Green Russian big muff clone not quite working

[snow123]

well the collector of q3 is fine but when i probe the base (which is the output of the clipping stage) i get a much quieter signal.

Ok, so if Q3 collector is ok, it looks like the first fuzz stage is good. What about Q2 collector? Does the second stage work too?

btw, im using the layouts part nunbers, so you asked me if the 2nd stage works, when i already verified that it does work, lol.

[Kevin Mitchell]

I praise the patience of others.

Why are you looking for excuses to bypass reasonable advice? Find out what they meant rather than drawing up an argument. ElectricDruid was referring to the schematic and referenced "Q2" and "second fuzz stage" which is the 2nd clipping amplifier or "stage 3" in your own interpretation.

For the love of god check for shorts with the continuity setting on the meter like I had told you before.

[ElectricDruid]

ElectricDruid was referring to the schematic and referenced "Q2" and "second fuzz stage" which is the 2nd clipping amplifier or "stage 3" in your own interpretation.

That's right, I was referring to the schematic.

Ok, So now we've got the terminology sorted out, does Stage 3 work? What can you hear on the collector of that transistor?

[snow123]

ElectricDruid was referring to the schematic and referenced "Q2" and "second fuzz stage" which is the 2nd clipping amplifier or "stage 3" in your own interpretation.

That's right, I was referring to the schematic.

Ok, So now we've got the terminology sorted out, does Stage 3 work? What can you hear on the collector of that transistor?

im getting a relatively low volume signal with no fuzz or anything on the collector on q3.

[snow123]

I praise the patience of others.

Why are you looking for excuses to bypass reasonable advice? Find out what they meant rather than drawing up an argument. ElectricDruid was referring to the schematic and referenced "Q2" and "second fuzz stage" which is the 2nd clipping amplifier or "stage 3" in your own interpretation.

For the love of god check for shorts with the continuity setting on the meter like I had told you before.

i didnt use the DMM, but i did drag a flat head screwdriver in between the tracks and it didnt catch on anything.

[Kevin Mitchell]

i didnt use the DMM, but i did drag a flat head screwdriver in between the tracks and it didnt catch on anything.

That flathead screwdriver must be more reliable than an electronics tool that you so happen to own. Man, I should invest in a flathead screwdriver. Wouldn't life be more simple with a flathead screwdriver!!!

[snow123]

i didnt use the DMM, but i did drag a flat head screwdriver in between the tracks and it didnt catch on anything.

That flathead screwdriver must be more reliable than an electronics tool that you so happen to own. Man, I should invest in a flathead screwdriver. Wouldn't life be more simple with a flathead screwdriver!!!

ok, i just double checked with the DMM and everything is good.

[Kevin Mitchell]

ok, i just double checked with the DMM and everything is good.

Okay! Thank goodness lol. It's always best to check - especially on vero or strip boards projects where more solder is used. Sometimes shorts are so tiny neither your eye or the almighty flathead screwdriver can adequately find it.

But it is evident that there's an issue somewhere near Q3. Keep checking it out and make sure your placement is correct. I'm sure there will be a breakthrough and you'll have a fully functional fuzz pedal soon!

[antonis]

We're waiting for another "No wait.." followed by another "beep fluctuation" followed by another "steady beep after somewhile" style post..

[ElectricDruid]

im getting a relatively low volume signal with no fuzz or anything on the collector on q3.

The others are taking the mickey (not without some justification, given all we've been through) but the general point still stands:

That means there's something wrong with the third stage / second fuzz stage. Since that stage consists of only five resistors, two caps, two diodes and a transistor, you know where the problem must be. It's one of those components (see the schematic):



You need to go over those components very carefully to see that they are properly soldered, soldered in the right place, have the right values, don't have any shorts or muck on their connections, etc etc. Once you've done that, you'll have proper full fuzzy audio on that transistor's collector and we can move onto the tone stage.

If you want a hand, post voltages around the transistor. That should give us a clue.

Sorry if this seems tedious, but there really isn't another way to do it. You fix one thing, then you move onto the next. When you get to the end, everything is fixed and your pedal is working and you drink fizzy wine and celebrate! (or whatever it is you like to do to celebrate)

[snow123]

I HAVE A FUZZY COLLECTOR ON Q3!!

[snow123]

i think the output booster isnt working properly

[andy-h-h]

i think the output booster isnt working properly

Do you have signal on each pin of the tone pot?  You should hear a HPF, LPF, and a mix of the two on pin 2. 

Is the same signal from pin 2 making it to the base of Q4?  I'll let you work out the rest. 

[antonis]

Let's try once more..
(to pony up part of taking the mickey dues..)

Desolder Tone pot lugs and place a 100k to 150k resistor between SW1 wire and Tone 2 one..
(you can even directly short those wires but you'll perceive a big volume raise..)

[Kevin Mitchell]

I HAVE A FUZZY COLLECTOR ON Q3!!

Could you tell us what the problem was?

[snow123]

I HAVE A FUZZY COLLECTOR ON Q3!!

Could you tell us what the problem was?

I had to replace the 12k resistors.

[Kevin Mitchell]

I HAVE A FUZZY COLLECTOR ON Q3!!

Could you tell us what the problem was?

I had to replace the 12k resistors.

That's a weird way to say no.

What was wrong with the 12k resistors? What made you think replacing them would help?
I'd like for you to come up with a conclusion on how replacing them could have fixed the 2nd clipping amplifier (Q3 fuzz)

[antonis]

That's a weird way to say no.

Such a laminar thread should exhibit at least one weird post, shouldn't it..??

[Kevin Mitchell]

Allow me to entertain.

Here's one of your photos from your original post, though mirrored like I had suggested so you can compare against the layout.


Okay let's look in on that 12k resistor near Q3!
Aaaaand enhance



Hmm what's that?
Aaaaaand enhance


Do we need to look closer from here? No but we're here anyways.
ENHANCE


Note - it was where you soldered the jumper in between the 12k resistor and the collector of Q3.
Maybe your screwdriver missed it. But do you know what wouldn't??
drumroll...... a continuity check with your multimeter!

Have a great weekend everybody!!!

[antonis]

Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Not without a flathead screwdriver..

P.S.
Sorry @snow123 but I think you've managed to turn the most well-intenioned guys (like Kevin & Tom) into ironic/sarcastic blackguards..