H & C Echo box not functioning.

[guitarfred]

Just decided to use my H&C again after being stored away for about 12 months. First the whole thing was blank - no display, no sound. I changed the the power supply from the one that was supplied and the display lit up. I thought that had solved my problem, I can no longer get any sound out of it. It is totally silent. I have tried changing the cables, still no sound when I connect the guitar direct to the amp, bypassing the H&C unit, I get a signal, so cables,guitar and amp are all ok. It has been stored away in its original box and packaging and only used a handful of times and is in absolutely brand new condition. Does anyone else have this problem and if so how did you overcome it ?

      

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Fred,
I haven't heard of this happening before.
Please contact the manufacturer to arrange a repair. Stephen will sort it out for you.
Regards,
Charlie

[guitarfred]

Thanks for your reply Charlie, I have sent an e mail to them.

[guitarfred]

The unit is now OK. I contacted the manufacturer and a very nice young Lady called Lin asked me to return it back to them. She phoned me to tell me that the power supply that I had with the unit was faulty and the one that I had used as a replacement was of a different polarity, that was why the LCD lit up but the box wouldn't operate. They have supplied me with a new power unit and it now works perfectly. I had to pay £25 for the postage and the power unit which seemed reasonable.

[Deleted]

Hi....the echo works off 12 volts AC as far as I am aware....so there is no polarity.....sounds like your 12v AC PSU packed up and you tried a DC PSU which wouldn’t work and didn’t cause any damage........👍

[brightcaster]

This behavior is very common with gear like that. Also the quadraverbs (except Q20) and the magicstomp behave like that. It's because only the 5V DC (needed for the digital part) are directly connected to the 12V AC (via a rectifier). The -12V DC and +12V DC for the analog processing are coupled by capacitors to the 12V AC comming from the power supply so they are missing if you use a 12V DC supply. As a consequence, the digital part works but the analog part gives no sound at all!

Nothing dangerous, but confusing, if you do not know about the background ...



David

[motorhan]

Hello
Is the CH effects device still for sale somewhere or will they come in an even better version
With fri gr
Han
The Netherlands

[Charlie Hall]

Hello Han,
The Hall & Collins Signature Echo is no longer available because certain parts are discontinued and parts prices have increased generally. It seems unlikely at this point that any more units will be made.
You could keep an eye on the ads section of this site as secondhand units do occasionally come up for sale.
Regards,
Charlie

[motorhan]

Tanks,
what a pity.
I find that remarkable because amplifiers and guitars are still being built every day with electronics and I think this mainly concerns software. I'm waiting for 1 used to be offered on the well known auction site or here on the forum. I now have the Zoom 508 and a bigger zoom with charlie patches
Fr Rec
Han

[Charlie Hall]

Software is not the problem. The unobtainable parts are sub miniature control pots in log law.
I wish you good luck with your search.
Regards,
Charlie

[tommy]

Hello there!

I have just finally succeeded in acquiring a Hall and Collins signature echo and now I am trying to learn how it works.


I tried plugging it in according to the included instructions, but to no avail. The HC sign echo lit up with the expected the digital figures and nummers.
  
Tried different patches (P16, 17, 18, and U16,17, 18 with the same zero sound result. The patches such as Wonderful Land, and Atlantis were not The Shadow's full and wellknown  sound but more the usual sound from my guitars (2 different Fender Stratocaster) Tested the patches on 3 different amplifiers (Blackstar, Fender Mustang GTX 100, and Katana 100) unfortunately with the same outcome.



I'm a novice and don't know if these amps or amps in general need to be tuned first, like removing the amp's "presets or whatever." Please give me some experienced tips how to get The Shadow's original sound to work.

Thanks!

[brightcaster]

If you don't hear any sound ("zero sound" as you said), you may be using the wrong power adapter (especially if you got it second-hand)! You need 12 VAC, not the usual 12 VDC! Using a DC power supply will result in total loss of sound, while the digital part of the unit still works ....

David

[Charlie Hall]

Hi tommy,
Did the power supply come with the unit? It should be 12 volts AC output at a minimum of 500 ma, 1 amp is better.
Regards,
Charlie

[tommy]

Hello! Yes it did.

On the power supply it says as follows:

Ideal Power. Model NO:DB-12-12.
PRI.:230-240VAC 50 Hz 18VA
SEC.:12VAC Max 12VA

CLASS 2 TRANSFORMER TDCPOWER PRODUCTS CO., LTD. 01

I am using an adapter (K SKROSS) to plug into the swedish power system.

I tried today once again and found that there is some vague Shadow sound. I think has to do with the amp effekt.
What is your proposition?

Tommy

[brightcaster]

Ahh, so if you hear anything at all, it is probably not the power supply (which is also okay according to the specs).

Maybe you can fix it with the controls as described on page 8 and 9 of the user manual? Especially the "Dry Level" and "Echo Level" pots change the amount of effect drastically...

hallandcollins.com/images/docs/Hall__Collins_Instruction_Booklet.pdf

David

[Charlie Hall]

The powwr supply seems to be correct.
Set all rotary controls pointing to the right ie. at 3 o' clock. Then try it again.
Regards,
Charlie

[tommy]

Hi again!

I have tried that and there are different sounds which seem to be there but are not fully coming through.
The only explanation as I understand it is something like getting the right settings of the amplifier I am using.
I have watched videos of Dave Monk and Alan Bliss. They are using other pedals (AX3000G and G3xn) but more importantly is
that both of them are using Focusrite Scarlett audio internet in getting the right amplifier and guitar to execute the shadow sound.
I going to try that soon. Then I´ll get back to you.
Thank you, for your patience and expert advice!
Tommy

[Charlie Hall]

Connect your guitar direct to the amp and set to a basic sound and volume. Then connect the H&C unit between the guitar and amp. Switching the echo with the centre footswitch. Set the Dry Level control pointing to 3 o' clock The sound should be about the same as without the H&C unit. If not, there could be a problem eith the unit.
Regards,
Charlie

[Charlie Hall]

Typo. I meant switch the echo off with the centre footswitch.

[tommy]

Hello there!

Today I made a copy of P16 and called it U16. I then I started to edit the overall Echo (O/P Trim; F/B trim) and there it is. The sound I was looking for.
Now it remains to trim, or adjusting it more exact and to my taste.
The Hall and Collins signature echo is really a masterpiece!

Thanks to all of you on the site!

[motorhan]

Nov 2, 2019 19:14:58 GMT Deleted said:

Hi....the echo works off 12 volts AC as far as I am aware....so there is no polarity.....sounds like your 12v AC PSU packed up and you tried a DC PSU which wouldn’t work and didn’t cause any damage........👍

Hello,
I have just received the used CH echo. Now I saw that the big leaky 230 volt adapter is torn. I don't know if it works, but I just want to buy an original adapter.
Where can I buy it and what is it called, e.g. order or article number.
thanks for a response
​

[Hendrickx]

See Thread : Replacement power pack for the H&C : works fine ! 9,90 €  excl. VAT + Shipping costs .
Post from me : Jan 21 , 2022     Peaktech

[motorhan]

Aug 28, 2023 15:04:42 GMT Charlie Hall said:

Sluit je gitaar rechtstreeks aan op de versterker en stel het basisgeluid en -volume in. Sluit vervolgens de H&C-unit aan tussen de gitaar en de versterker. De echo schakelen met de middelste voetschakelaar. Zet de Dry Level-regelaar op 3 uur. Het geluid zou ongeveer hetzelfde moeten zijn als zonder de H&C-unit. Als dit niet het geval is, kan er een probleem zijn met het apparaat.
Groeten,
Charlie
Dat is precies wat ik ook ervaar het maakt geen verschil og de HC aan of uit staat of welke prest is gekozen P of U presets Hopelijk geeft de 2e HC echo die onderweg is uit Autralie meer duidelijkheid.