High noise floor on MXR Custom Comp

Che_Guitarra · Post by **Che_Guitarra** » 23 Jan 2018, 06:55

I've had this pedal for years (a first run MXR Custom Comp).

I compared it to another today, and the one I tried was virtually noiseless. Huh. My MXR on the other hand, is the noisiest pedal (in terms of noise floor) I have ever owned.

The noise has got to go.

Good folks of the Free Stomp Boxes forum - where to begin my troubleshooting efforts?

Fender3D · Post by **Fender3D** » 23 Jan 2018, 11:14

Che_Guitarra wrote:...where to begin my troubleshooting efforts?

Hmm... maybe schematic?

alexradium · Post by **alexradium** » 23 Jan 2018, 12:21

You won't find any schematic for these pedals.
Only way is oscilloscope or audioprobe following the audio path.

phatt · Post by **phatt** » 23 Jan 2018, 13:01

If you've had it for years then it will likely have the old CA3080 or similar chip and they were noise prone.
I doubt you could improve on the circuit,, maybe time to try something new.
The Boss CS3 is low noise (new chip) but they are too sterile for me,, YMMV.
Phil.

Fender3D · Post by **Fender3D** » 23 Jan 2018, 16:35

alexradium wrote:You won't find any schematic for these pedals.

lol I know, I was suggesting a starting point...

alexradium wrote:Only way is oscilloscope or audioprobe following the audio path.

...If you have a schematic to follow...

BTW
I don't think it's way different from stock dyna-comp, maybe some different part values?
Time for paper and pencil.
If it have the same schematic, should not be noisier than the real-old-dyna-comp

Che_Guitarra · Post by **Che_Guitarra** » 23 Jan 2018, 19:18

Thanks for your replies guys.

I might try another CA3080, in case I have a particularly noisy chip. If that fails, well, i'll just live with it.