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Second pedal gone wrong!

Started by vancelotte, March 06, 2017, 04:31:43 AM

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vancelotte

Hi everyone!

I'm very new to this DIY pedal universe. Last year I've built my very first pedal - a TS808 clone - and it worked, so far so great.

Now I'm trying to build a Tone Machine clone (using General Guitar Gadgets site). All components were fine and in the correct place and polarity (when it needs to be), wirings are fine. Tested it, all 2 LEDs (on/off and octave) working great, but no sound. Even when it's bypassed no sound comes from my amp. When the effect is on, a slight hiss comes. I can control the hiss by Volume, Sustain and Tone pedals. Later on, I made a continuity test on my PCB and peripherals and all seems fine.

I have three questions:

1) Can I erase the "power" factor off my list of problems?
2) What other problems besides bad soldering could be occurring?
3) How much time can I solder the components? Maybe I was using too much time making "the perfect solder" and screwed it up something.


Thanks in advance!

Update: Solved my problem. It was a damaged stereo input jack. Replacing it fixed the problem.

BrianS

#1
Don't take this the wrong way but do you have the in and out cables connected right.  I've done it before so just make sure. 

The first thing I look at when I get no bypass sound is grounding problems. Go back and reflow your solder on your jacks, switch and board connections.

I have tightened jacks to tight on a couple of builds and I guess severed the inside and it will not pass sound.

Someone's going to come on and ask you to post pictures of your build (top and bottom of the board) and voltages.  So you might as well get started on that.

The next thing you will need to make an audio probe.  Here's a link on how to build one.
http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/debug.html

This is a valuable tool when debugging builds.  It's pretty much essential.

1) Can you erase the power problem? Are you getting voltage to your ICs or transistors?  If your getting no power there then no.

2). It could be a solder bridge, a bad component, etc.....

3). Most people are on and off the board as quick as they can with an iron.  The more you solder the better you will get.  I can't give you a timeline on how long.  Some boards take heat better than others.  I lifted a pad off a board just the other day trying to desolder an led.  9 times out of 10 this would not have happened.

jimilee

I'll echo the audio probe and pictures .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

m-Kresol

how did you test the board? pcb only or already built into an enclosure with bypass switch? what bypass system are you using?

what I'm going for is we need more info to help you properly. otherwise it's just stabbing in the dark wasting your time and ours. please also refer us to the respective build doc and schematic so we know what you are working on. I'm sure we're able to help you quick enough once we have the details.

good luck
I build pedals to hide my lousy playing.

My projects are labeled Quantum Effects. My shared OSH park projects: https://oshpark.com/profiles/m-Kresol
My build docs and tutorials

vancelotte

Thanks for everyone that spent a little time helping me!

So, this is the wiring and build scheme: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ftm_lo_2fsw.pdf.
I am using all the components on this list: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ftm_bom.pdf
Schematic: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ftm_sc.pdf

Everything is in the right order, even in/out wiring.

Pots and jacks are already on the enclosure and wired to my pcb. Nothing works, tested with closed and open enclosure.

I am making an audio probe rn, soon I'll get the results.

ShredderNemo

Every build I've done that didn't pass sound when bypassed had issues directly related to the wiring of the jacks, stomp switch, or ground.

m-Kresol

Quote from: ShredderNemo on March 06, 2017, 11:15:39 PM
Every build I've done that didn't pass sound when bypassed had issues directly related to the wiring of the jacks, stomp switch, or ground.

I agree. This is most likely. Double and triple check your stomp for wiring and solder bridges/shorts and the lugs of the jacks. make sure you did get tip and sleeve correctly.
there are some very helpful tutorials on bypass wiring and audioprobing by madbean here: http://www.madbeanpedals.com/tutorials/index.html

Building the audio probe is a good exercise and will also help you with future builds.
I build pedals to hide my lousy playing.

My projects are labeled Quantum Effects. My shared OSH park projects: https://oshpark.com/profiles/m-Kresol
My build docs and tutorials

cajone5

Quote from: ShredderNemo on March 06, 2017, 11:15:39 PM
Every build I've done that didn't pass sound when bypassed had issues directly related to the wiring of the jacks, stomp switch, or ground.

This.

vancelotte

Hello people!

I found the main problem - the larger clip of my Stereo jack was damaged. Changed it and it now works!

Now I'll get some rest and soon I will post the results. Thanks to everyone!