Help with GGG WHRL - Bypass works but no effect.

[rocinante]

Hey Guys,

Ive just recently finished building a GGG way huge red llama.  http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=149&category_id=7

It's only my second build, but ive followed all the instructions as exact as possible. No mods or substitutions for parts. I am using a reliable wall power (fuel tank jr) for power, i don't have a 9v battery on me at the moment.

Basically - the bypass works fine. All good. When i engage the pedal, the LED comes on, but all i get is a soft buzz.  The volume and drive pots both seem to have some effect - when you turn them all the way down the buzz cuts out. 

Ive checked all the continuity on all the outboard wiring and most of the pcb joints.  I double checked all the ground points - all good as far as i can tell.  Ive also tested the voltage of the IC against the measurements given on the WHRL instructions and they are all what they are meant to be. 

When i started testing it with an audio probe i basically found that i couldn't get any signal when the effect was engaged.  Eg. there was only buzz when i touched the probe to the tip of the input jack.  I thought it might be the foot switch, but as far as i can tell all the joints are good and go to where they are meant to go to..

If anyone could help at all that would be amazing.  Ive been searching the net all week for help and cant really find anything that has helped.

Here are some images:
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa122/Steverogue/WHRL/

Thanks so much in advance.
steve

[Bill Mountain]

I can't seem to make your pictures any bigger but it looks basically like mine.  I can't really help you since mine works but in some of my other builds the circuit stopped working once I boxed it up.  It's usually something wrong with the stomp switch wiring or there was some accidental grounding on the jacks or PCB.

I would take the pcb out of the enclosure and wire it always on and see if you can get it to work like that.  Then worry about the stomp switch and the enclosure.  This is not the normal debug method but it usually works for me because it helps eliminate extra variables.

Good luck!

Also, have you checked the debug thread in the stickies?

[Govmnt_Lacky]

After looking at your pictures, I don't know what you have going on with the grounding around the input jack. You have ground going from the output jack sleeve to the input jack ring. Then, you have a black wire ALSO going from the input jack ring to somewhere??

Also, I don't understand (or cannot view correctly) your DC jack wiring. You have circuit power wired to the DC jack, then you have a red wire going to the same spot on the DC jack going somewhere?

Before you continue, I suggest you wire re-do the offboard wiring according to the GGG layout here:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_whrl_lo.pdf?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

It looks to me like you have your grounding wires wrong at the input jack AND you have your power wiring wrong at the DC jack.

Good Luck 

[Bill Mountain]

OK.  I looked at your pics again and I could get them to go bigger this time (weird!).  Anyways,  I don't see a stand off for your PCB.  The underside wouldn't be touching the case, would it?

[rocinante]

Hey Guys!

Thanks for your help.  Not sure what's going on with the pics???

I ended up just redoing all the offboard wiring and it works now.. WOOHOOO - im still grinning...  I think i must have just been looking at it too long and missed something obvious. Plus the wires were pretty messy.

Thanks!
steve