Having trouble getting a Si tonebender to work...

[nightendday]

So I've built an Si tonebender using this layout, and I'm getting no fuzz... I get dry signal, and weather the switch is on orr off the volume pot still effects the sound. I checked all the rows, nothing touching that shouldn't be..




And here it is...

[R.G.]

So I've built an Si tonebender using this layout, and I'm getting no fuzz... I get dry signal, and weather the switch is on orr off the volume pot still effects the sound. I checked all the rows, nothing touching that shouldn't be..

This practically screams "wiring problem".

[nightendday]

Problem is within the circuit, for sure, I have it wired as described in that layout, Jacks are fine as going straight input to output gives the signal, it's not making it through the board somewhere..

[R.G.]

OK, second try.

I don't generally trace out vero layouts or PCBs to see if they're right. However, are you *sure* that vero is intended for 2N5088-style (that is, EBC pinout) devices in all three places? I didn't spend the time to be really sure, but it appears to me that Q1 and Q3 have odd connections without taking the time to fully and completely reverse engineer the vero.

Is there a schematic that goes with that?

[artifus]

hard to tell from the photo, but the track cut on row d doesn't look too thorough. do you have a continuity tester to check cuts and for solder bridges you can't see?

*spelligns!*

[nightendday]

OK, second try.

I don't generally trace out vero layouts or PCBs to see if they're right. However, are you *sure* that vero is intended for 2N5088-style (that is, EBC pinout) devices in all three places? I didn't spend the time to be really sure, but it appears to me that Q1 and Q3 have odd connections without taking the time to fully and completely reverse engineer the vero.

Is there a schematic that goes with that?

I've messaged the layout author, but it does seem like it is "supposed" to be that way. atleast he thought so. 

hard to tell from the photo, but the track cut on row d doesn't look to thorough. do you have a continuity tester to check cuts and for solder bridges you can't see?

Didn't even think of that, but no avail, thanks though!

[nightendday]

Voltage:
Q1:
c=8.75
b=0.73
e=0

Q2:
c=9
b=1.66
e=0.73


Q3:
c=4.60
b=0.52
e=0

D1:
A:0
C:0

[Pyr0]

It's hard to tell from the picture, but there should be 9 cuts, I can only see 8, are you sure you cut the track at F4

[pinkjimiphoton]

sounds to me like your footswitch is wired wrong?

the output of the cct is from the wiper of the volume...sounds like you may have reversed the connection between the volume pot and the switch, and the switch and the output.

make sure the output jack's hot connection isn't reversed cuz if the output from the circuit and the output from the switch are reversed, everything would be bollocks'd up like you describe.

voltages look reasonable, at least to me...

[nightendday]

Ok, I rebuilt it, made double sure. Everything is wired 100 correct, and I've built it EXACTLY to the layout. Is this layout goofed and I just wasted my entire day? I omitted any switch at all so that it was always on, so not a switch issue.

[Pyr0]

ok, I just checked over that vero layout, and it will never work.
For starters, C5 should be a 10uF electrolytic, wire the negative end of it to ground.
C4 is normally a 220nF in most tonebenders, so you might want to change that too.
But C3 is probably where your problem really lies, the negative end of it needs to be dropped down 1 row, it should be connected between the +9v and ground, he has it connected between the +9v and the base of Q3.

Before you build any vero layout, always try and find out if it is verified.

good luck.

[R.G.]

I sure thought it looked funny.

[Pyr0]

Yeah I've noticed problems with a few of his layouts.

[nightendday]

ok, I just checked over that vero layout, and it will never work.
For starters, C5 should be a 10uF electrolytic, wire the negative end of it to ground.
C4 is normally a 220nF in most tonebenders, so you might want to change that too.
But C3 is probably where your problem really lies, the negative end of it needs to be dropped down 1 row, it should be connected between the +9v and ground, he has it connected between the +9v and the base of Q3.

Before you build any vero layout, always try and find out if it is verified.

good luck.

Ugh, it just sent sparks from the gain pot.. FML.
First off, THANK YOU. I should have checked that it was verified, that was my own stupidity... But I've made the changes and still nothing. So I might just wait for my vero order to get here and build the hot silicon instead...

[LucifersTrip]

breadboard, tweak, then take voltages, then vero, then take voltages, then box, then take voltages, then play at volume 11