Bluesbreaker build issue

[eightsevenzero]

I just built up a BB-1 using the V1 layout found here:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj8twAFTYCU/T00Cawgr1BI/AAAAAAAAA5A/2YtalNYraJs/s1600/Marshall+Bluesbreaker.png

Everything works, voltages to the chip pins are all correct, diodes are 4148's showing .63v forward voltage when tested in circuit. The only change I made to the schem was to sub a 330K for the 220K for a little more gain. While everything technically works, I'm getting what I can only describe as too much clean signal on top of the distorted signal. The clipped signal is definitely there, but it just has a bit of this clean signal type thing going on, almost as if the clipping diodes arent clipping enough or something. Hopefully that makes sense; I have checked the circuit multiple times for errors but I'm not coming up with anything at all.

Thanks!

[GibsonGM]

Have you tried putting the stock 220k back in?  Since it's a feedback clipper, you do get some clean in there; maybe the mod is enhancing the effect of that? Maybe hear it 'stock' first, then decide if you need to do something with the diodes, or - if the circuit just isn't what you're after.

IIRC, I "rejected" the BB as a stand-alone distortion for the same reason. Like with a Tube Screamer, for my sound, it would be best used to punch an overdriven amp where the clean (strange to my ears) isn't really audible. That's my .02, anyway! 

[GGBB]

That layout is not true to the original circuit. The 1st stage filter network should be terminated to ground not Vref. The 47p cap in the feedback loop of the 1st stage should be 10p. And you should try the first version of the Bluesbreaker - swap the 3k3 and 4k7 (later revision) in the first gain stage for 33k and 27k respectively. See these changes in green below.

[Mark Hammer]

If one of the diodes was oriented wrong, you'd only get clipping of one half-cycle and no clipping on the other; a possible source of an audible clean signal with a bit of clipping on top.

[eightsevenzero]

Thanks for the info. I will try making those changes to reflect the original schematic and see what happens. I know my diodes are 100% correct directionally.