America's Pedal - FX technical info

This webpage will serve as a index for DOD-specific parts sources and sizes and a guide to basic repairs (and possibly modification info). An index of all available official DOD schematics and component-side circuitboard pictures will be online someday(?), but comparisons of DOD's battery covers and knobs will be added sooner rather than later. Please check back for additional updates. For other sources of technical info, NoiseFX.com has several good articles, including one on how to adjust the action of the switch on older DOD FX-series pedals. Finally, as of August 2014, redesigned/improved replacement DOD battery covers can be purchased from dodbatterycover.com.

Parts sizes and sources:

• Switches: DOD used two different switches for the FX-series of pedals. Original and second-series pedals (and all DigiTech PDS-series twin pedals) used a larger switch (P/N 44-0032 from the now-defunct DOD outlet store) that was mounted away from the main circuitboard, while final-series pedals used a smaller switch (P/N 44-0083) that was directly mounted to the main circuitboard. An illustrated guide to replacing a switch is here.
  
  
• Pots: DOD has used several different types of pots in its pedals, starting with large-casing plastic-shaft CTS pots ("137" prefix stamped on the pot casing, 1982-83) used in the very first FX-series pedals, followed by smaller-casing metal split-shaft Alpha pots. We have not yet done a serious review of the different pots used by DOD, but DOD fan and eBay member *madhornet* noticed that middle-period DOD FX-series pedals, especially the first transition year of late 1988 until 1992, have "fast" feeling pots. "I also have found that the Digitech PDS model pedals are affected as well. Everyone that I have come across have at least one pot that is 'fast'." This is about the same time that DOD moved to a new facilty and doubled factory and R&D staff, so perhaps DOD changed suppliers for some parts at around that time.
  
  
• Input/output jacks: DOD used two different 1/4" jacks for their pedals, one with a black casing (all first- and second-series pedals, many final-series pedals) and one with a light blue casing (some final-series pedals, and the DOD outlet store). The main difference between the two is that the black casing is slightly smaller and uses metric fasteners. Note that the part that was available from the (now-defunct) DOD outlet store (P/N 32-0086) showed a picture with a black casing, but they sent ones with a blue casing, and no mounting hardware was included. In addition, from previous repair attempts, the newer jacks with blue casings may not fit inside original-series pedals.
  
  
• Nuts and wrench/socket sizes: As noted above, original-series DOD FX-series pedals initially used large-casing plastic-shaft CTS pots (1/2" nuts) or early Alpha pots (7/16" nuts). Except for the occasional final-series pedal with blue-casing 1/4" jacks and 1/2" nuts, all subsequent DOD pedals used metric nuts for their pots, 3.5mm power supply jacks (first- and second-series only), and input/output jacks. We have had a difficult time finding equivalent replacement parts, even from places like McMaster-Carr. It may be best to check your local Radio Shack, and perhaps buy a part just for its mounting hardware.
  
  
• Screws: DOD used size 6/32 screws for the bottom plate of all of their pedals; note that original screws were slightly tapered at the end. Among FX-series pedals, both black anodized and plain screws were used, but we have not yet determined a timeline for when the color changed (although all final-series pedals should have black screws).
  
  

home FX index America's pedal? field guide serial no. info FX literature
what's new? FX tech info links disclaimer/legal/contact us