circuit requiring hitting to work

[duck_arse]

all [nearly - check your datasheet per type number] of the BCxxx series come in four varieties - let's say the 548 for argument.

you can have BC548, BC548A, BC548B, BC548C. the A, B, C are sorted for hFE, A being lowest, C being highest. no suffix means they are the exact same parts, but unsorted, so you might get 150 hFE, you might get 530 hFE.

and there is the dreaded l suffix [usually also has a no-suffix, standard pinout variant], which means the base pin is on one end, instead of the middle.

another generally rule is - the lower number of a set - ie BC557, BC558, BC559 - will be a higher voltage part, and the higher number in that series will be the lowest noise and slightly lower voltage figures.

AND - don't get caught by the BC639/640 pair, which are meant as drivers for power transistors - they have the end base pinout - no variants. so really, the only general rule that is any good -

ALWAYS check your datasheet.

[11-90-an]

and there is the dreaded l suffix [usually also has a no-suffix, standard pinout variant], which means the base pin is on one end, instead of the middle.

that sounds bad...

thanks for all the help, random pro people! this forum is much more useful than expected haha

[Phend]

Some times "stomp box" must be taken literally.

[amptramp]

From your schematic, I would put the protection diode in the positive supply line rather than the ground line because everything including signal is referenced to ground including any other pedals you have plugged in either ahead of it or downstream of it.  Of course, the diode would be facing the other way on the positive rail.