Fuzz Factory musikding kit acting weird

[deadfest]

I got a multimeter now, how do I use this thing lol.
I've never used one.

[deadfest]

Also shorting the 2 cables that get to the stab pot doesn't make anything.

[idy]

OK. So, stab pot shorted, power on, set meter to DC Volts, the next range above 9v (20v on mine) and connect black probe to negative battery terminal or other good ground.

Now touch each pin of each transistor with the red probe. You will want to figure out the "pinout" for the transistors you are using so you will know which is base, emitter, collector. I don't remember which transistors you are using. Once you know the type (AC128, 2n3904) you can google 2n3904 pinout and see nice little pictures. Those are "EBC."

Write those voltages down. Share them.

[deadfest]

That's the setup?

[idy]

That does look like a meter set to DC, 20v range.

Time to touch (or attach) black to ground and red to those transistors. Touch red to the + of the battery first just to confirm the meter's working and that the battery is not dead.

[idy]

You still haven't trimmed off the ends of the components sticking out of the solder. Trouble.

[deadfest]

I did trim some of the solder...
I should trim some more then.
Let me get those voltages.

[deadfest]

Is this understandable?
That's what I got

[idy]

What does the battery read when it's not hooked up to the circuit?

[idy]

The emitter of Q1 needs to be 0. It is hooked up directly to ground. I suspect your grounding is bad/not connected.

Here you use "Continuity" test, the place on the dial (around 5 o'clock) with a diode symbol and a "beep" symbol (bcause it beeps for continuity.) Power disconnected, one lead on Q1 E, the other to the wire that should go to battery -, do you have continuity? (I think not.)

[deadfest]

I do not get any beeps, but I do get some numbers on the multimeter.

[deadfest]

Also, I'm was planning to use only the cable, should I use a 9v battery instead?

[idy]

I'm was planning to use only the cable, should I use a 9v battery instead?

Do you mean a power supply instead of a battery?
If so, please measure its voltage too before you hook it up, and after. Often "9v" supply reads high when unloaded. If you have a short, that will really load it...

I do not get any beeps, but I do get some numbers on the multimeter.

So you are using "continuity/diode" mode looking for continuity between Q1 E and ground, right? You want continuity. Instead you are seeing numbers. That means there is something between E and ground. Now go to resistance mode. Measure that same path, Q1 E to ground (power still off). You may have to try the different ranges of resistance, 200ohms, 2k, 20k, 200k. How much resistance is there?

You many need to connect E to ground, maybe the PCB is damaged, trace cut.
Maybe Q1 isn't well soldered in place.
Maybe your ground wire is bunk.

[idy]

One more thing. Your transistors seem to all be in sockets. I know this is encouraged fro Germanium, but it is not a reliable connection. They may be loose.
No reason on earth to socket Q1, a common silicon.
When testing you may want to give the transistor you are checking a little squeeze into its socket.

[duck_arse]

one of those jack sockets also switches the internal power, via the ground connection, when a mono jack plug is inserted. you need a mono plug in that jack when doing the messing about w/ the measures. that plug [must be mono] does not need to connect to anything else, not even cable, it just needs to be jambed into the jack.