Tube Screamer Fluctuating Volume

[rock_god_dan]

Hello guys!

I've built my first tubescreamer clone a couple of years ago.  It worked fine, but I got a high gain tube amp and I didn't feel the need to use the pedal.  Just last week I got bored and decided to toy with my tube screamer, but unfortunately no sound came out of it.

I did some rewiring, as some of the old cables have just become brittle and snapped off.  When I got it to work, however, the volume and distortion would fluctuate, going from normal to weak and back to normal.  I was hoping if any of you kind gentlemen (or ladies, if applicable) could point me in the right direction.  Thanks a lot guys!

Dan

p.s. I couldn't find non-polarized capacitors so I substituted two 1uf caps with polarized ones, could this be the culprit? I doubt it, because it worked fine before.  But I'm not ruling out any possibilities.  Thanks for the help guys!

[Seljer]

That definitely sounds like a bad solder joint or possibly a bad potentiometer an not anything related to the circuit itself

[GibsonGM]

That definitely sounds like a bad solder joint or possibly a bad potentiometer an not anything related to the circuit itself

All of the above.  Try unhousing it, and moving wires around.  Dirty jacks and pots will do this, too.   Poke and prod, and I bet you'll find the source of the trouble.

Then, build a Timmy - very similar but MUCH better pedal, you might use it with that awesome amp!  ;o)

[rock_god_dan]

Thanks guys! I removed the circuit from the enclosure, it doesn't do that as much now.  I get an intermittent "rustling wind" sound, though.  Like intermittent static.  Do I have a badn cap somewhere?

It does sound good at first, but after a few minutes it starts acting up again.  Does that indicate something?

i've heard of the timmy drive, but is it good for boosting marshall-crunch sounds into heavy metal territory?

[rock_god_dan]

I knew it! It were those polarized caps I put when I should have put non-polarized ones.  Silent as a babe now.  Thanks guys!