debugging acoustic 360+

[9re9]

I am currently debuging the Acoustic 360+ mods that i got from moosapotamus website and i got a few question about it. I would be grateful if anyone could answer me. I am quite new to this DIY thingy

1.The volume pot for the fuzz section in the schematics.Is it for blending clean and fuzz volume or is it just purely for turning up the fuzz/clean volume?Why the clean volume is so much different when i engaged the fuzz? If its pure for volume control, what mods have to be done in order it to become blend control?

2.Why the circuit is not working when i use 1uF electrolitic caps? Is this circuit meant to be used with tantalum caps?

3.What does the variamp effect does? Mine doesnt seems to have any effect..

4.Why there is hum at the output?

Thats all...cheers
Greg

[sverige_cruz]

Hey Greg,
I have one of those pedals. I really like it.

1.The volume pot for the fuzz section in the schematics.Is it ...

The fuzz pot is just a "gain" pot. You turn it up, it gets fuzzier, and louder. I think you notice the difference in volume because the signal gets switched "into" that section of the circuit, as a front end. I don't know about a blend control. Maybe someone else here can suggest something. Maybe "borrow" a blend circuit from some other pedal and use it?

2.Why the circuit is not working when i use 1uF electrolitic caps?

Hmm, don't quite know. I think I remember the original schematic showing polarization for the caps throughout. My guess is that you have to have them oriented exactly the right way, or you'll have troubles. My build uses non(bi)-polarized caps.

3.What does the variamp effect does?

Short answer: An EQ section. Cut/Boost for tuned frequencies.

4.Why there is hum at the output?

Bad grounding? Short somewhere? Have you tried to troubleshoot it yet, or is this just the current condition? I think there's a sticky post at the top of the main forum page. Was it RG Keen that had that project for checking audio in a circuit? I don't remember, nor have I ever used one, but if I remember, I'll post it.

I hope this is some kind of beginning to help you out. I know how discouraging it can be to put alot of effort into something, only for it to turn out not working. Out the window is my first response.    Good luck.

[9re9]

The circuit is drawn by charlie brath, by the way. I think he mod it and he add in the volume pot in the fuzz section, i am not sure. I understand the fuzz section but i dont understand why the volume pot behaves like that.for eg, when i set the volume pot to 12 o clock position, the difference in volume between clean and fuzz is huge.(clean seems to be quiet, fuzz seems to be loud)Any way to handle this problem as I dont want to adjust the volume everytime I switch from fuzz to clean and vice versa.