Troubleshooting first fuzz build

[Mungdunalop]

Hi All,
I recently completed my first very simple fuzz pedal build.
It is constructed on perf board and tested out of the pedal box. All went well.

When I put it in the box, it failed to work.
I suspect that it is to do with the input and output jacks that I used.
One is constructed with plastic and the other with metal.

I am not an electronics expert, but I am guessing that it is something to do with a lack of grounding on the plastic jack.
Would anyone think the same?

I also checked to see if anything else was touching the housing, but there were no contacts - loose wire etc....

Thanks in advance

Vince

[bluebunny]

Welcome, Vince!

Show us some pictures of your build.  We like pictures.   

[Mungdunalop]

Hi Bluebunny,
I think it will be obvious which is the metal jack and which is the black plastic jack.
I hope the picture is adequate.

Not the prettiest solders either....

[feddozz]

Hi,

The first rule of troubleshooting is verifying.

Do you think that the problem is with a connection of the metal jack socket to the box? Verify it!
Get the socket out out and test the circuit. If it works, re-box it and test it. if after the re-box it doesn't work you have isolated the issue.

Jack sockets have their ground lug. If it was working before it means you already grounded the socket. Unless the circuit was functional before you soldered the sockets, I do not think the problem is a lack of grounding.

You might have soldered the socket wrongly, which happens everyone, no matter the level of experience. BTW what fuzz have you built?

Let us know, we'll get this working (in the box too!)!

f

[Mungdunalop]

Thanks for that advice. I will give that a go this weekend.
The circuit came from the follow web site:
http://www.mzentertainment.com/studio_workshop_vintage_fuzz_box.html

I will report back once I have tested and checked the wiring to the jacks

Thanks,

[feddozz]

I saw that the fuzz you built uses PNP trannies.

You may have a point because in this case you open jack socket has the ring connected to the box and in the circuit it is meant to be connected to the positive side of the power supply.  If you made a ground connection to the box elsewhere you found your issue.

[Mungdunalop]

Please let me clarify since I just a layman.
If I were to connect a wire from the box to the negative (), that may identify the problem?

If it is the issue, would it be better to replace the jack with a plastics one?

If the transitor was a NPN, then I would use metal jacks? I am just thinking for future projects so I don't have the same issue.