What just happened to my Noisy Cricket?

[ayayay!]

Strangest thing.  After about 1 minute, everything starts getting quieter, then everything starts doing this weird "octave down" sound and it becomes completely unplayable.  Battery is fresh @ 9.3v. 

I'm thinking a large cap has died.  Maybe the one for blocking on the DC jack.  Thoughts please?   

http://www.beavisaudio.com/projects/NoisyCricket/MarkII/NoisyCricketMarkII_RadioShack_Rev2.pdf

PS, I'm not using the Radio Shack board so work off the schematic please.  Thanks! 

[kurtlives]

The large cap on the DC jack is to filter the incoming power. If it wasn't working there would just be a bit more noise I imagine. If it failed it would be shorting out to ground... this could be possibly...

Maybe try changing that cap and the cap going to the speaker...?

[ayayay!]

Bump.

Anyone else?  Does this sound like a bad cap?   

[Steben]

has C8 correct polarity?
FET reversed?
Check the connections on the IC too.

[ayayay!]

has C8 correct polarity?
FET reversed?
Check the connections on the IC too.

I'm sorry, I forgot to say this has been working perfectly for the last 2 months.  It just started behaving this way a couple days ago. 

[Steben]

has C8 correct polarity?
FET reversed?
Check the connections on the IC too.

I'm sorry, I forgot to say this has been working perfectly for the last 2 months.  It just started behaving this way a couple days ago. 

Weird,
maybe you should refresh the caps. There are only 2 electrolyts, right?

[dano12]

There is no real protection for the fet at the beginning of that circuit. It's very possible it took a static hit.

A new MPF102 is always the first thing I try. Then the chip.

[Steben]

static hit?
Jfets?

[earthtonesaudio]

That does kind of sound like a bad cap to me.  Did you do a thorough checkup already?  Make sure a spider didn't get in there and short something as its last living action... 

[ayayay!]

...Good thing I socketed the FET.  I'll try it when I get home tonight.

[ayayay!]

A new MPF102 is always the first thing I try.

Ahh, I love sockets!  Nice call Dano!  Fixed.