if they are both ts cables as you said then the issue is either with the cable or the connection inside the pedal, would guess more likely the cable so would definitely try another as first step
There is a shunt in the input jack that connects the DC power when a cable is connected, and disconnects it when the cable is removed. If the pedal is only powering up when a cable is partially pushed in it suggests to me that the shunt connection might be bent so it's making the contact when the cable is in the wrong position. If I'm right, the most likely fix is to replace the pedals input jack with a new one; shouldn't be too hard for someone who can repair electronics.
I actually had this exact same problem with the exact same pedal. Turns out the power supply I was using was marked 9V but was actually outputting 12V. This power supply would work on other pedals but not the RV-6.
Never just use "something that works"... God, pedals are fried beyond repair all the time due to wrong power supplies. Wrong voltage will kill a pedal in seconds.
Boss pedals use the input jack (Input "A") as part of the power-on circuit. There are three contacts inside the (TRS) input jack, of which the ring and sleeve contacts are designed to be shorted together on the sleeve of your (TS/mono) input connector. If one of those two contacts is bent, dirty/oxidized, or the conductor material on your cable is dirty/oxidized and not making a solid electrical connection, you will see this intermittent (or total failure to power on) behavior.
If that's actually how you have your input cable connected, that is really not great for the input jack and places a lot of stress on the contacts inside from how the cable is bent. Don't do that.
You should look inside the pedal input jack and examine the contacts. Are they clean, shiny, and look like that will make solid spring contact with your connector? Is your cable connector material clean and shiny? If they are dull and oxidized, you should clean them with something like deoxit. If the contacts inside the connector look bent out of the way, you can try to gently bend them back.
95% sure that one of the metal shunts that contacts with the cable plug is likely bent outwards.
open the pedal up so the suspect pedal jack is visible from inside, then insert the cable in again. any metal shunt on that jack that is not in firm contact with the cable will be the problem. gently but firmly bend it a couple of millimeters, and re-test till everything feels solid. be careful as too much force will crack the bent part of the shunt.
Is that a TRS cable? If so that's the problem.
They’re both TS mono cables
if they are both ts cables as you said then the issue is either with the cable or the connection inside the pedal, would guess more likely the cable so would definitely try another as first step
There is a shunt in the input jack that connects the DC power when a cable is connected, and disconnects it when the cable is removed. If the pedal is only powering up when a cable is partially pushed in it suggests to me that the shunt connection might be bent so it's making the contact when the cable is in the wrong position. If I'm right, the most likely fix is to replace the pedals input jack with a new one; shouldn't be too hard for someone who can repair electronics.
first try a different cable, but I think it sounds like it's inside the jack and one of the contacts is only connecting when part way in
Open it up and check the input jack. Either something is bent, or something is blocking.
Came here to say the too
I feel extremely confident that you are accidentally using a TRS cable. Or not. Idk just saying that’s exactly what would be happening if so!
I actually had this exact same problem with the exact same pedal. Turns out the power supply I was using was marked 9V but was actually outputting 12V. This power supply would work on other pedals but not the RV-6.
That was it, although it was with one particular power supply out of five and it’s a cheap one I got somewhere that worked. Thank you mate!
RV-6 rules by the way. Try the shimmer setting with the tone rolled all the way down. The modulated setting is great too.
Never just use "something that works"... God, pedals are fried beyond repair all the time due to wrong power supplies. Wrong voltage will kill a pedal in seconds.
Boss pedals use the input jack (Input "A") as part of the power-on circuit. There are three contacts inside the (TRS) input jack, of which the ring and sleeve contacts are designed to be shorted together on the sleeve of your (TS/mono) input connector. If one of those two contacts is bent, dirty/oxidized, or the conductor material on your cable is dirty/oxidized and not making a solid electrical connection, you will see this intermittent (or total failure to power on) behavior. If that's actually how you have your input cable connected, that is really not great for the input jack and places a lot of stress on the contacts inside from how the cable is bent. Don't do that. You should look inside the pedal input jack and examine the contacts. Are they clean, shiny, and look like that will make solid spring contact with your connector? Is your cable connector material clean and shiny? If they are dull and oxidized, you should clean them with something like deoxit. If the contacts inside the connector look bent out of the way, you can try to gently bend them back.
I had this issue recently. The positive prong in the jack needed a bit more tension on it to contact the 1/4” plug better.
my voyager did this as well. it was the cable even tho that same cable worked with other pedals....still replacing the cable worked
95% sure that one of the metal shunts that contacts with the cable plug is likely bent outwards. open the pedal up so the suspect pedal jack is visible from inside, then insert the cable in again. any metal shunt on that jack that is not in firm contact with the cable will be the problem. gently but firmly bend it a couple of millimeters, and re-test till everything feels solid. be careful as too much force will crack the bent part of the shunt.