Slo Gear almost working !

[Samy]

It´s the first time that i have a pedal not working at 100%, the others were just minor details but nothing serious ...
This pedal it´s almost working, almost because the pots turned at min. there is a a delay and a crescendo in the notes , i believe it´s the Fx working, but when i  tur the pots a little, it´s like a bypass, nothing happens. I´ve turned the trimpot several times, sometimes better others not ! I´ve checked everything and it seems ok .
My build uses k30A fet ( i beleive it´s SK30A), C549B transistors ( i believe they are BC549) and i´ve used a W20K pot on the "attack" and TL061.
I´ve used the topopiccione pcb and schem., my voltages are:
IC:
1- 0V
2- 4.35V
3- 3.78V
4- 0V
5- 0V
6- 4.68V
7- 9.18V
8- 0V

K30A :  D=5.52V , G=2.7V , S=5.52V

Here´s the topopiccione layout with the caps polarity placed by me and other info :


Any tip it´s very very very very welcome !

Thanks.

[Samy]

Any tweaks to improve this ? Pots seems to be almost useless ... after 40% it´s like a bypass, no fx ...
I´ve used a 0.47µF film cap not an electrolytic, that´s not important ... i think !
I´ll try to use matches transistors too see the differences and place here a sound sample.

[Yun]

Do you mean that you're getting no sound, or just that the effect is not what it should be eh?

Make sure that the trasistors are "the right way around".  Meaning: make sure you got the pin-out correct.  Same thing for the IC . 

Also, check and make sure that all your grounds are connected together and grounded properly....

[Yun]

what's the pot values stock-wise, and what pot values are you using?  Are you using linear or audio?  Sometimes linear and audio taper pots can be essential.  But i've never built this circuit, so........

[Samy]

I have sound, i have some effects working but i don´t know if it´s working like it should be. I have one 20KW on the "attack", and a 100KA on the "sens.", my transistors and IC are ok, i´ve already triple checked everything and it seems to be all ok.
Pots seems a little useless if they are turned more than 40%, the effect it´s very audible if the "sens" button it´s turned to the min, it´s a little tricky !
I will post some sounds later this day.

[Yun]

I have sound, i have some effects working but i don´t know if it´s working like it should be. I have one 20KW on the "attack", and a 100KA on the "sens.", my transistors and IC are ok, i´ve already triple checked everything and it seems to be all ok.
Pots seems a little useless if they are turned more than 40%, the effect it´s very audible if the "sens" button it´s turned to the min, it´s a little tricky !
I will post some sounds later this day.

Have you tried 100K Linear eh?  It's worth a try, no?

[Samy]

Here´s the link to hear a sample : http://media.putfile.com/SG1---Test .
I´ve connected the stompbox to my Voodu Valve and then to a PC SBLive soundcard, the quality sucks but you´ll get the point !
I can´t move around the knobs alot, i just wish to have a little more versatility on them to increase or decrease the effect, like this, it´s just a "set and forget" FX ...
The pots are all turned to min. .

[Yun]

Here´s the link to hear a sample : http://media.putfile.com/SG1---Test .
I´ve connected the stompbox to my Voodu Valve and then to a PC SBLive soundcard, the quality sucks but you´ll get the point !
I can´t move around the knobs alot, i just wish to have a little more versatility on them to increase or decrease the effect, like this, it´s just a "set and forget" FX ...
The pots are all turned to min. .

Man, that's strange.  Sounds like you need to lower the value of the pots if that's at minimum.  Try 50K as aposed to 100K .  That should make it a bit more versatile....