Fuzzface. Layout & transistors questions

[AM]

Hi,
I built a silicon fuzzface following this layout at Dragonfly's gallery:
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album18/album144/SILICON_FF_VERO_SMALLER_001.gif.html

I didn't manage to get it to work. I used a bc108B and a bc109B (the metal ones). I built the thing about three times using the same parts every time but no luck. The only sound I could get was at very low volume when all controls (including amp volume) were maxed out. When I removed the power from the pedal I could get a louder farty and gated sound when hiting the strings very hard. That was all....
I always have good results with Andy's layouts and I checked this one too and couldn't find any mistakes. Maybe I had my trannies fried? Could that be possible?
If anybody has spotted any mistakes on the layout please let me know. I couldn't spot any mistakes.

Now about the trannies. I used these ones: http://banzaieffects.com/BC108B-pr-16551.html
Today I discovered some others which have a plastic shell instead of the metal in a shop near by. Any experience regarding difference in quality?
Also, should I go for bc107 or bc108 for my next attempt?
Thanks for reading my post.

[frequencycentral]

Transistor choice is a matter of taste, generally a high gain for Q1 and low for Q2.

I strongly advise getting some SIL strips and using them as sockets for your trannies - then you can mix and match.

[jlullo]

Anastasio,
what are your voltage readings on the transistors?

[AM]

what are your voltage readings on the transistors?

Jonathan, I took the circuit board apart so I can't measure voltages anymore. It takes no time to solder everything on the board so I think I'll just build a new one using new caps and transistors and see if it works this time. I'll have another look at the layout to see if there are any mistakes although I doubt it.

[newfish]

Hi,

I built this using BC107s - and Dragonfly's layout, and it sounded great.

Would using really high gain trannies in a circuit like this effectively kill it?

Something to do with Q1 and Q2's output sending each other into clipping oblivion?

[petemoore]

  Build it, double check each node for:
  The number of connections [note the schematic] on the node.
  Any polarity relevance of the node.
  Test the connection after words, measure every resistor just before installing.
  The Hfe's are matter of opinion, Q1 lower gain than Q2 is the general consensus.

[AM]

Any polarity relevance of the node.

I should be able to use non-polarised metal film caps without problems, right? Or should I have only used polariszd ones?

[signalpaths]

Anastasio you should buy yourself a solderless breadboard so you can get the circuit to work before you solder.  Because its much easier to fix a mistake on a breadboard than once you've soldered.  Also you will know if you like the circuit before you waste your parts on it.  I'm sure you  can find a breadboard for under 10$.

Eric

[AM]

I built a DIY test board becasue I wanted to test some things out anyway. The problem was one of my transistors being dead. Thanks everybody for answering.
I have posted my results and the values I used in another thread.