Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Boss TU-2 Tuner microphonic? - FX Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Boss TU-2 Tuner microphonic?

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nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
in FX
I was swapping a pedal over and I noticed when I tapped the case of the Boss TU-2 the sound was coming through the amp. Is this a thing? I'm pretty sure it hasn't got a built in microphone like some tuners. When you unplug it you can heat the springy sound of the jack being amplified (yeah I realise that isn't going to cause me any problems, but it still seems odd)

I've tried power supply and battery, seems to make no difference.
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  • nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
    Update: tried some some contact cleaner on a cotton bud and then plugged the cable in and out a few times. Seems a bit better, but not 100%. Very odd.
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  • TeyeplayerTeyeplayer Frets: 2811
    Have you tried a different cable (could it be a connection fault in the cable rather than the tuner)?
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  • nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
    Teyeplayer said:
    Have you tried a different cable (could it be a connection fault in the cable rather than the tuner)?
    Yes, just tried that - no difference.

    Interestingly it can amplify the tapping on the case if the tuner is plugged straight into the amp, but with nothing plugged into the tuner. (The amp needs to be fairly loud to hear it mind you)
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    It's usually the input jack, so it tends not to do it when there's a cable plugged in.

    Yes, I'm entirely serious, it's something I've noticed on quite a few pedals!

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • TeyeplayerTeyeplayer Frets: 2811
    Very strange. I wonder if @icbm has encountered this before?
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  • nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
    @ICBM so do you mean something's up with the input? And is it fixable? I've got a feeling when I've tried to look inside Boss pedals it's all a bit hard to get to.
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  • nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
    Teyeplayer said:
    Very strange. I wonder if @icbm has encountered this before?
    He has!  =)
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    edited August 2023
    Very strange. I wonder if @icbm has encountered this before?
    Beat you to it .

    I have actually wondered what the mechanism is - my best guess is that it's the sprung metal contact essentially acting as a very small capacitor by being near the grounded strip up the side of the jack, and hence when it vibrates, generating a tiny signal if there's even the slightest DC voltage on it. Given that the input impedance of the circuit is very high - usually 1M or higher - this might be enough to then be amplified.

    nonesuch said:
    @ICBM so do you mean something's up with the input? And is it fixable? I've got a feeling when I've tried to look inside Boss pedals it's all a bit hard to get to.
    No, that it's normal and nothing to worry about. It seems to not happen when the plug is in - because the contact then can't vibrate - so it would only be an issue if you left the board powered up with no input cable, and connected to a very high gain amp, loud enough to then feed back.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • nonesuchnonesuch Frets: 289
    ICBM said:
    No, that it's normal and nothing to worry about. It seems to not happen when the plug is in - because the contact then can't vibrate - so it would only be an issue if you left the board powered up with no input cable, and connected to a very high gain amp, loud enough to then feed back.
    I'm sure when I first noticed it earlier on, everything was plugged in, but after I cleaned the input jack it only seems to be noticeable when nothing's plugged into the input. 

    And I did have a high gain fuzz pedal turned on when it first happened, which makes sense with what you're saying.
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  • TeyeplayerTeyeplayer Frets: 2811
    ICBM said:
    Very strange. I wonder if @icbm has encountered this before?
    Beat you to it .

    :+1: That was pretty impressive. When there’s something strange who you gonna call… oh no he’s already here. ;)
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  • robertyroberty Frets: 10231
    Teyeplayer said:
    ICBM said:
    Very strange. I wonder if @icbm has encountered this before?
    Beat you to it .

    :+1: That was pretty impressive. When there’s something strange who you gonna call… oh no he’s already here. ;)
    Boast gusters
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