Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

10

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

1

  • Potentiometer
  • 10 steps

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Introduction

I opened the unit and checked with a multimeter that the potentiometer controlled by the knob was not working. It felt like an easy desoldering/soldering job, so I thought I’d give it a shot myself. Note: I am an amateur at this and my soldering skills are really poor.

I contacted Digitech support service to see if I could figure out the exact part number to order a replacement, but instead they just sent it to me, both the potentiometer and the knob, and didn’t even charge me for it. Very nice people, excellent support service.

What you need

Step 1

              Assess the damage
  • Each knob in the unit controls a potentiometer inside. The picture shows the loop level knob cracked.
  • Besides the unit is the new potentiometer and knob that will replace the broken ones.

Each knob in the unit controls a potentiometer inside. The picture shows the loop level knob cracked.

Besides the unit is the new potentiometer and knob that will replace the broken ones.

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Step 2

              Remove the knobs
  • To separate the top and bottom parts of the enclosure, all the knobs need to come off.
  • The knobs are held by pressure; pull to remove them, or use a small screwdriver as a lever.

To separate the top and bottom parts of the enclosure, all the knobs need to come off.

The knobs are held by pressure; pull to remove them, or use a small screwdriver as a lever.

Step 3

              Unscrew the bottom part of the enclosure
  • Remove the four screws at the corners.
  • Remove the screw at the center of the bottom plate.

Remove the four screws at the corners.

Remove the screw at the center of the bottom plate.

Step 4

              Separate the top and bottom parts of the enclosure
  • To separate the enclosure parts, use a small screw driver as a lever.

To separate the enclosure parts, use a small screw driver as a lever.

Step 5

              Unscrew the board with the potentiometers from the enclosure
  • Slide the top part of the enclosure enough to access the five screws that you’ll need to remove.

Slide the top part of the enclosure enough to access the five screws that you’ll need to remove.

Step 6

              Disconnect the cable
  • This is a delicate cable that can be broken if not handled carefully.
  • First, pull slightly the black plastic part of the connector. It only slides a little bit, enough to let the cable loose.
  • Pull the cable from the connector. The black plastic is not part of the cable, it stays on the board.

This is a delicate cable that can be broken if not handled carefully.

First, pull slightly the black plastic part of the connector. It only slides a little bit, enough to let the cable loose.

Pull the cable from the connector. The black plastic is not part of the cable, it stays on the board.

Step 7

              Prepare for desoldering
  • Time to desolder. A soldering clamp is always a handy tool for the job.
  • Pay attention when flipping the board, make sure you know the potentiometer you want to work on. Double check, and triple before desoldering!

Time to desolder. A soldering clamp is always a handy tool for the job.

Pay attention when flipping the board, make sure you know the potentiometer you want to work on. Double check, and triple before desoldering!

Step 8

              Desolder the potentiometer
  • The parts to desolder are very small, I find it easier to cut a small piece of desoldering wick and handle it with pliers.
  • Apply a bit of flux to the wick to help it absorbe the solder from the joints.

The parts to desolder are very small, I find it easier to cut a small piece of desoldering wick and handle it with pliers.

Apply a bit of flux to the wick to help it absorbe the solder from the joints.

Step 9

              Check the damaged part
  • After i removed the pot, I cracked it open it to see how was it actually damaged.
  • As mentioned in the intro, it was a heavy object that fell on top of the knob that caused this.

After i removed the pot, I cracked it open it to see how was it actually damaged.

As mentioned in the intro, it was a heavy object that fell on top of the knob that caused this.

Step 10

              Before reassembling
  • Before reassembling, check with a multimeter that all connections are good and that there are no shorts between the pins of the new part.

Before reassembling, check with a multimeter that all connections are good and that there are no shorts between the pins of the new part.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

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                    palako

Member since: 02/01/2015

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john brown - Nov 24, 2019

Reply

please can you clarify I only need to undo 5 screws on the bottom to separate the bottom from the top

palako - Nov 24, 2019

You need to take the knobs from the front and then yes, just the five screws.

dmartens - Aug 15, 2021

Reply

Where did you find the parts?