Germanium Fuzz Face debugging - please help!

[mr.adambeck]

I built a germanium fuzz face using AX31C transistors from small bear.  I used the values they sent me for the resistors and the layout ended up looking like this:



The fuzz doesn't sound right.  It's very low gain on one end, and when I turn the bias the other way it just sounds kind of "farty" for lack of a better term.  It never sounds like the clips I hear of a germanium fuzz.  I've also noticed that the battery seems to get really hot, but maybe that's supposed to happen.

I've triple checked my wiring and checked the layout vs. schematic.  I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.  I don't have a multimeter, so unfortunately I can't send you values or anything, but hopefully someone will know what this could be...

[azrael]

Are you sure you replaced the right resistors? You may have read their positions and used a different schematic than the one they refer to for your fuzz face.

What values did they give you, and what positions did they say they were?

[Joe]

The battery is not supposed to get hot. Are you sure that transistor pinout is correct? Usually the base is in the middle, maybe swap the base/collector leads?

[petemoore]

I've also noticed that the battery seems to get really hot
  This means a shorted power supply, you need to find and eliminate the connection between +/-.

[mr.adambeck]

I've also noticed that the battery seems to get really hot
  This means a shorted power supply, you need to find and eliminate the connection between +/-.

Any tips on how to do this?  Thanks!

[frequencycentral]

Forgive me if this is a daft question, and I know this is a +ve ground pedal, but I don't see a ground on your layout?

[petemoore]

  Unfortunately, shorts only occur in all the places except the places they don't occur.
  That's a lot of places.
  Use the DMM beep mode to determine shorting conditions, a close-in high intensity light and a magnifying glass helps view connections.
  I don't recommend it but sometimes if you can eliminate some variables by lifting a connection somewhere.

[mr.adambeck]

Forgive me if this is a daft question, and I know this is a +ve ground pedal, but I don't see a ground on your layout?

From how I understand it, the ground is the top strip on my layout.  Or am I wrong?  That could be the problem.

[mr.adambeck]

  Unfortunately, shorts only occur in all the places except the places they don't occur.
  That's a lot of places.
  Use the DMM beep mode to determine shorting conditions, a close-in high intensity light and a magnifying glass helps view connections.
  I don't recommend it but sometimes if you can eliminate some variables by lifting a connection somewhere.

Thanks Pete -- I'll just try hunting around the circuit board later today.  Unfortunately I don't own a multimeter, so I can't use a DMM beep mode.

[mr.adambeck]

I had the pinout wrong on the transistors.  Switched the collector and the Emitter and it works.  SOUNDS GREAT!  I'm really really happy with the tone.  My only issue is that I have the bias on a trimpot (which wasn't shown on the layout I put in earlier, but it's on a couple extra strips at the bottom), and I might make it onto a regular pot because I like messing around with the bias to get some dirtier tones  .

I really wish Small Bear would include some info with their transistors, I couldn't find anything about these ones on the web.

Anyways, now I just need to order an enclosure and box it up!  Can't wait until I can incorporate this onto my pedal board!  Since this is Positive Ground, I need to get a separate 9-volt adapter for it, right?  But I can still plug them all into the same power strip?