Bogner Ecstasy Footswitch

[SvenHock]

Anyone had any problems with their Ecstasy footswitches? I've had to repair both of them that I have. The casing itself is well built but the wiring leaves a little to be desired. The wire is very thin (reminds me of Marshalls cheap footswitches) and the strain relief bushing seems to crimp the wires too much. I imagine Bogner is doing the best they can with what the suppliers supply them with but I personally think they could be a built with heavier gauge wire. Have you ever tried to replace a wire strain relief bushing? What a pain!!

[voodoosound]

I have never had a problem on any Bogner footswich that I have currently about 8. 4 of them I have had since 92 with extensive use.

[larc]

Same thing happened to me too.

The tight bushing seems to be the culprit, but increasing the wire gauge makes it too difficult to fit the 8 wires inside the XLR jack.

My Ecstacy was made in '94 and I'm not sure if Bogner continues to make their footswitches the same way. I know another Ecstacy with the same footswich also needed to be respliced, so the problem does happen.

Since I repaired my footswitch, I've always taken extra precaution to make sure the cable doesn't flex too much where the bushing clamps down on it.

[NatDeroxL7]

I had a problem tonight where the FX loop, when on, kept flicking on and off uncontrollably, but if I disconnected the footswitch and just turned it on from the back of the amp, then it would be fine.

Is this the type of problem that you would be talking about?

[SvenHock]

Originally Posted by NatDeroxL7

I had a problem tonight where the FX loop, when on, kept flicking on and off uncontrollably, but if I disconnected the footswitch and just turned it on from the back of the amp, then it would be fine.

Is this the type of problem that you would be talking about?

Yes..........your probably going to have to cut all the connections and resolder the footswitch wires like I did and the problem was solved.

[Shawn Lutz]

I'm having a problem with mine as well (Ecstasy 101B)....on mine its the boost buttons for ch 2 and ch 3 keep intermittently engaging all by themselves. I'm going to take it a part today and see if I can find anything wrong internally.

[NatDeroxL7]

Originally Posted by SvenHock

Yes..........your probably going to have to cut all the connections and resolder the footswitch wires like I did and the problem was solved.

DAMN....

I guess this means I either pay for someone to do it here in Nashville or I have to wait until christmas when I go home and have access to soldering equipment.

any estimates/advice on places to go here in Nashville, if its not more than $50 or so I might just have someone else do it

[SvenHock]

Originally Posted by Shawn Lutz

I'm having a problem with mine as well (Ecstasy 101B)....on mine its the boost buttons for ch 2 and ch 3 keep intermittently engaging all by themselves. I'm going to take it a part today and see if I can find anything wrong internally.

Its the wiring passing through the strain relief bushing almost guaranteed. Your probably going to have to do what I did and get in there and cut the wires and redo the whole thing. Its a piss poor design on Bogners behalf. Well, not a piss poor design but it just doesnt hold up to gig use.

[SvenHock]

Originally Posted by NatDeroxL7

DAMN....

I guess this means I either pay for someone to do it here in Nashville or I have to wait until christmas when I go home and have access to soldering equipment.

any estimates/advice on places to go here in Nashville, if its not more than $50 or so I might just have someone else do it

It took me around an hour and I'm no tech so I cant imagine it costing more than 50.00.

[larc]

Originally Posted by SvenHock

Yes..........your probably going to have to cut all the connections and resolder the footswitch wires like I did and the problem was solved.

Didn't have to cut all my wires.

Just removed the bushing and pulled the cable through the bushing another inch and a half, then respliced the bad wire at its weak spot.

Here's a repair photo...notice heat shrink tubing around splices (brown and yellow wires needed repair).

[NatDeroxL7]

I think that my problem is where the cable is wired into the plug that goes into the amp though, so that might be a bit more difficult to fix I would think..

[larc]

Originally Posted by NatDeroxL7

I think that my problem is where the cable is wired into the plug that goes into the amp though, so that might be a bit more difficult to fix I would think..

If you wiggle / bend the cable where it enters the XLR jack, does your effects loop LED flicker? If you observe any correlation between cable movement and flickering, then your effects loop wire is probably damaged where it enters the jack. The thing to keep in mind is repeated flexing of wire overtime will cause a break, so the damage usually occurs where the cable is always getting bent.

Fixing a damaged wire inside the XLR jack shouldn't be difficult. If you know how to solder, you should be able to repair it yourself.

To get inside the XLR jack, unscrew the black plastic part of the jack, pull the cable out, pull back the plastic sleeve (covering the pins) so you can get access to wires. You're going to have to cut and resplice all the wires, so it will take more time.

If you don't notice any correlation between cable movement and flickering on the jack end, try moving the cable at the bushing (where it enters the footswitch).

[mr breaker]

I haven't had any problems with mine!

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by larc

Didn't have to cut all my wires.

Just removed the bushing and pulled the cable through the bushing another inch and a half, then respliced the bad wire at its weak spot.

Here's a repair photo...notice heat shrink tubing around splices (brown and yellow wires needed repair).

that is exactly how I repaired my footswitch (1996 101B)..it only needed the 'loop' switch re-spliced and re-soldered...works fine now.

[Lution]

Originally Posted by mr breaker

I haven't had any problems with mine!

+1 No problems here.

sorry to hear about your issues. Hopefully they aren't to difficult/costly to repair.