doing all of these should help.

I like the HP II pot. I recommend it.

Thanks - that's kind what I figured...

[JohnHorne]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I installed the pot this afternoon and the pedal is like new!

For what it's worth, the model# on the post says Vox Hot Pots ECB815.

John

[Clapton is God]

I know this is an old thread.... but did ya ever find a source for the Chinese made 847-A pot? Mine is scratchy, and can't be fixed with contact cleaner... I can't find a place that sells them, especially with the PC board attached. Thanks.