Tube Sound Fuzz/Red Llama [tonepad layout] help need urgently!

[radioheadftw]

I built the tonepad version of the tube sound fuzz by Craig Anderton, and it worked the first time I fired it up. After, I cleaned the enclosure with some water and rubbing alcohol, so it was ready for some powder coating. Next day, when I plug in my brand new Yorkville audio cable to the input jack (I kinda had to push it in with a bit of force), I could very very faintly hear the effect, but no bypass sound. I unplugged everything and switched my new cable to the output of the effect, and my older 16ft cable that always worked for me to my guitar and to input of effect. This time, there was no bypass sound, and a hiss sound when engaged.

Any help would be hugely appreciated! I was planning to use this pedal at a gig today, but I guess I won't be able to.

[plankspank]

Sounds like a broken wire or poor solder joint at the foot switch- you should at least have sound when bypassed. Get a meter and ohm out the connections...

[radioheadftw]

what should I look for on the multimeter?
I was thinking continuity test, I've never trying using ohmage.

[plankspank]

what should I look for on the multimeter?
I was thinking continuity test, I've never trying using ohmage.

Yes, you are basically checking for continuity. with 1 test lead on the tip of the input jack, the other lead to the switch terminal, you should read almost zero ohms. follow through the schematic all the way to the out jack...  check your grounds similarly also...

[Mark Hammer]

"It worked before I boxed it up"

I ought to frame that and stick it up above my workbench.  It happens far too often.

Common sources?

1) Jacks whose lugs short out against the chassis.
2) Pots whose logs short out against the chassis or an adjacent pot
3) Component boards that short out against chassis mount parts, or the chassis itself
4) Assumed ground paths that never quite conduct
5) Jacks whose lugs are not in the order you quite remembered

Check all that stuff and you will have done about 90% of the trouble-shooting.

[snap]

you powdercoated the box after complete assembly?

[radioheadftw]

No, no, it worked inside the box.
I cleaned it for powder coating, but it has not been power coated yet. Only the outside will be coated.
Bypass and effect worked before. Next day, like I said, upon inserting a new cable, all I got was a very very quiet sound, and then nothing on bypass and hiss on effect engaged.

[frankclarke]

How much water did you use?
Unbox it up, perhaps.

[radioheadftw]

Very little. All I did was lightly wash the surface.

Ugh, crap, I think I know what the problem might be. I left the battery connected when I cleansed it, and I might have got some water on the input/output jack. Would that screw anything up?

[radioheadftw]

Sorry for the double post -
problem solved.

Another question arises now,
the gain pot doesn't doo too much, it does drive the gain up, but when gain is off totally with only some volume, there is still distortion. Is this only because its driving my tube amp? Or is it because of using a 100 ohm resistor I put in a 470 Ohm resistor where the +9v trace begins?

(look for the 100 ohm resistor)

And, final question, when volume is at max, theres a ton of noise. Normal?

[shzmm]

hi

i've built this one a number of times.  the issue with the distortion with gain at null, or zero if you like, can be altered by changing
that first input resistor which i believe you have as 100k.  in the epfm book, anderton recommends changing this to "220k or even 470k".
it just depends on your pickups output.   
as for the amount of noise, i haven't ever achieved a completely quiet build either, but then i have to say maxing out the gain is something i rarely if ever have done with this pedal.  it's damned loud! 
enjoy, it's a great sound...

[Fp-www.Tonepad.com]

This should be a perfect beginner project, even if sometimes you need to do a bit of troubleshooting to get it running.