Fuzz Face Silicon Musikding

[dmelv]

Hi everybody,

I build this fuzz recently (http://www.musikding.de/The-Face-Silicon-Fuzz-kit), for the second time and it's not working properly ; the sound that
comes out is weak, there's not sustain and you have to play hard to get it working.

I am lost at sea because I have no experience in solving such problems. I read the checklist of this website but still don't know where to start. But I cant say this :

1. LED lights properly
2. Pots do work
3. The trim pod does have an effect

Could anyone tell if "usually" when volume is low it's because of this or that ? How can I proceed to understand my problem ?

In advance, thanks a lot to all of you !!!

Cheers,
D. 

Parts list: http://diy.musikding.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sibomen.pdf

Wiring layout: http://diy.musikding.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/facesiwire.pdf

Schematic and pcb: http://diy.musikding.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/facesischalt.pdf

[digitalzombie]

Check you transistor orientation. Your parts list says 2N2222 but from what I understand those are supposed to come in TO-18 metal can packages and these are TO-92 plastic cases. If not 2N2222 transistors which kind are you using? The PCB looks like they're supposed to be facing opposite directions, but both your Q's are facing the same way, so assuming you're using two of the same kind then that's probably wrong. Make sure the emitter side is the same as where the outline of the TO-18 tab is indicated on top of your PCB.

Otherwise, there's a couple pads where the solder looks suspiciously close together where it shouldn't be connecting (marked 6 & 7 on top of your pcb) but according to the wiring layout these are both for 9V so I don't think that should be a problem. If you've got this wired correctly and pad 7 is being used for Voltage In then for organization's sake I'd use the same color wire for Voltage. When I saw that black wire I automatically assumed it was ground.

[bloxstompboxes]

Definitely looks like a transistor pinout issue. They should not being facing the same way.

[mcknib]

All the resistors and caps look correct as already said you need to turn Q2 so that it's flat side faces Q1's flat side so try turning Q2 round the other way and hopefully you'll be cookin'. Your Emitter pin needs to go in the pad with the tab

[dmelv]

Hi Guys !

Thanks a lot for your answer !!! This was IT ! The newbie mistake... I corrected it and it works like a charm !

Thank you so much for this thorough explanation on pins, it will also help me out in the future !

All the best !

Cheers !

David