NYC Big Muff Problem (with pictures)

[ToneRangerAudio]

Hey everyone.

I've been having some trouble with my NYC Big Muff. I am doing some mods to it, so I replaced the footswitch, new pots, new paint job, etc. I got the main circuit back in and connected properly, but all I'm getting in my amp is a loud buzz. I double checked to make sure I was plugged into the right jacks, cables worked, amp worked, etc., and still a loud buzz. I can hear the affected signal a little bit when I turn all of the knobs up, but can't hear the dry signal when the unit is bypassed. The LED works and the footswitch buzzes when I press it, so I know nothing wrong is there. I just need another pair of eyes to look at the situation. Can anyone tell what's wrong? Are my cables connected properly? Maybe a grounding issue? I installed a new DC jack so maybe the problem is there? I don't have a multimeter so not sure how to test any of that.

Any responses or advice would be helpful! Thanks so much.

[ToneRangerAudio]

Hey everyone.

I've been having some trouble with my NYC Big Muff. I am doing some mods to it, so I replaced the footswitch, new pots, new paint job, etc. I got the main circuit back in and connected properly, but all I'm getting in my amp is a loud buzz. I double checked to make sure I was plugged into the right jacks, cables worked, amp worked, etc., and still a loud buzz. I can hear the affected signal a little bit when I turn all of the knobs up, but can't hear the dry signal when the unit is bypassed. The LED works and the footswitch buzzes when I press it, so I know nothing wrong is there. I just need another pair of eyes to look at the situation. Can anyone tell what's wrong? Are my cables connected properly? Maybe a grounding issue? I installed a new DC jack so maybe the problem is there? I don't have a multimeter so not sure how to test any of that.

Any responses or advice would be helpful! Thanks so much.

Bump!

[r080]

I took a quick look at your other posts, and you seem to have had it working in the past with the new power jack, footswitch, and pots. Was that working in the enclosure or out of the enclosure? Having no bypass signal and only faintly hearing dry signal could be something shorting input to ground.

As near as I can follow it, your footswitch looks like it is wired correctly. That said, the footswitch buzzing when you press it does not necessarily mean everything is right.

Since the LED is working, you are probably getting power from the jack appropriately.

[idy]

Since you are not getting bypass signal, the problem is almost certainly in jacks or footswitch. Make sure the ground of the jacks is going to a part of the PCB that connects to ground and the tips are going...somewhere else.

Always good to test a thing before soldering in the footswitch. If it buzzes when touched, that implies something hinky with ground/signal designation.

[r080]

It really is worth getting a multimeter for troubleshooting things like this. In the US, you should be able to find one under $20 a continuity tester.

Example:

https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Digital-Multimeter-Voltage-Tester/dp/B01ISAMUA6/

[idy]

Yes yes, can't afford not to have meter. Can be had cheap. Just the continuity tester would enable you to confirm many things.... like are the jack tips going through to correct pins of footswitch. Much better than "eagle eyes!"

[ToneRangerAudio]

I took a quick look at your other posts, and you seem to have had it working in the past with the new power jack, footswitch, and pots. Was that working in the enclosure or out of the enclosure? Having no bypass signal and only faintly hearing dry signal could be something shorting input to ground.

As near as I can follow it, your footswitch looks like it is wired correctly. That said, the footswitch buzzing when you press it does not necessarily mean everything is right.

Since the LED is working, you are probably getting power from the jack appropriately.

Well it was working before I did anything to the pedal, as it should. I'm wondering if it is a ground issue. I don't know where it could be wrong because I touched up all of my solder joints and such. It's a mystery!

[ToneRangerAudio]

Since you are not getting bypass signal, the problem is almost certainly in jacks or footswitch. Make sure the ground of the jacks is going to a part of the PCB that connects to ground and the tips are going...somewhere else.

Always good to test a thing before soldering in the footswitch. If it buzzes when touched, that implies something hinky with ground/signal designation.

Gotcha! I did paint the outside of the enclosure. Are Big Muffs grounded to the enclosure, where as if I painted it, it would mess it up?

[ToneRangerAudio]

Maybe I should wire up the old power jack and see if it's a grounding issue with the power possible?

Edit: When I tap the casing, it hums. Grounding problem?

[idy]

Almost all effects ground the enclosure through the sleeves of the jacks. Jacks screwed to enclosure, enclosure is grounded. The effect of bad connection there would be no more than just using an effect outside the box. A little more hum but not no sound on bypass... unless you had a real old-school bit of box-making where there is not wire attached to one of the jack sleeves, and the only way the output gets its ground is through the box. You have two wires on each jack, this is not likely what you are experiencing.

What we are trying to say, and why we are recommending a meter, is that your problem could be:

confusion as to what is ground on the PCB
A bad solder connection to a wire on PCB or switch
A mistaken wiring of switch. We aren't all sure what those wires coming off the PCB   really are.
A destroyed switch from solder heat
And when you say you did some mods, replaced this and that... very hard to be sure every mod was correct ( I see some of those you haven't finished yet, two new stomp switches not yet wired) and all solder joints good. YOU CAN'T TELL A GOOD SOLDER JOINT BY LOOKING! But a meter will sometimes help.

If the LED is working and you hear some kind of distorted sound (although weak, like a bad connection) the problem is not likely the DC jack. Having a meter would absolutely eliminate that possibility (or immediately confirm it.) Tearing random things up and replacing them is just likely to create more trouble!

[ToneRangerAudio]

Almost all effects ground the enclosure through the sleeves of the jacks. Jacks screwed to enclosure, enclosure is grounded. The effect of bad connection there would be no more than just using an effect outside the box. A little more hum but not no sound on bypass... unless you had a real old-school bit of box-making where there is not wire attached to one of the jack sleeves, and the only way the output gets its ground is through the box. You have two wires on each jack, this is not likely what you are experiencing.

What we are trying to say, and why we are recommending a meter, is that your problem could be:

confusion as to what is ground on the PCB
A bad solder connection to a wire on PCB or switch
A mistaken wiring of switch. We aren't all sure what those wires coming off the PCB   really are.
A destroyed switch from solder heat
And when you say you did some mods, replaced this and that... very hard to be sure every mod was correct ( I see some of those you haven't finished yet, two new stomp switches not yet wired) and all solder joints good. YOU CAN'T TELL A GOOD SOLDER JOINT BY LOOKING! But a meter will sometimes help.

If the LED is working and you hear some kind of distorted sound (although weak, like a bad connection) the problem is not likely the DC jack. Having a meter would absolutely eliminate that possibility (or immediately confirm it.) Tearing random things up and replacing them is just likely to create more trouble!

For sure!

I have pictures of the original circuit before I put the new jacks in, so I know for a fact those are wired correctly, from the pictures and my basic understanding of electronics.

As far as the mods I've done so far, I only removed diodes 1 & 2, which is a very common mod for the Big Muff. So not worried too much there.

I'll try to find a multi meter tomorrow and test everything out!