Line6 EX-1 problems.

[netabuse]

So I bought a Line6 EX-1 from Amazon a while back, and the entire time I've had it, it's been almost useless. After using it for a while, it would invariably drift down from 0-100% to only go to like 0-65%. I adjusted it several times and made sure it was tightened and tried adjusting the start of the sweep, but no matter what, if I plugged it in and swept it from full up to full down, after anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, it would drift back to 80% or less, despite being full-toe down. 

 

Part of the problem is that the full sweep of the pedal doesn't map to the full sweep of the pot, just under 0.75%, so it's like if I do the sweep when I connect it, eventually the Helix realizes the value isn't the full range. The weird thing is it still does this no matter which end I make the "overage" at with the adjustable grub-screw, the toe-down or the heel-down. 

 

I took the entire assembly out and put it in a stomp box with a big knob, so when I plug it in, I can get the full sweep of the pot to calibrate it. It hasn't exhibited the issue since then.

Looking at the components, it's one micro 20k pot, a plastic jack housing, and a small circuit board labeled 'beep.com' (or beepcon), all as one soldered unit in a big plastic housing with an unmarked metal baseplate (with rubber feet). 

Is this a fake pedal? 

[rd2rk]

When you contacted L6 Support, what did they say about it?

[Schmalle]

It's not a good pedal and it's incompatible with current Helix / HX stuff. You'll need a pedal with a 10 kOhm linear pot.

 

Edit: The pot inside the EX-1 should be a linear 10 kOhm pot. If there is a 20 kOhm pot inside yours that's weird and the cause of the problem.

[silverhead]

I use two EX-1 pedals with my Helix Control (and Rack). No problems.  I’m not a heavy exp pedal user but they’re not incompatible.