ADVICE NEEDED ON TROUBLESHOOTING A PROCO RAT DEUCETONE

[Woman Tone Man]

I recently acquired a USA made Proco Rat Duecetone and as per the manual I tried to use it as two separate Rat pedals. It will function in the cascading mode by plugging into the channel A input to the channel B output to the amp and channel A input to the channel A output as a separate Rat in which both work fine.

When I try plugging in the channel B input and channel B output as a 2nd separate Rat the switch will not engage or neither will the red channel B indicator light up. The channel B output only functions only with channel A input cascading both Rat circuits. I am thinking that 9 pin true bypass switch on channel B might not be wired correctly, there is a cold solder joint in the circuit, or the switch might be faulty?

Below are some pictures of the components on the circuit board with the channel B input second from the left with 2 white wires and 1 green wire attached with a jumper wire leading to the channel B output to the left of the input. I am hoping someone who knows how the 9 input true bypass should be wired with the pictures I provided below or maybe give me some advice how to troubleshoot it with a multimeter? Thank you in advance.

CHANNEL B INPUT RIGHT/CHANNEL B OUTPUT LEFT CLOSE UP BELOW

CHANNEL B (9) PIN TRUE BYPASS SWITCH BELOW

 

[Nobby Mc Nobsworth]

You'll have to get a multimeter or something to check the connections. I know that's not particularly useful, but if I had the pedal in front of me that's where I'd start. Is the second rat definitely switching in in cascade mode or could it just be being bypassed whilst the first one does all the ratting? Is it possible that only rat A will work if you're only using one of them (i.e. B is redundant unless A is engaged in either series (cascade) or parallel)? If that's the case you should be able to use B if you just have two separate patch leads going nowhere plugged into the input and output of A (just don't bridge the output and input of one rat in case bad things happen). It seems wierd that they would recommend the order in which you cascade them.

 

[Woman Tone Man]

You'll have to get a multimeter or something to check the connections. I know that's not particularly useful, but if I had the pedal in front of me that's where I'd start. Is the second rat definitely switching in in cascade mode or could it just be being bypassed whilst the first one does all the ratting? Is it possible that only rat A will work if you're only using one of them (i.e. B is redundant unless A is engaged in either series (cascade) or parallel)? If that's the case you should be able to use B if you just have two separate patch leads going nowhere plugged into the input and output of A (just don't bridge the output and input of one rat in case bad things happen). It seems wierd that they would recommend the order in which you cascade them.

Hi E.T.

You might be right in that A has to be plugged in to operate them separately. I'll have to get a second amp hooked up to try that and see that the channel B input disables the cascading function and that they operate separately. I may be misinterpreting the instructions?

Here is a cut and past from the manual.

2. CABLE INPUTS: The input plug must be a standard 1/4” 2-conductor type cable end, such as the BF2P or RF2P phone plugs (standard equipment on Pro Co cables). 3-conductor (stereo) plugs WILL NOT work in the RAT. When connecting the Deucetone, either one or both sides can be connected. If you wish to have two independent effects pedals, connect your instrument into Channel A / B inputs, the output of Channel A into the input of Amp A, and the output of Channel B into your amplifier. If you wish to have the ability to cascade Channel A into Amp B, connect your instrument into Channel A and the output of Channel B will connect to your amplifier. See Wiring Diagram

4. OPERATION: Obtaining a desirable sound is very simple and virtually self-explanatory. Install either a 9-volt battery or appropriate 9-volt power supply. Connect your instrument to the Deucetone as explained in the CABLE INPUTS section or review wiring diagram. Remember that the Duectone is two RAT distortion devices in one. The first set of setting can be used on either channel on any “RAT” setting to get you in the ball park. Switching between the different “RATS” on the back panel will give you a very different sound. The second group of settings take advantage of the Deucetone's ability to cascade one channel into the other. Cascading channels may prove to be more difficult but will have larger room for variations. Remember to change one side at a time. It is also helpful to write down some custom settings for easy reference. To share your settings, log onto www.procosound.com and submit them on our message board.

 

[Woman Tone Man]

You nalied it E.T.!

In the absence of having another guitar and amp I was able to put a patch cables in channel A's input and channel A's output to verify that channel B can only be used as a stand alone Rat with channel A's input being plugged in. Once the channel B input is plugged in, channel A's footswitch is non functional for channel B.

 

[Burst Boy]

Woman Tone Man,
I have a Deucetone Rat and tried the following:

- Channel B by itself with nothing plugged into Channel A. Worked no problems.
- Channel A by itself with nothing plugged into Channel B. Worked Fine.
- Channel B cascading into Channel A. Works great, especially when using B's Clean Rat setting as a clean boost.
- Channel A cascading into Channel B as per the instructions. This is the only way I ever used the pedal until I read your post.

In summary: all variations work. No need to use patch cables to get Channel B to work independently as you did. The footswitches for both channels worked regardless of which way I connected it.

Maybe you have an earlier build or something, or the circuit is mis-wired or faulty in some way?

 

[Woman Tone Man]

Woman Tone Man,
I have a Deucetone Rat and tried the following:

- Channel B by itself with nothing plugged into Channel A. Worked no problems.
- Channel A by itself with nothing plugged into Channel B. Worked Fine.
- Channel B cascading into Channel A. Works great, especially when using B's Clean Rat setting as a clean boost.
- Channel A cascading into Channel B as per the instructions. This is the only way I ever used the pedal until I read your post.

In summary: all variations work. No need to use patch cables to get Channel B to work independently as you did. The footswitches for both channels worked regardless of which way I connected it.

Maybe you have an earlier build or something, or the circuit is mis-wired or faulty in some way?

Thanks for the reply BB,

I looks like we are narrowing things down. Knowing that the channel B 9 pin true bypass switch does work it seems like it might be a wiring issue on the back of the 9 pin true bypass switch to the channel B input.

Would you be able to take a picture from the top of the Deucetone with just channel B input and output connected with the switch engaged with the channel B indicator light on and close up of the back of your channel B 9 pin true bypass switch like the one posted below for comparison? The bottom will slide off and is secured with the 4 feet screws.

Thank you in advance!
WTM

 

[Burst Boy]

Except for the fact that Input A, output B is a normal function of the pedal (which is obviously dictated by internal wiring) I always assumed it was two seperate distortion pedals housed in one box wih no interelation bewtween them until connected together (like running two Rats into each other, for example). How my pedal functions validates this in my mind: each side can be used by themselves (as in one pedal like one Rat), order can be swapped (A into B or B into A), and both can be used seperately with a guitar and amp each. The only slightly odd thing is the lights coming on when no cables are plugged in becasue normally and input cable is needed to power pedals (warning: remove input cable to maxinise battery life!). It seems your pedal functions differently.

Below are photos B-Side connected from guitar to amp with footswich engaged and light on, Intenal shots of B-Side footswitch and both footswitches engaged with lights on and no cables attached

 

[Woman Tone Man]

Thanks BB,

Ours are definitely wired different. I think it might be all down to the 9 pin switches. I have an acquaintance who also has a Duecetone and I am in the process of trying to reach out to him and see how his functions. In the meantime if there is anyone else who owns a Deucetone and can chime in on this it would be appreciated..

Is yours a USA made one BB?

The only difference I notice is that yours has the updated Boss adapter style input.

I will post an update when I find out more.