ITS8 first build lack of volume

[slothrop]

I'm late to the party but I built the GGG ITS8 with the following mods: asymmetric clipping, diode lift, and boutique mods.  I'm sure this is well known here but here's the link:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=26

First of all, this was my first build and I was shocked when I turned it on and that it actually mostly works and didn't start smoking.  I actually get sound, however, when it's on the volume drops at least 50 percent and sounds muffled.  I have yet to run the debug steps as a friend has my multimeter, I will post that once I troubleshoot (hopefully tomorrow).


With the pedal off my amp volume and gain on the clean channel are at 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock respectively and it's loud in a house.  When I turn on the pedal I get sound but in order to hear it I have to crank the amp gain and volume all the way up to 11 as well as drive, tone and level on the pedal.  I know the pedal will change the volume a little but this seems like a bit much.

Like I said I need to run the debug steps but does this point to a particular problem that might be easy to check?

[petemoore]

  I need to run the debug steps but does this point to a particular problem that might be easy to check?.
  I think this statment sums it up best:
  "I need to run the debug steps."
  Answering this question:
   but does this point to a particular problem that might be easy to check?
  Will be possible or easier when you follow through with the statement.

[slothrop]

Here's the debug info:

Battery = 9.2v
End of red battery lead = 9.18v
End of black battery lead = 0

Q1
C = 9.18v
B = 2.65v
E = 3.13v

Q2
C= 9.17v
B= 2.74v
E= 3.34v

IC1 (or U1)
P1 = 4.56v
P2 = 4.24v
P3 = 4.49v
P4 = 0
P5 = 4.55v
P6 = 4.55v
P7 = 4.55v
P8 = 9.19v

D1 = 4.5
D2a = 4.16
D2b = 3.82
D3(LED) = 4.5
D4(LED) = 4.5
D5 = 9.1

[arma61]

Hi

check Q1&Q2 B E, either you swap them or something's wrong in that area. According to GGG Q's voltages should be

Q1
C 9v
B 3.0v your 2.65v
E 2.5v your 3.13v

Q2
C 9v
B 3.0v your 2.74
E 2.5v your 3.34

What R.G says ? "the base HAS to be one diode drop above (NPN) the emitter"

A

[slothrop]

Thanks for the advice.

I checked that all the resistors are the correct values but I noticed that R11, R13 and R22 are giving no readings on the meter.  Before I go in and make things worse than it already is does the no reading mean it is likely one of those solder joints or something else?  What should I look for?