Trying to switch between output caps, got really loud!

[spargo]

I'm breadboarding an overdrive pedal that I want to use a SPDT switch to go between different EQ (more/less highs).  The default is signal > capacitor > grounded resistor > output.

I installed the switch so it went like this: signal > SPDT input, which switched between: C1 > R1 > ground and C2 > R2 > ground.  Sounded fine.  Then, messing with the resistor values it seemed like that influenced it more than the capacitors, so I had a genius idea to only switch between the grounded resistors, not the cap.  So I did this...

Signal > capacitor > SPDT input, which switched between R1 > ground and R2 > ground.  The result?  Both switch settings seem to sound the same even with different resistor values, but it got REALLY loud all of the sudden.  Why is this?  As a side note, I kind of like it and would be nice to keep the loudness (which doesn't seem to affect tone), while keeping the correct switching between highs/lows for the output.

[blooze_man]

Is the new resistor a higher value? I'm still kindof a noob, but my understanding is if the resistance to ground is raised, then more signal is going to the output

[lerxst88]

like you were switching resistors for a while and didnt hear any difference and then suddenly you got tons more output? I would guess you disconnected the resistors path to ground so you get 100% signal out of the pedal.

You could put a pot at that intersection and have an output volume control!

What pedal is this based off of? there might be a better place to switch cap values for a "high/low" switch

[R.G.]

I installed the switch so it went like this: signal > SPDT input, which switched between: C1 > R1 > ground and C2 > R2 > ground.  Sounded fine.  Then, messing with the resistor values it seemed like that influenced it more than the capacitors, so I had a genius idea to only switch between the grounded resistors, not the cap.  So I did this...

Signal > capacitor > SPDT input, which switched between R1 > ground and R2 > ground.  The result?  Both switch settings seem to sound the same even with different resistor values, but it got REALLY loud all of the sudden.  Why is this?  As a side note, I kind of like it and would be nice to keep the loudness (which doesn't seem to affect tone), while keeping the correct switching between highs/lows for the output.

lerxxt88 is on the right track. By considering only R1/C1 and R2/C2, you are ignoring the effect having both versus only one of them has on the stage driving them. The output impedance of the driving stage matters a lot in many circuits.

How much and what? Have to see the schemo to guess/calculate about that.

[spargo]

This is for a bluesbreaker circuit.  I'm trying to switch between the output resistor and cap.  Like I mentioned, I had it working to my liking but when I tried to only switch resistors and not caps it got a lot louder.  I was wondering how I could have it that loud but still keep the correct switching I previously had.