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Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23904]

Thu, 24 September 2015 13:37

sskydiver1
Messages: 27
Registered: December 2008
Location: Texas

Junior Member

Hello Everybody and Anybody with a Kustom Kombo II organ!

Man oh man am I wondering IF I have an issue.

The output from the main 1/4" out on this BEAUTIFUL organ once owned by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has an output level from the 1/4" jack labelled "Output" that is WAY WAY lower than the output available if you plug the organ into a PA via the Expression Pedal output 1/4" jack.

I already know to have the switch on the left side of lower keyboard to be left in the AMP position vs. the Fast and Slow position.

But seriously wondering why such a hot output is available from the EXP Pedal out jack and not the regular output.

The EXP out is at least 5 times hotter.

Any thoughts? And anyone know who the Yoda Master is on these babies?

Many many thanks for any input!

I want to keep this baby firing up really well for next 45 years...

All the best - Derek

PS - The only other thing wrong is that one drawbar on upper keyboard is not sending any signal - and in fact cuts off ALL signal from other drawbars when extended out fully. Any thoughts on that from those with The Knowledge?

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Re: Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23908 is a reply to message #23904]

Thu, 24 September 2015 19:19

pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

The expression pedal output jack is designed to be used with the Kustom volume pedal. The jack is a 1/4" stereo jack that sends the signal to the remote volume pot of the kustom volume pedal and sends the signal back to the organ that would feed the main 1/4" mono output jack.

The kustom volume pedal is the same as the spring loaded wah pedal as used on Kasino lead amps and the K250-4 slant metal face guitar heads.

Not sure on the draw bar other than maybe a good contact cleaner for the pot.

pleat

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Re: Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23911 is a reply to message #23908]

Thu, 24 September 2015 22:58

sskydiver1
Messages: 27
Registered: December 2008
Location: Texas

Junior Member

Thanks so much Pleat!

Well - I tried the beautiful clunky volume pedal going into the Expression Pedal input and the output hooked up to the amp - but still suffered from an anemic output to the amp. The output from the Expression pedal jack is really hot and nice - so I can put another Volume pedal between the organ and the amp. But I'd love to be able to figure out where my problem is...

I hooked a Roland Expression pedal into the Exp pedal jack and got the exact same result.

Oh - and on the drawbar issue - I had tried contact cleaner on it - and that didn't work.

So with incredible sweat I got the organ in the car and drove it to the local Electronics repair shop - where the drawbar proceeded to work perfectly! The bumps in the road must have shaken it into working somehow.

I drove home praying it wouldn't reverse itself, and luckily I got it back on the pedestal and it is working fine.

I wonder if there is a diagnostic test for that output jack? The great thing is I have a viable workaround - but would love to use that Kustom Expression pedal.

Thanks again!

Derek

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Re: Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23917 is a reply to message #23911]

Fri, 25 September 2015 07:59

pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

I'm not familiar with the Roland expression pedal. The kustom expression or volume pedal is designed as having one cable with a stereo 1/4" jack that plugs into the organ's expression or volume jack. The three wires in the cable, one wire sends the signal from the organ to the volume control in the Kustom pedal, the second wire sends the adjusted signal from the volume pot back to the organ, and the third wire is the ground wire. There is no input or output jacks on the Kustom pedal. When using the proper Kustom volume pedal, you would use the organ output jack on the bottom of the organ to feed whatever amp you are using to amplify the organ.

If your Roland pedal has an input and output jacks, and you are connecting the Roland expression pedal in a fashion of a stomp box, (Expression or Volume pedal jack, to the Roland pedal and then from the Roland pedal output jack to your amplifier it won't work as intended).

I just get a simple Goodrich or other brand volume pedal, go from the organs main output jack to the volume pedal and then to your amp.
pleat

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Re: Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23921 is a reply to message #23904]

Fri, 25 September 2015 13:06

chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

If Pleat's description of how the pedal circuit works is correct, then you know that the problem is in the circuit between the expression pedal output and the organ output jack.

The first test that I would do would be to plug a 1/4" stereo cord into the expression pedal jack and hook up the output to your amp. Then short the tip and ring connectors on the free end of the stereo cable together.

If the signal is loud from the amp, the expression pedal needs to be looked at. If the signal is still weak, then the circuitry feeding the output jack needs to be checked.

I've never worked on one of these, so I don't have any advice as to how find the specific parts or circuit that you need to work on, but I can't believe that it would be anything too serious. Possibly a bad transistor or a bad capacitor.

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Re: Kustom Kombo II amplifier vs. Exp Pedal Output [message #23925 is a reply to message #23921]

Fri, 25 September 2015 20:11

sskydiver1
Messages: 27
Registered: December 2008
Location: Texas

Junior Member

Thanks ChicagoBill!

Great idea for that test. Pretty sure it will reveal the issue as being in the organ. I'm on the road right now and won't be home for three weeks. This organ is otherwise In Great shape and will not be leaving the house anytime soon. Thanks so much for the idea for the test. Cheers - Derek

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