No Sound... nothing :'(

[steveyraff]

Well, I am sure I am doing something insanely stupid. I've built about 2 or 3 of these units before with absolutely no issues at all.

Yesterday, I built another, and there was absolutely no sound at all. I tried the usual fault finding and was totally stumped. In the end up, out of frustration, I built the entire thing all over again, from scratch, using all new components, taking extra care to be extra meticulous. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK! I've no idea how I am managing this.

For what its worth, there is only one single thing I have used from the previous non-working build; the dual gang potentiometer. It's a frequency control. Surely its not possible that this would cause zero sound? To me it seems more like I am maybe doing a stupid offboard wiring error.

I have the two jack sleeves bridged with a wire going from one to the other, then going to the DC socket ground lug. Then I have the ground going from my circuit to the same DC lug. I then have the 9v going from the circuit to the + D.C lug, which I know works because an LED will go on. Input of circuit going to input jack Tip lug, output goes from Volume 2 lug to Output jack Tip lug, as stated on the layout. Also, socketed all transistors in this rebuild to swap out new ones etc.

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2015/01/hpf-technology-hpf-pre-2.html

Please tell me I am doing something insanely stupid and easy to fix...

[duck_arse]

the led going on only indicates that the led works. we can't say anything about the dumbness of mistakes until you present us with the various voltage reading we allays ask for. no doubt you are certain you have the input plugged into the input socket, and the output taken via the output socket, and not crossed the plugs .....

[steveyraff]

the led going on only indicates that the led works. we can't say anything about the dumbness of mistakes until you present us with the various voltage reading we allays ask for. no doubt you are certain you have the input plugged into the input socket, and the output taken via the output socket, and not crossed the plugs .....

Yep, I know. I checked all the voltages on both builds and they were fine. I just don't have them wrote down and posted here out of frustration. This the second build, using entirely new components. Anyway, I'll write them all down and post them later when I get a chance.

[EBK]

Every single time I've ever had a "No sound... nothing" problem, it has been caused by one of the following:
1.  Input and output instrument cables reversed.
2.  Wall wart not plugged in.
3.  Guitar volume at 0.
4.  Input and output of pedal connected by a single instrument cable.
5. Amp gain/volume at 0.
6. Accidentally using three instrument cables to connect the pedal to my guitar and amp instead of two.

Edit:  I feel slightly embarassed by the length of this list.   

[steveyraff]

Every single time I've ever had a "No sound... nothing" problem, it has been caused by one of the following:
1.  Input and output instrument cables reversed.
2.  Wall wart not plugged in.
3.  Guitar volume at 0.
4.  Input and output of pedal connected by a single instrument cable.
5. Amp gain/volume at 0.
6. Accidentally using three instrument cables to connect the pedal to my guitar and amp instead of two.

I've had pretty much the same experience. No sound is unusual and usually when I do something extra stupid. I've made sure to check for all of the above though. Thanks anyway.

[EBK]

Did you forget to wire up that second toggle?

Also, what's that diagonal piece of wire doing laying across the board?

[steveyraff]

Did you forget to wire up that second toggle?

Nah, thats just an on/off to wire up a Battery snap and LED when I get the flippin' stupid thing working lol

[italianguy63]

Every single time I've ever had a "No sound... nothing" problem, it has been caused by one of the following:
1.  Input and output instrument cables reversed.
2.  Wall wart not plugged in.
3.  Guitar volume at 0.
4.  Input and output of pedal connected by a single instrument cable.
5. Amp gain/volume at 0.
6. Accidentally using three instrument cables to connect the pedal to my guitar and amp instead of two.

Edit:  I feel slightly embarassed by the length of this list.   

Don't forget missing component/IC missing from socket.

[antonis]

Metal can transistors are JFETs, aren't they..??

[steveyraff]

Metal can transistors are JFETs, aren't they..??

It has two 2n4416 N-Channel JFETs and one 2n4403.

[steveyraff]

Every single time I've ever had a "No sound... nothing" problem, it has been caused by one of the following:
1.  Input and output instrument cables reversed.
2.  Wall wart not plugged in.
3.  Guitar volume at 0.
4.  Input and output of pedal connected by a single instrument cable.
5. Amp gain/volume at 0.
6. Accidentally using three instrument cables to connect the pedal to my guitar and amp instead of two.

Edit:  I feel slightly embarassed by the length of this list.   

Don't forget missing component/IC missing from socket.

Triple checked all components and values on both the first build, and the second, including cuts, links, checking for solder bridges etc etc.

[antonis]

It has two 2n4416 N-Channel JFETs and one 2n4403.

Check for firm socketing by pressing/twisting them..

[steveyraff]

It has two 2n4416 N-Channel JFETs and one 2n4403.

Check for firm socketing by pressing/twisting them..

Yep, did that too.

I have came to the conclusion that god hates me.

[italianguy63]

It has two 2n4416 N-Channel JFETs and one 2n4403.

Check for firm socketing by pressing/twisting them..

Yep, did that too.

I have came to the conclusion that god hates me.

Me too sometimes!

[antonis]

I have came to the conclusion that god hates me.

HE must have some good reasons for that..
(the use of 2N4416 and 2N4403 instead of J201 and 2N3906, perhaps..)

[steveyraff]

I have came to the conclusion that god hates me.

HE must have some good reasons for that..
(the use of 2N4416 and 2N4403 instead of J201 and 2N3906, perhaps..)

There was a discussion in the link about those who used J201. One person used them and thought they were good. A few others found them slightly distorted or something. I just stuck with the 2n4416 and the 2n4403 as I've build a few of these units before using those and had no problems. I can't for the life of me figure out why all of a sudden now it will not work, and then will not work a second time in a rebuild using all new components. So strange.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Are you 100% sure that you are using the correct tabs on the In/Out jacks? Wondering if you have the In/Out tabs going to Ground and the Jack's Ground tabs going to circuit In/Out.

[steveyraff]

Are you 100% sure that you are using the correct tabs on the In/Out jacks? Wondering if you have the In/Out tabs going to Ground and the Jack's Ground tabs going to circuit In/Out.

Yep. It would be mental if I made that mistake twice. I've never done that in my life. There's always a first though, so I did check all of that. The sleeves are all hooked up to the ground - the in/outs of the circuit going to the tip tabs on the jacks.

[EBK]

Have you tried an audio probe?

[thermionix]

Bad cable?  Fake JFETs?