Fuzzface clone problem: too clean

[stevenj]

I am building a Fuzzface clone (http://www.muzique.com/schem/fuzzface3.gif) and I am having an issue with the gain.  The sound coming out of the pedal is too clean.  They only thing that I did differently from the schematic is I used BC109B instead of BC108C.  I assumed that because these two transistors are in the same family, they would operate generally the same.  Could this be the source of my problem?  If it is, what kind of mod can I make to the design to increase the clipping?

[reverberation66]

     I don't think the transistors used are your problem, this should not be a clean sounding circuit with those transistors at all, I would double check all the wiring and transistor orientation before anything else.

[stevenj]

I took everything apart and put it back into the breadboard.  Now I get this horrible popping noise every string pluck.

[Earthscum]

Pin orientation correct? The tab should be closest to the pin that goes to ground.

Other than that, you may pull some voltages and post them up... they actually tell quite a bit about what's going on with a circuit.

[petemoore]

  FF tricks are best sought out after voltage and debug show the signs of an operational circuit, the 2 tranny FB loop FF is full of tricks, but should be able to distort when following Jacks schematic. Both transistors mentiioned are NPN, any two good npn's will work.

[stevenj]

I lent my DMM out to a friend but will check those when I get it back.  How is the 1/4" mono input jack supposed to be connected?  Right now I have the tip connected to the negative side of the capacitor and the battery.  Is this correct?

[smallbearelec]

Since you are doing this on a breadboard, my How-To might help:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/BreadboardSiFF/BreadboardSiFF.htm

The devices you describe will work, though the sound will likely be somewhat harsh because they are high-gain parts. The key is getting every connection right; in the way these things go, if One thing is wrong, nothing works. It's good that you are breadboarding, because mistakes are easier to find and changes are quickly done. Let us know how it goes.

SD

[stevenj]

Thanks for link, I think I did not have the battery connected to the circuit properly however I now have an open somewhere in the circuit and the signal is no longer passing through to the output.  Here are the critical voltages: Q1b = 0.57V ; Q1c = Q2b = 1.32V ; Q2c = 2.91V ; Q2e = 0.73V 

[stevenj]

Ahhh, I got it to work!  Remelted some solder joints and it must have just been a cold one.  Thank you everyone for your help.  Hopefully someday I'll be helping dum dums like myself.