Fuzz Face Fuzz Control shorting out

[clydeshere]

Hey guys I'm at a complete loss with this one.
I have built a standard Fuzz Face. Everything works great with just the volume but when I try the Fuzz control it just shorts out the whole circuit and theres no sound at all.

I'm using the circuit thats on almost every website including this one for the standard Fuzz Face. I've checked and replaced every part in this part of the control. This isn't my first pedal build and its way simpler than most pedals I build I'm just building this for a project with some of my students.

Any help would be amazing totally at a loss here. Thanks

[R.G.]

Read and follow "What to do when it doesn't work", making measurements before and after it "shorts out".

[clydeshere]

I love that the general reply at this site is to read that article assuming I haven't already. How is this helpful at all?
Hears a reading for you normal with fuzz circuit out zero when it is in because as I previously said it is shorted out.

http://www.beavisaudio.com/bboard/projects/bbp_FuzzFace_Rev1_1.pdf

i have it breadboarded EXACTLY like this.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I love that the general reply at this site is to read that article assuming I haven't already. How is this helpful at all?

Believe it or not... there IS a good reason why that thread is here. I believe about 95% of the users on here have debugged a circuit or build with it at one time or another. Dont fight it man... besides, READING it is only half the battle. You have to FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS too!

Hears a reading for you normal with fuzz circuit out zero when it is in because as I previously said it is shorted out.

Is this in English? Is this a super secret coded message for another forum member?

http://www.beavisaudio.com/bboard/projects/bbp_FuzzFace_Rev1_1.pdf

i have it breadboarded EXACTLY like this.

Just because it is breadboarded like this DOES NOT mean there can be other problems. Are all the resistors the correct ohmage? Are all the caps correct and oriented correctly? Are you supplying the correct power? In the correct way? Is your breadboard shorted anywhere? Is your off-board wiring correct?

Are you starting to see WHY the Debugging thread is there?

[clydeshere]

WOW so no matter how many times I say this I should just go to the debugging page right?
It is breadboarded EXACTLY as it is there all the caps, resistors, pots and transistors are correct.

How about this has anyone had this happen before? Or does anyone have some help that does't involve telling me to go to a part of the forum I know well.

[clydeshere]

Waiting for the standard go to the debugging page reply lol. I think thats all that some people do all day on this site.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Waiting for the standard go to the debugging page reply lol. I think thats all that some people do all day on this site.

Ok... How about THIS reply...

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DEBUGGING PAGE! 

.... that you apparently know so well.

Dude... I dont know why you are fighting this. Do you not have a DMM? From the way you are talking, you are a seasoned pro at debugging and, if that is the case, why are you posting this in the first place.

No ticky.... No laundry 

[clydeshere]

hey lacky thanks for the complete lack of help I would't be asking this question if i didn't already go through to debugging page.

Since you dont seem to believe this why don't you go type GO TO THE DEBUGGING PAGE on 40 other posts. We really should just make a BOTT that puts this on every post so people like you can spend your time better doing things like cleaning up your room under the bridge outside your mothers house.

[Magnus]

Hello,
some things that are usual mistakes:

- forgotten jumper-wires
- wrong resistor-value(s), read them again with a color-chart
- wrong installed electrolytics (polarity!)
- wrong installed transistors (pinout!)
- signal wired to ground, ground wired to signal on a(the) jack(s)
- switch in wrong direction (use a dmm to test the connections)
- wrong installed wire, no contact on a wire or a shortened connection


Greetings and good luck
Magnus

[nocentelli]

The debugging thread asks you to post voltages: You haven't done this, so either you haven't read it or you're choosing to ignore the advice you have been given. Voltages will help people decipher what the problem might be, so we can help you help yourself.

As for the statement that it is breadboarded exactly as per Beavis: If that was the case, it would work. Clearly you've done something wrong OR you have a defective pot. Voltages will help us track down which of these might be the problem.

[clydeshere]

As I have said I've tried 3 different pots 3 different caps have changed all the wiring. Beleive me I have built 3 of these without the fuzz circuit for students but as I have also said the voltage reading is zero when this is plugged in because the circuit is completely sorted out.

AND as I have said 3 times now all caps, resistors, pots, and transistors are correct.

[GGBB]

Hears a reading for you normal with fuzz circuit out zero when it is in because as I previously said it is shorted out.

Is this in English? Is this a super secret coded message for another forum member?

Forget about the debugging page - I think once we learn the meaning behind the super secret coded message we will be able to tell you exactly what is wrong with your pedal.   

[Govmnt_Lacky]

As I have said I've tried 3 different pots 3 different caps have changed all the wiring.

That is NOT what you have said. THIS is what you said:

I've checked and replaced every part in this part of the control.

Beleive me I have built 3 of these without the fuzz circuit for students but as I have also said the voltage reading is zero when this is plugged in because the circuit is completely sorted out.

You have built something for STUDENTS? I certainly hope that you are in no way a teacher!  With an attitude and temperment like yours, I doubt that you would be able to "teach" anyone! 

AND as I have said 3 times now all caps, resistors, pots, and transistors are correct.

Well Ill be damned... I guess its just BROKE now isn't it. No sense in going any further then. SCRAP IT! 

These are the threads/members that make me hesitate every so often to offer NO help what so ever.

Good Luck GUESSING at your problem with no information or assistance (in the form of actual measured data points) from YOU for others to possibly help 

[clydeshere]

HAHA LACKY THE TROLL. Useless keep typing go to the debugging page making this site useless like all trolls

[Govmnt_Lacky]

We really should just make a BOTT that puts this on every post so people like you can spend your time better doing things like cleaning up your room under the bridge outside your mothers house.

OR better yet....

Building effects pedals that work.  

[nocentelli]

...as I have also said the voltage reading is zero when this is plugged in because the circuit is completely sorted out.

So you've got a reading of 0v at every point on the circuit? Do you have it connected to a power supply?

[aron]

Actually it used to say Check the debugging page BEFORE posting - right on the reply page! :-)
About the only thing I can offer is this:

> but when I try the Fuzz control it just shorts out the whole circuit

OK, so it works when the fuzz control is set lowest? Do you get voltages when the fuzz control is off/lowest/not touched? If that is the case then it would seem like your fuzz control is the component shorting out the circuit. Start by looking there.

[aron]

Oh and from the READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST:

"Remember that the people who frequent this forum do so as a hobby and for fun. "

So even if they post Check the debugging page, they have taken time out to provide help even if it seems completely useless (which you will find is generally not).

[nocentelli]

If it is hooked up EXACTLY like the Beavis breadboard layout, the only issue i can see is that Beavis has hooked up the fuzz pot backwards, i.e. the outer lug connections should be reversed. The circuit will function perfectly well as drawn, the only difference will be that the fuzz pot will operate backwards, i.e. counterclockwise gives more gain instead of the normal clockwise for more gain. I cannot see how a fuzz pot could short the power to the whole circuit if it is connected as per that diagram. You're not connecting the green and blue wires where they cross over on the diagram, are you?

[midwayfair]

Op, post pics and take voltages.

The reason it seems everyone is not being helpful is because you're describing a problem that is uncommon with none of the information that is necessary to debit a circuit. What transistors have you used? Is it an NPN or PNP fuzz face? What is your voltage where the power supply is plugged into the breadboad?

Do you see the problem now?

Also, Govnmt_lucky is a very active member of the community here and helps many people. Calling him a troll when he tells you we need more information to help you is extremely unlikely to get people on your side.

Heck there are some people who won't even take the time to read your thread with no voltages, much less post to tell you to follow the forum rules.