I could really use some help on my EA Trem pedal

[theawkwardkid]

So I've had my pedal built for quite sometime now and my schematic is from GGG. My voltages at my transistors are all IDEAL. like they're exactly what GGG says they should be (of course varying with the charge of the battery), but my problem is I can't get a tremolo sound out of it. All it does is the "Boost" function, which sounds great and all, but not the damn sound I want.  I've checked to make sure I'm not grounding out the part that changes to the boost function (I don't have a toggle switch there at all).  It's driving me insane. It bypasses beautifully and I have access to multimeters, oscilloscopes, whatever. I just need to be pointed in the right direction as to where I should start checking. This is also my first pedal I've tried to build, so yay.

Thanks a bunch in advance!

here's a link to the schematic:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_eat_sc_improved.pdf?phpMyAdmin=4a28f86a515b7883e7bc35a68d4e7b6d&phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

[Govmnt_Lacky]

In situations like this, it is customary to point to the following link:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=29816.0

Read and follow the instructions in this link and you will be on the road to Tremolo heaven 

Good Luck 

[theawkwardkid]

I've done all that though. The question I'm asking is in what part of my tremolo circuit should I be looking if it's doing the boost mode instead of the trem mode.
Like I've stated before, my transistor values are all exactly what they should be, I just feel like I'm grounding something that shouldn't be grounded or a connection isn't made somewhere. I need help with which area I should be looking.

here is a link to the modification page, included on there is the "Boost" mode mod which I don't have.
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_eat_mods.pdf?phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

[petemoore]

  There's a group of caps I made all non-polar for perfboard simplicity, it's easy to get one of these reversed.
  It's a tremolo so there's got to be an LFO, they're trickier than if used to debugging gain stages. IIRC isn't one of the pin voltages supposed to rise and fall [near the grouped caps?] ..what sweeps the LFO ?
  Since it's boosting I guess maybe it's a problem near or at the LFO.
 

[theawkwardkid]

I'm not exactly sure where the LFO is in the circuit though? I've been trying to trace the schematic and just don't quite understand how it does the oscillating. The polarity of my electrolytic capacitors are correct and it shouldn't matter with the film ones. any help?

[petemoore]

  Nope, no help.
  Try again.
  Relax with the blackjuice, then look between where it says depth and speed for the LFO parts.
  Notice the PS does, and the signal doesn't go to any inputs in that area, the whole right section is feeding the Mosfet to alter gain on Q1 it looks like.
  Setting up LFO's: not bad Debuggin' 'em: worse.
  Start at the 68k node, count the number of connections at the node.
  Count the number of connections at that node on your board [1], and verify what part [pot, outside lug] it connects to, test it with the DMM, inspect it with close-in light and magnifying glass.
  Move to node 2, the depth pot wiper, repeat the dogmatic bug finding processes.
  Repeat for node 3, and all the nodes in the LFO.
  Measure every resistor as you go.
  By clipping a black lead to Gnd. the Red lead can meaure 2 solder joints and a 68k resistor at the wiper potlug rivet. Moving red lead to Mosfet [with wiper turned to ground] should read only the 68k's resistance, moving red lead then to above R7, the 47k can be calculated as 68k + ~250k pot + 47k [+ all good solder joints at these nodes].
   The cap then blocks DC into R8/Q2C.
  Some confusion of 2n3904 causes it to oscillate [when everything is right in lower/right portion], has to do with the filling and draining of C5, C6, C7. About all can do here is make sure they're all correct values and no stray connections.
  Get all right and it works, I pulled follicles over the EA a couple times, but it does work when it's all straightened out.

[theawkwardkid]

Beautiful. I'm gonna head to the shop today and give this pedal a good eyeballin'. what a pain in the ass.

I'm also using a point-to-point wiring method which is pretty messy, but I'm just not a big fan of PCBs. too damn fragile.

[theawkwardkid]

I hate to do this to people who are having the same trouble with their EA trem pedal, but mine just started working perfectly out of nowhere by checking connections again.

only problem I'm having is that when I have my guitar volume turned up, it likes to fuzz, but when turned about half way down it sounds immaculate. might just be my cable though.