Tech 21 RK5 Kotzen Pedal repair

[chilipeppermaniac]

You should see the v2 they came out with too. It has a tuner feature and then some extra goodies.

I have also learned of similar setups by a company caller Mooer.

Mooer Red Truck

Mooer Black Truck

And some newer Tech 21's

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

I suppose it could be a clipping diode...what section is it in? I can’t find it in focus anywhere....there’s only one pic that I can make out the labels in.
Is there a gain control in that effect section? If so will that affect the light in any way with signal present?(since the level knob that you mentioned would be “post” the clipping section...if it’s a distortion/OD circuit)

Bdon, Where you asked above, " Is there a GAIN control in that effect section?" I would equate Gain control to what they have labeled as "DRIVE"

I hooked up my Les Paul, my pedal and my amp. Plugged in the power source to the Tech 21 so that all controls in all 3 sections lit up. Area in question is the OMG section ( overdrive)

Anyhow, without even turning the amp on, I strummed the guitar while taking a video of the area. The light lit up/flickered with each strum once DRIVE was set past 12 oclock. From 1 on to max, it would glow brighter the higher I went. With the 21 db BOOST kicked in, the flicker comes on sooner with DRIVE set below 12 oclock, and correspondingly sooner the higher the BOOST level is set.

It seems like all this is a normal and to be expected behavior.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Bdon, Where you asked above, " Is there a GAIN control in that effect section?" I would equate Gain control to what they have labeled as "DRIVE"

I hooked up my Les Paul, my pedal and my amp. Plugged in the power source to the Tech 21 so that all controls in all 3 sections lit up. Area in question is the OMG section ( overdrive)

Anyhow, without even turning the amp on, I strummed the guitar while taking a video of the area. The light lit up/flickered with each strum once DRIVE was set past 12 oclock. From 1 on to max, it would glow brighter the higher I went. With the 21 db BOOST kicked in, the flicker comes on sooner with DRIVE set below 12 oclock, and correspondingly sooner the higher the BOOST level is set.

It seems like all this is a normal and to be expected behavior.

It is very likely a “clipping diode”...part of making the distortion....I’m working right now, so no time to type about it...

A Brief Hobbyist Primer on Clipping Diodes

A general reference guide on how Clipping Diodes Work

www.guitarpedalx.com

Maybe that’ll help.

 

[syscokid]

I am wondering what exactly this component it called and also if the blinking means anything.

It is very likely a “clipping diode”...part of making the distortion....

That's exactly what it is. LEDs are used for diode clipping. They will light up depending on voltage going through them. The voltage will be regulated by the gain/drive/distortion control and by the amount of signal coming out of the guitar.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

That's exactly what it is. LEDs are used for diode clipping. They will light up depending on voltage going through them. The voltage will be regulated by the gain/drive/distortion control and by the amount of signal coming out of the guitar.

Thanks Greg, I had surmised this when I first saw it, but obviously wanted to confirm before my final effort of shoe horning the pcb back into the aluminum sardine can of a pedal case. Strumming the guitar with only the pedal under power essentially showed me it was designed this way, especially with me adjusting the Drive pot and juggling a guitar, legs intertwined with numerous wires/power cords, and trying not to lose the PCB all onto the floor from the weight of the guitar cords.

I have a little more tweaking of the case to get it to sit flat on a table, floor, bottom of pedal board etc. When my buddy jacke di tup HE JACKED it UPP. Once it is straight, I can finally try to manipulate the PCB/controls back into place and button it up.

Thanks again to you, Bdon. Oh and I finally heard back from the V seller after texting him again this morning, 5 days after he was supposed to meet with me in Baltimore's Inner Harbor during his Valentine's day weekend he was treating his lady to last weekend.

He started out replying, " Is this Mark?" My answer was Yes, as was how I ended my last parargraph I sent you." ... " Thanks, Mark"

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

After I voiced my concern that he had not gotten Covid or had a car accident in icy and snowy conditions last weekend, since I hadn't heard boo in 5 days of trying to reach him, he replies.

" I'm really sorry, but when I got home n Sunday, I was playing the V and did some research on it. Seems to be a reissue model, and I have actually decided not to sell it and have added it to my personal collection and took the listing down. I liked it so much, I decided to look for a Gibson model. Once I purchase a Gibson model, I will then look at selling the Epiphone. However I do have some other guitars for sale."

I held my cool pretty well, and did not type/ send my real thoughts. Instead, I replied.

" Ok, not sure what to say. Having wasted much time trying to meet you then getting stood up. Now to hear nothing for 5 days, Not much left to say, Thanks anyway...Be well. "