80s Rat Volume Problem

[alec1511900]

I recently made an original 80s Rat pedal.  I did not have a switch straight away so I decided to wire up the circuit board without a switch to test it and the circuit worked fine.  A few weeks later I got a 3pdt switch and wired it up.  Being new to 3pdt I wired the led up without a resistor and the led flashed once and then would not work.  I also noticed that the pedal was much, much quieter when engaged than when bypassed.  I then put in a new led, with resistor this time, but the effect was still too quiet, even with volume and gain on full.  This was not a problem before I wired it up with a switch.  Could not using a resistor initially have damaged other components? Does anyone know what could be causing this problem?

[richon]

two things to test:

A) maybe you have the JFET backwards (sometimes it sounds "OK" but won't give you enough signal)

B) maybe you have a bad IC (LM308N)

[PRR]

Wire it again without switch or LED, and see how that is.

[petemoore]

A few weeks later I got a 3pdt switch and wired it up.  Being new to 3pdt I wired the led up without a resistor and the led flashed once and then would not work.
  Assuming the reference is to the 'CLResistor' [current limiting], yepp, running enough current through and LED will make it flash/fry.
  I also noticed that the pedal was much, much quieter when engaged than when bypassed.
  This sounds like a classic debug of the circuit'd be in order, that or switch debugging...either approach will tell more about what n whatnots.
   I then put in a new led, with resistor this time, but the effect was still too quiet, even with volume and gain on full.    The LED indicator is [should be] completely insulated/separate from the audio circuit, the only 'common' between these separate circuits is the mechanical switch throws throw simultaneously.
This was not a problem before I wired it up with a switch. 
  Good enough reason to suspecte the switch wiring/orientation [needs rotated 1/4 turn maybe ?]
  Could not using a resistor initially have damaged other components?
  ASssuming this is the CLResistor, the only other part is the switch and the powersupply and the LED, wired right with no limiting current through the LDR will tend to fry 'em.
  Does anyone know what could be causing this problem?
  Not until we ask and answer some of the right questions, to figure it out read: Debugging sticky thread.