If You Ever Have The Chance to Buy Something From Musician's Friend

[Scooter2112]

Mistakes can happen with anyone. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
One thing to keep in mind as well..not only check the info on the box, but the item itself as well. In the event that the wrong item is in the right box or vice-versa.

 

[ErictheRed]

Sorry to hear about your experience, but it's up to you to verify everything is good before connecting it up.

This reminds me of a thread on some motorcycle forums that I frequent. Someone had just purchased a brand new bike, and they walked out of the dealership to pick it up. For whatever reason, they believed that the proper way to park a bike was to leave it in Neutral, so they fired it up without taking control of it, and it jumped forward and fell over. They wanted to hold the dealership responsible. Well I'm sorry, but regardless of whether MF sent the wrong power supply or whether the motorcycle dealer parked it in the incorrect gear, when you go to operate machinery, you're the one responsible for it.

Lesson learned, accept the $50 credit, and move on.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

OP, was the pedal operable before this power supply mistake? I have accidentally hooked up incorrect voltage supplies to pedals before (on a multi-port supply, for example) and it has never "fried" a pedal.

 

[Roxy13]

Sorry to hear about your pedal. I have bought from MF many times though over the past 20 years or so and haven't had an issue yet.

 

[Dolebludger]

I don't understand how a voltage source too low would fry a pedal. I have an MXR 10 band graphic EQ that is supposed to take an 18V power supply. I wondered what my 9V multi supply would do to it, so I called the manufacturer. I was told that using 9V power on this EQ pedal would only reduce the amount of boost and cut. I tried it out with 9V, and that's all that happened.

 

[Caoimhin]

I don't understand how a voltage source too low would fry a pedal. I have an MXR 10 band graphic EQ that is supposed to take an 18V power supply. I wondered what my 9V multi supply would do to it, so I called the manufacturer. I was told that using 9V power on this EQ pedal would only reduce the amount of boost and cut. I tried it out with 9V, and that's all that happened.

I've used a 9V power supply on a 18V pedal. The lights were dim and it sounded like ass. I don't think applying lower voltage to anything will burn it up. There could be a different in amperage though, right?

 

[sk8rat]

unfortunately, I think in your case it really comes down to user error and you share most of the blame. granted they sent you the wrong thing, but as a user it's your responsibility to make sure it fits before using it.

that said

musicians friend is by far the worst music company I have dealt with in a long time. I bought a guitar, returned it for an exchange because it arrived damaged and when I got the replacement they sent me back the same guitar! the final guitar they sent had dings on it and they removed $120 worth of points from my account and never put them back.

 

[Dolebludger]

skrat, from whom did you have this experience?

And I would suggest the OP contact the maker of the pedal involved here and ask if using a lower voltage would fry it. I don't know about ALL pedals, but what the maker described as to what would happen to my MXR EQ was exactly what happened when I used 9V instead of the 18V designed. It didn't sound like ass, but just didn't have the range of boost and cut as if it were on 18V. But if the maker of the OP's pedal says lower voltage would fry it, I suggest he get that in writing and send it to MF. If they don't make things right, there is Small Claims Court!

 

[My20cents_worth]

Bummer about the $300 pedal. But TheX and ToneDeaf are right. There is no reason why a lower voltage power supply will burn up a pedal designed for a higher voltage <- fact!! But if you connected it the wrong way round i.e. swapped polarity on the connector then burning smell can only be expected. If it is a reasonable pedal, the maker would have put a reverse protection diode in the power supply lines and with any luck this is what has burnt up saving the actual pedal electronics. Take the pedal apart and flick the forum a couple of gut shots of the burnt area, just maybe you can get your pedal working correctly for a < 50c part and somebody's labor to replace the diode....

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

Don't.


I bought a power supply for a pedal that required 24v. They send me a 12v supply and I unknowingly hooked it up to my pedal. Pretty sure the pedal is destroyed since I smelled a weird, burning smell after plugging it in. I didn't realize it was the wrong power supply until I checked the little sticker on the back afterwards.

I call MF to let them know what happened and they refused to admit they sent me the wrong power supply. I even took a picture of the sticker on the back and they still claimed I didn't prove it was the wrong power supply. I asked if there was anything they could do for me regarding the $400 pedal they destroyed, and they told me all they could do is give me a $50 MF gift coupon. I told them I'd wipe my ass with it and send it FedEx 2 day shipping. Yeah, I get a little angry when people don't do their jobs and it costs me money.

Any development to the story?

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

Any development to the story?

Oh damn, I didn’t know this was still going haha. Well MF did nothing for me. I even offered to settle and take the stupid $50 coupon. They never gave it to me. More reason for others to stay away.

 

[Deus Vult]

I've used MF for close to 20 years and I'd like to say I've never had an issue but I do seem to vaguely remember some sort of problem that was similar.

That said, I can't fault them too much for one issue with an otherwise perfect record over so many years.



Guitar Center owns Musician's Friend. Bro.

That’s what my post meant. Lolz

Don’t buy from MF because it’s Gc. And GC sucks.

 

[Meatwad]

They haven't been my friend for many years now.

 

[Tone deaf]

I use different power supplies with pedals to try to see what the effect is of having a little less or a little more power is on the tone coming out of the pedal. Sometimes, a little lower current (like 7v into a 9v) into an overdrive pedal can give you a more creamy break up. I would err on the side of under powering vs. over powering, but I have put a little extra oomph through plenty of pedals. Of course, I accept 100% of the blame if I cock something up.

Most power supplies, especially the ones made in China are crap and don't produce precisely what they advertise. Put your multimeter on the power supplies that you have. You will see that power supplies labeled "9v" are all over the place. The electronics inside are built to withstand some variability in power. I honestly don't think the components of most pedals are sensitive enough to blow up with a little extra power. That said, if you feed them 110v AC, they are going to fry.

 

[Deftone]

That’s what my post meant. Lolz

Don’t buy from MF because it’s Gc. And GC sucks.

I just noticed you and I joined MLP on the same day, 11 years ago.

 

[Steve2112]

Sometimes you ONLY have yourself to blame. I'm guessing you tried to save money and didn't buy the Manufacturer power supply..which is usually more expensive, but 100% the correct one. Maybe you did, maybe you didn't but...typically the case. THEN...you didn't check and inspect what you received...now that isn't speculation but a FACT. Some lessons are difficult to accept. Sorry about your bad luck and ignorance and carelessness. But this power supply issue is one of the most warned things in our rig. ALWAYS use the correct power supply no matter where you get it or buy it or who sent what. I was even recenlty worrried about plugging in a power supply to a 25 dollar Behringer EQ pedal...I was like...HERE GOES NOTHING!. It didn't work but I didn't blow it up either. Wise neough to know and accept the risks. And now YOU Are too!.

 

[Steve2112]

I've bought a ton of stuff from MF over the years. Amps, cabs, pedals, etc. Everything but guitars. Only 1 issue ever. A cracked preamp tube. They promptly sent out a replacement without issue. Sorry about your issue but my feeling is that you should always verify you have received what you ordered prior to use.

I have bought a lot of stuff from MF too...like dating back to 1990. ALWAYS good service, and when a couple things arrived bad...they fixed it. They even returned a nice guitar, that I just didn't like. But I did return it PERFECTLY too. MF is good stuff.....but they do expect you to hold up your end too. Like any good business. I really sincerely doubt sweetwater would replace pedals either.

 

[irocdave12]

I once ordered a gig bag that wasn't in stock so it went on automatic back order with MF. I cancelled the order right away. Six months later a gig bag shows up outta nowhere. Fuming I called MF to lay into a customer service rep. Turns out I was never charged for the gig bag and they told me to just keep it rather than inconvenience me with a return. Bastards!

 

[Bigfoot410]

I thought I cooked a pedal. It smoked and stunk until I unplugged it. I used a center + instead of negative or whatever it's 'sposed to be.
I contacted the builder and he said there's a chip in there for idiots like me. I cooked the chip thingy and the pedal still works fine years later with the right polarity.
Plug 'er in a try it.




Yeah, I wouldn't listen to me either. Good luck with it.

 

[DeeCee]

A bit late to the party but could they have sent you an AC adapter instead of a DC?