scrambler debug

[mmadscientist]

Good evening.  This is my second attempt at this build, and once again I'm stumped.  I have sound bot h engaged and bypassed.  Heres the problem:  When fuzz is wide open the output is way low, and a couple of other things that I knew wasn't right.  I checked the voltages and poked around w/ a probe.  The sound stops at the collector of Q1.  No voltage also.  Basically, I know that this is where the problem is... but what do I do about it?  I just finished a variation of the bazz fuss/buzz box i designed myself w/ switching diodes etc. but every time I try to build from a PCB it's junk.  Anybody else?

[deadsnake]

I would suggest to try this on a proto board first. There you can try a lot o different ways to correct you problem without wasting not PCB. I build a wah pedal and I  trashed 2 PCBs. The first one wasn't mirrored (n00b), the second one I reheated so much the traces in it to change components that the traces peeled of teh PCB. I learned that each trace has a 4-6 heat lifetimes if you know what I mean. Is there a layout or schem link would help a lot since a lot of projects with the same schem have different layout, some of them even wrong.

[mmadscientist]

Thanks for the reply.  It's the Tonepad PCB.  So ther is a limit to how much heat a trace can take?  Interesting....  Can you see when the trace is dead?  I'm pretty sure the tranny in question is fine (just bought and not burned while soldering).  Heres the link:
http://www.tonepad.com/getFileInfo.asp?id=31
I think from now on I will just build everything from schem w/ perf like I have been.  It's just so tempting to order the PCB and populate and solder.  The problem is they never work (for me).  Then, since I didn't lay it out from scratch, I have trouble if theres a problem.

[alteredsounds]

Did you use sockets?  Only ask because then you can try other transistors in it without re-heating the pcb and check the pinout properly.  ALOT of people who have built this have had problems which many many times have been down to transistor pinouts.

[deadsnake]

The copper layer of the PCB won't wear out. But it will in some cases peel of the PCB which sux. Don't get desperate if that happens. Since you've bought a ready to solder PCB I think you are not going to have trouble with it, usually it has a green layer of some sort of paint which helps the soldering itself, making it look clean. I think this paint can hold the trace in it's place for a bit more.

Did you use sockets?  Only ask because then you can try other transistors in it without re-heating the pcb and check the pinout properly.  ALOT of people who have built this have had problems which many many times have been down to transistor pinouts.

Like alteredsounds said, some people who had problems with it might have found the solution. Look for the build reports tonepad they usually post some workarounds if that's is the problem.

GGM

[mmadscientist]

Hello all.....  I just checked this thread from last night, thanks for the last couple replies.  No I didn't use sockets but have double checked pinouts, polarities, solder-bridges, wiring etc.  I removed Q1 and tested the spot where it was w/ several other nte172a trannys (2n5306) so it seems that the problem is not that specific transistor because every one I switched produced the same problems.  I am really holding myself back from tearing all this out and building it on perf= "I'll show you, you f@#$ing PCB!!!!"  I know however from experience that any work born from stubborn resolution ends up in more frustration.