I've got an issue with one of my effects pedals - I don't know if it's a problem or if I'm just an idiot with my setup/settings.

Here's my effects chain:

Acoustic Guitar -> Boss AD-3 -> Boss CS-3 -> Morley Volume -> Boss AW-3 -> Boss DD-3 -> Amp

Also, I've got an A/B switch between the guitar and effects chain with the effects on the A channel and a Boss TU-2 on the B channel. I took the tuner out of the effects chain because it was affecting the tone. The AD-3 is a multi-purpose acoustic guitar pedal with a reverb, chorus, and feedback eliminator. The CS-3 is a compressor/sustainer pedal, the AW-3 is a wah pedal, and the DD-3 is a digital delay. The guitar is a Takamine acoustic/electric, I'm not sure offhand but I think the model number is EG430SC.

Here's the problem: when I have the CS-3 in the effects chain, the volume output drops seriously after a few minutes. It's hard to tell how the tone changes since the volume decreases so much. If I test the CS-3 pedal independently, just guitar -> pedal -> amp, it seems to work fine. I've never had any trouble with the A/B switch, nor any of the other pedals in the effects chain without the CS-3 in the loop. So I'm pretty sure the problem is isolated within the CS-3.

Does anyone have an idea what might be going on with the pedal? I'd hate to have to pay a tech $50 just to tell me it can't be fixed.

1) check batteries/power supplies - take out batteries, try new ones, try new power supplies, etc.
2) check patch cables - take out one and then see what happens (weed out the weak link!)
3) check the A/B switcher - my roommate just bought a Morley A/B and it came broken... so maybe you have a switch gone bad.

Keep in mind that a compressor compresses so you may want to open the thing up a bit and see what happens.

Also, (silly question) why are you using a compression pedal with an acoustic?

After all of that, the easy fix is to sell the CS3 on Ebay.

Thanks for the response noco.

1) I use an AC converter chain power supply for my pedals, and I've even tried a different power chain. I use the manufacturer recommended Boss power chain with Boss pedals, so power is not the issue.

2) Though I can't be positive that the particular patch cable is bad, I tear down the effects chain and reassemble it for each gig, and the chances that the same patch cable was used in the same location each time are really small. Pretty sure it's not the patch cable, especially since the volume is normal for about 2 min and then it dies off.

3) The A/B switcher seems fine - there aren't any problems with the effects chain minus CS-3 running through the same channel as effects chain with CS-3. Also, I occasionally play bass through the switcher on the same channel and there are never any problems there.

And I don't hardly compress the sound at all, I mainly use the sustainer effect. I find that it beefs up the sound and gives it more presence when I play with a full band.

Quote:

I find that it beefs up the sound and gives it more presence when I play with a full band.

except for when it makes your sound cut out...

Yeah. Obviously.