Paul had quite rightly noticed that on one of my tracks that I recorded using the FBV express, there was some clicking. I am now sure this is due to the FBV needing 'some oil'. I have seen reports on the 'net where people have reported taking the bottom off and spraying the offending area with some WD40 into the 'works' which cures clicks and squeaks. I am assuming there is some linkage between the underside of the pedal and the electronics.

Any advice on whether the WD40 is wise, or whether I would be better off applying some kind of vaseline/grease instead. I didn't want to spray willy-nilly into areas that were better off left alone.....but then again I could do without clicking in my tracks.

WD40 is the kiss of death to electronic circuits! Don't do it!

If the clicking is "electronic", and it certainly sounded like that to me, you'd be better off spraying some switch cleaner into the potentiometer. Mechanical noises like squeaks shouldn't be apparent in the signal path anyway, but a blob of Vaseline on any linkages would cure those.

I could be way off here, but are you sure it's not 'zipper noise'? http://mc202.com/synthesizers/zipper-noise-example/

It's due to midi only having 127 values and, if you're using it to control wah in a dicey manner, you can get clicking going on as you whack the pedal up and down...

BTW, I agree with Paul 100% about WD40 If it's electrical contact then contact cleaner spray is a better bet and for lube the wd40 goes everywhere apart from where you actually want it!

Well. Had the back off and with a cotton bud and some vaseline I now have a slippery smooth pedal action. Interestingly the volume/wah is done in a 'contact-less' way. I have uploaded a couple of pics to demonstrate





You see the arm that is in profile with the angled white tip. Well that swivels as the pedal is moved back and forth and it moves closer and further away from two sensors (just visible but blurred) on the circuit board. So although the squeak is cured, I am not so sure about the 'click' - there is no Pot to clean. I am not sure whether it is zipper noise, I am not experienced enough to know. My test will be to re-record another track using the pedal and see what gives.

Can you hear it?

http://soundcloud.com/esc4p3/wah-reco

(I just wanted to try out my cloud really )

If it's contactless, then I'd be looking elsewhere for the problem...

The noise I hear on the original recording isn't "zipper" noise. It's more like a slightly "off" start and end point to a loop in the backing track, or a spike in the signal path caused by something connected to the mains...

I can't have a listen to the new recording until I get home tonight...

Excellent advice NEVER ever use WD40 on electrical circuits.

I am really glad I asked before I started! The vaseline worked a treat (ohh, errr)

There's definitely no click on that track, Carl

Can I suggest you set up the loop you had before and just try a sample recording of that without the guitar? Let's see if that's where the "problem" lies.

P.

I'm sorry I forgot to say well done on your fix I'm not exactly feeling great ATM