FAQ

WHY SHOULD I BUY A UDV PEDAL?

Because UDV Pedals are handcrafted, unique, and awesome of course! Also you'll be supporting a musician-owned small business. All our pedals are made in the USA and components are sourced using American suppliers when possible. We use some of the highest quality electronic components available. Also, UDV Pedals LLC is a legal business and not just some random guy making and selling pedals on Reverb or Ebay with questionable parts and poor quality assembly. We're doing things the right way by following the laws for operating a business. We manufacture professional effects pedals that come with a 1-year warranty and we use lead free solder. Our pedals are built for durability and priced to remain affordable for working musicians. In a market saturated with overhyped boutique and cheap plastic pedals, our American made pedals are an excellent balance of quality and value.

DO YOUR PEDALS HAVE A WARRANTY?

UDV pedals electronics were designed for maximum durability and proper function. We will repair or replace the electronics of any device that we manufacture for 1 year for the original purchaser. The customer is responsible for shipping to UDV pedals for a warranty claim, and then back to the customer after the repair has been completed. Warranty does not apply to normal wear of the enclosure or graphics, knobs, hardware or any devices that are deliberately destroyed or modified by anyone other than UDV pedals.

Once the pedal is received by UDV Pedals, we will diagnose and evaluate the fault. There is never a charge for repairs unless components must be replaced due to user damage or modification. We do not warranty scratches, chips, dings, or other damage to the finish of the pedal. Our pedals are tough, but damage from misuse or abuse is not covered by our warranty.

Even if the repair isn't covered by the warranty, our repair costs are very reasonable. If your pedal has any issues or doesn't seem to be working properly, please contact customer support at info@udvpedals.com

WHY USE LEAD FREE SOLDER?

The hazards of lead to human health and the environment are well known, and yet many electronic devices contain lead based solder and other hazardous materials. Many pedals sold on Reverb and eBay are filled with toxic components. The European Union and California (USA) have restricted the use of leaded solder in consumer electronics, a trend that's sure to continue in the future. UDV Pedals made the switch to lead-free solder in order to reduce harm to the environment and protect human health.

The decision to switch was not as easy as it seems. Lead-free solder is more expensive and requires more time, effort, and skill to use correctly. This may explain why many commercial electronics companies continue to use lead based solder. UDV is committed to environmentally responsible manufacturing and the health of our employees. Besides, no one wants to have their hands covered in lead after soldering guitar pedals all day long... not me anyways, and well... I'm the guy making these things.

WHAT'S THIS GOOP ON MY CIRCUIT BOARD?

It's not goop, it's flux residue and it's an important part of the soldering process. We use a high quality lead free solder with "no-clean" flux. The residue is non-corrosive, non-conductive, and does not require removal from the circuit board. An effort is made to remove as much flux as possible, but some residue may remain.

WHY DO YOU USE SO MUCH ORANGE AND PURPLE WIRING FOR ALL YOUR BUILDS?

It's a secret, but you can probably figure it out if you think about it.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "ACTIVE" AND "PASSIVE" PEDALS?

Active pedals require power for the effect or utility to function. Passive pedals do not require power to operate, however some passive pedals have LEDs, and power therefore is only required to illuminate the LED. Use only a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals.

WHAT VOLTAGE DO I NEED TO POWER MY PEDAL?

UDV pedals take a standard 9 volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel. Use only a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals. DO NOT RUN AT HIGHER VOLTAGES! Use of improper power supply may damage or destroy the device and void the warranty. Tech specs are listed the product manual, if you're not sure contact info@UDVpedals.com for more info.

HOW MANY MILLIAMPS (MA) ARE NEEDED TO POWER MY PEDAL?

Most universal power supplies designed specifically for use with guitar effects pedals have isolated outlets that can supply 9v power between 100-500mA. The key is that you supply the minimum or greater than the mA required for the pedal. 100mA or greater is sufficient for all UDV pedals. Don't worry about plugging in higher milliamps. For example if a 9v pedal requires a minimum of 36mA to function, a 100mA (or greater) supply is fine. The pedal will take what it needs and not worry about the rest. It should be noted that many power bricks have outlets that supply higher voltages. DO NOT RUN AT HIGHER VOLTAGES. Use only a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals. Consult the product manual for tech specs or email info@UDVpedals.com if you are unsure about the mA draw of your pedal.

DO YOUR PEDALS COME WITH A POWER SUPPLY?

No. Most pedal manufacturers do not include power supplies. Use only a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals.

ARE UDV PEDALS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH BATTERIES?

No, there's often not enough room inside the enclosure. Besides, batteries are wasteful and are not the most environmentally friendly option. Use a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals.

DO YOUR "PASSIVE" PEDALS REQUIRE POWER TO OPERATE?

No, passive pedals will function without power. However, the LEDs require 9v DC center negative power to operate. The LEDs are important since they indicate the engagement of the effect and/or switch position, plus they look really cool. Therefore, it's recommended to connect to an appropriate power supply so the LEDs illuminate. Use only a quality center-negative 9v DC power supply designed and manufactured for use with guitar pedals.

ARE YOUR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE PEDALS "TRUE BYPASS"?

Yes, all UDV Pedals are true bypass. Our passive pedals are true bypass in the sense that the guitar signal doesn't go through a powered buffer or circuit board. Really true bypass is not applicable for passive pedals since they don't have powered electronics (except for LEDs). There's nothing to bypass, therefore UDV pedals will not color your tone. It might be more accurate to say passive pedals are "un-buffered"

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LATCHED SWITCHES AND MOMENTARY SWITCH?

A latched footswitch simply turns on when you press it once and then stays on until you press it again. Click once, pedal on, click again, pedal off.

Momentary switches must be held down or tapped for a temporary effect. When you release your foot from a momentary switch it disconnects the effect. Momentary switches may have a click, or they might be soft (no click). Generally speaking UDV tap tempos all use soft (no click) momentary switches. Tap tempos with reverse polarity toggle or momentary effects that require LEDs use momentary PRO feather click switches. The PRO switches require less effort to engage than most standard momentary switches with a click.

WHAT IS TAP TEMPO POLARITY (NORMALLY OPEN VS NORMALLY CLOSED)?

Tap tempo footswitches are available in two types, Normally Open (NO) meaning the electrical connection is not made until the footswitch is pressed, or Normally Closed (NC) meaning that the electrical connection is disconnected when the footswitch is pressed.

Some pedal manufactures pair with NO switches, but others use NC. It's good to know which type of switch the host pedal will accept before you place an order. Please check with the pedal manufacturer before ordering your UDV tap tempo. I have found that either NO or NC will work to set the tempo, but the difference is that the correct polarity will set the tempo on the tap, while the wrong polarity will set the tempo on the release of the switch. To me it's never been a problem even if the wrong polarity is selected.

To give you the most options, our "Expression Control" pedal includes a tap tempo with a toggle switch that allows you to reverse the polarity from NO to NC! This means it's compatible with a wide range of manufacturers. If you know your pedal's preferred tap polarity you can select optional NO or NC no-click switch. If the specific polarity is selected, this eliminates the reversible toggle switch. If you have question please contact customer support at info@udvpedals.com we'll be glad to help you decide what works best for you.

CAN YOU BUILD A TAP TEMPO A WITH NO-CLICK MOMENTARY FOOTSWITCH AND A REVERSIBLE POLARITY TOGGLE?

No, all tap tempos with a reversible polarity toggle switch have a click. For our "Expression Control" pedal we use a PRO footswitch with the soft "feather" click. It requires less effort to click than a standard momentary footswitch. A clicking footswitch is necessary for all reversible polarity switches since the function requires a double throw to operate correctly. No-click footswitches are only available in single-throw. Our standard tap tempos come with no-click soft switches, and the "Expression Control" has optional no-click switch. For both you must specify polarity (normally open or normally closed) when you place an order.

WHAT IS YOUR RETURN AND REFUND POLICY?

We're a small boutique pedal manufacturer and returns are a big headache for everyone involved. We think you'll love your new UDV pedal, and we post a ton of pics and videos so you know what you're getting before you buy. However, we'll disappointingly accept pedal returns within two weeks from the delivery date. To be eligible for a return, the item must be in the same condition that you received it. Shipping costs are not refundable, and the purchaser is responsible for all aspects of return shipping including costs.

Once we receive your item, we will inspect it and notify you that we have received your returned item. Any damage from return shipping or from use of the pedal will be deducted from the refund. Once approved the refund will be credited immediately.

If you're having issues please contact customer support to discuss. We'll make a good faith effort to make things right. For questions on returns contact customer service at info@udvpedals.com

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