Ugh debugging a FOXX Tone Machine clone

[bifbangpow]

All right so my multimeter is currently broken, so I can't give you my transistor readings, but here's the deal:

Just finished building a Foxx Tone Machine clone based on this project:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/effects-projects/octave/foxx-tone-machine/

And this layout diagram, for using two foot switches & two LEDs:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ftm_lo_2fsw.pdf

The LEDs light up so I'm getting power, but neither clean nor fx signal passes through.
I'm going around and resoldering wires that look anything less than perfect, but there are quite a bit of wiresin this project so I'm wondering if there are any common sources for this problem.

[bluesdevil]

If you're not getting at least a bypassed signal, I would check the wiring and soldering on the jacks and their connections to the footswitch.

[tommycataus]

Although it's a huge pain, I would start as bluesdevil says by checking the connections on the jacks, pots and switches, particularly grounding. It could be that you've forgotten to ground one thing, or the circuit is grounded at one crucial point.

Mate I feel for you that your DMM is broken, is it fixable? The first one I bought was the equivalent of US$2 and I still have it for backup. I recommend getting a cheap one for emergencies and to tide you over if you need to save for a new one, it will make your debugging a lot less painful.

Good luck with this one it's the nicest octave fuzz I've played through IMHO. Worth the hassle.

[R.G.]

All right so my multimeter is currently broken

Sadly, there really isn't much that can be done to help you other than looking at pictures of the wiring and yelling encouragement.

If you can't tell where the electrons are going, its only with massive effort checking and rechecking wires that you can get good results - and then only if you're lucky.

I'm wondering if there are any common sources for this problem.

Well, actually, there are many, many, many sources for this problem. It's a guessing game, poking around and making blind guesses like "I think the blue wire looks funny," or "my second cousin on my mother's side had a similar problem with an 84 Chevy."

[hymenoptera]

You can build a simple DIY continuity tester from a battery, a resistor, an LED and some wire.

You can also build yourself an audio probe from a old guitar cable and a capacitor.

These are the two most useful things you'll need debugging a pedal project, and you probably already have everything you need right there already to make them. 

[bifbangpow]

Thanks everyone! I actually discovered that something was getting crushed when I put the enclosure back on.  I had counted that kind of problem out because i had all ready taped the backing to prevent short circuiting, but I hadnt thought about the fact that I could be pushing something loose.  Everything works great now!  Massively fuzzy tones, btw.  Holy shit.

<img src= "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11899600_495933410570107_2119819604_n.jpg"> </img>

[hymenoptera]

nice paint