Maxon AD-999 Questions

[jcshirke]

My AD-900 is having some problems, and I was just about to send it off for repairs. Right before doing so, I checked my warranty card and discovered that non-moving parts are still under warranty (3 years...pretty nice). So I called Godlyke, and they are replacing my AD-900 with an AD-999. They can't service the AD-900 b/c the chips aren't available.

So, here are my question. The guy at Godlyke told me that the AD-999 will be a bit different than the AD-900. He said he thought it was a bit darker, for one thing. Has anyone here compared both pedals? Would you say there are major (or hopefully only minor) differences between them?

Second question. I read a review at H-C that suggested adjusting the trim pots in the AD-999 would bring the tone much closer that of the old AD-900 and/or the still older Ibanez analog delay(s). But I'm really clueless about what to adjust--or how. He didn't provide any specifics about how to adjust them. He just said to make sure they were all set the same. Does anyone have any clue what he might have meant?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Boogie92801]

It is darker sounding to me. I have tried them both.

 

[jcshirke]

You haven't tried to adjust the trim pots to see if you can brighten it up a bit? Or maybe you want it dark?

Are you still happy with the pedal??

 

[pepperco]

touchy territory,

I have had a bad experience dealing with Godlyke with a
faulty / noisy AD999. They basically told me its supposed to sound like that....tough hop.

Do a search here, I did a couple of long posts about it.
Dipswitches and all. I messed with mine for HOURS
before I got it sounding okay.

I would ask Godlyke to allow you to try out an AD999
before you accept their offer. A lot of people say the
AD900 is better.

What is wrong with yours? Specifically?

 

[jcshirke]

Hey,

Thanks a lot for the heads up.

My AD-900 starting sounding very noisy and crackly. The delay repeats were buried deeper and deeper under these layers of noise the longer I kept the pedal on. When I first plug in the pedal, it seems to sound normal. But the longer it stays on, the more the noise and crackle increases. Eventually there's about 95% noise to 5% signal. The pedal is unusable at that point.

I bought mine from Analogman, and he recommended someone to me who could do the repair work. But before I shipped it off, as I said in my first post, I decided to call Godlyke and see what they suggested, once I discovered it *should* still be under warranty. They advised me not to send it to the other person for repairs, and then subsequently offered to give me an AD-999 instead.

It seems to me like they are trying to be helpful, but I don't want to get stuck with another bum pedal.

Here's the other thing I don't quite understand, though. Godlyke says the pedal can't be repaired b/c they don't have the parts that would be needed. But how would my other technician (name witheld...I'd discuss it privately with people, if there's interest) be able to make the repairs if he also couldn't get the parts?

How bad does your pedal sound? I read some H-C reviews about noisy pedals and bad switches. But other people swear that theirs is almost noise free and has dead quiet switching. Sounds to me like Godlyke has some quality control issues with these pedals--like maybe a batch of bad delay chips. I'm convinced my AD-900 has one, even though it's supposed to have (but how do we know for sure?) the old Panasonic chips.

Thanks again.

 

[jcshirke]

Hey again,

Ok...I did a search, and I found your old post about you noisy AD-999.

Bottom line is I really have no idea what to do now. If I knew I could get my AD-900 working properly, I think I'd do it. The question is, can I??

Oh...Godlyke wants me to return my AD-900 first, and then they'll send out an AD-999. So I guess I can't try the 999 first.

 

[pepperco]

Originally posted by jcshirke
Hey,

Thanks a lot for the heads up.

My AD-900 starting sounding very noisy and crackly. The delay repeats were buried deeper and deeper under these layers of noise the longer I kept the pedal on. When I first plug in the pedal, it seems to sound normal. But the longer it stays on, the more the noise and crackle increases. Eventually there's about 95% noise to 5% signal. The pedal is unusable at that point.

I bought mine from Analogman, and he recommended someone to me who could do the repair work. But before I shipped it off, as I said in my first post, I decided to call Godlyke and see what they suggested, once I discovered it *should* still be under warranty. They advised me not to send it to the other person for repairs, and then subsequently offered to give me an AD-999 instead.

It seems to me like they are trying to be helpful, but I don't want to get stuck with another bum pedal.

Here's the other thing I don't quite understand, though. Godlyke says the pedal can't be repaired b/c they don't have the parts that would be needed. But how would my other technician (name witheld...I'd discuss it privately with people, if there's interest) be able to make the repairs if he also couldn't get the parts?

How bad does your pedal sound? I read some H-C reviews about noisy pedals and bad switches. But other people swear that theirs is almost noise free and has dead quiet switching. Sounds to me like Godlyke has some quality control issues with these pedals--like maybe a batch of bad delay chips. I'm convinced my AD-900 has one, even though it's supposed to have (but how do we know for sure?) the old Panasonic chips.

Thanks again.

Sounds like your pedal "is in a bad way" You may want to cut your losses and get the new replacemnt from Godless. Maybe you can ask them for a trial period, and you can get your old one back if you decide the 999 is not to your taste. You need to weigh that with the price of a repair. From what I have learned
the 999's are hit or miss. If it were me I would get the brand new 999, sell it NEW on here or ebay, and look at other options.
Memory Lane?

And yes, I would like to know who the Analogman recommended repair person is. Could you please email or PM it to me?

Good luck !! Keep us posted....

 

[Cary Chilton]

I order my AD999 directly from an online Japanese dealer for 220 USD and it is hands down the best delay I have ever own! In fact I want to buy another, but I don't really one. Dead quiet 4PDT switch, slightly dark sounding but not too mushy. I have dropped many times, still works awesome, engineering genius!

 

[GasMask]

Maybe Godlyke recognizes the problem as a bad chip. Have to wonder if its possible to repair the old one. I would at least explore the possibility of repairing the old one. It would be worth $$ paying for IMO. But if it is not possible, the 999 would be better than a poke in the eye! What better analog delay pedal is out there today?

 

[Boogie92801]

The Memory Lane?

 

[jcshirke]

I failed to mention that I have a Memory Lane on the way, and it will be here on Mon. I also just got a TTE. Never mind the rack digital delays I have.

Should I just let Maxon replace my 900 with a 999 and keep things simple?

 

[rawkguitarist]

There is only one reason they'd give you the AD-999 instead of fixing your AD-900, when the guy you talked to said he could repair it...

Cost. Not just parts. Labor, overhead (shipping, time to locate the old parts, not buying enough for price break etc.) When all forms of cost to a business are considered, it seems that it would cost them less to send you the new pedal.

I'm a bean counter, what can I say?

 

[jcshirke]

No, Godlyke can't repair it. That's the whole problem.

Someone else (who Godlyke doesn't want me to send the pedal to) says he can (or will try to) repair it. I called Godlyke to see if they'd pay for the repairs, and that's how this whole thing with replacing it with an AD-999 got started.

They have another person they farm repairs out to, but they still told me that the parts simply aren't available for the AD-900.

So, how was my guy going to repair it? I honestly don't know.

 

[drolling]

Originally posted by jcshirke
I failed to mention that I have a Memory Lane on the way, and it will be here on Mon. I also just got a TTE. Never mind the rack digital delays I have.

No experience with any Maxon gear (except for the pickups in a 35 year old lesPaul copy - good, but not PAF) but I couldn't help noticing you do like your delays, don't you. Me too. Some players collect ODs (and they are generally cheaper- unless you're talking Landgraff, etc) but I say you can never have too many delays, analog or digital. As an outgrowth of my fascination with long delay times, I began collecting loopers as well & they're starting to pile up.

I've had the Memory Lane for a few days. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

 

[Cary Chilton]

Write this address. DO NOT use hotmail.com, use another email service. Keep it short, ask about service for the 900 model. If you have to send to Japan, so be it. Cheaper than buying a new one.
[email protected]

or call:+81(Japan)-263-40-1400
Facsimile Number +81(Japan)-263-40-1410

 

[GasMask]

Originally posted by Boogie92801
The Memory Lane?

Interesting..... Thanks!

I have never seen that one before. Just got through checking one out online. Maybe when I fry my AD 900.........

 

[hipfan]

Originally posted by jcshirke
I bought mine from Analogman, and he recommended someone to me who could do the repair work.

I'm not sure, of course, but I bet that Mike is referring to Howard Davis. He was the man who designed the original Deluxe Memory Man in the 70's. He still does mods/upgrades/repairs in NYC. He worked a few tricks on my DMM and improved it nicely. If anyone could fix your pedal, I'd put my money on Howard.

Talking straight to Maxon, however, also sounds like a good option - as georgeandleo suggests.

 

[jcshirke]

Yes, it's Howard Davis. The people at Godlyke/Maxon advised me not to send the pedal to him for reasons that aren't very clear to me.

Anyway, I sent my 900 back yesterday, so I should have a 999 pretty soon.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[gururyan]

Originally posted by jcshirke
...But other people swear that theirs is almost noise free and has dead quiet switching.

My AD-900 is noise free and has dead quiet switching.

-EDIT-
Ah, I see you opted for the 999.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I was going to recommend checking ebay, the reason is I regularly find Panasonic BBD chips the MN3205 and MN3207 on there. I have seen them go for less $5 each and since they are not soldered in, but sit in a socket in the AD900, you could actually change them yourselve. If you follow proper electro-static precautions.

TheGrooveking