Need help debugging my second smalley boost

[Hiwatt25]

Hello all, I'm having trouble getting my second Gus Smalley boost working.  I've tried to follow R.G.'s list as best I can.  If there is additional info needed.  I'll be happy to try and provide it.  Thanks in advance.

So, here goes.

1) The project name is Gus Smalleys "NPN Boost".  I'm working on a VERO layout of this circuit as supplied by Dragonfly.

2)Now, I did not follow the layout exactly as you see it there.  I decided to add a second input cap and a switch that would (hopefully) allow me to cut/boost certain frequencies.  That layout looks something like this.  Aside from adding the additional cap, I did not substitue any other components. 

3)This is a negative ground pedal.
4)Here's what's happening.  With the AC adapter plugged in and the pedal bypassed, I hear my guitar loud and clear as I would expect.  However, once I switch from bypass to boost, I get a very large DECREASE in volume.  If I remove the power while in "boost" mode.  The pedal sounds like it is bypassed and my signal returns. 
5)I have not wired this pedal up to use a battery.  The AC adapter I'm using works just fine with my Boss pedals.  Just FYI.
6)There is only one Transistor and the following voltages were taken with the black lead of my multimeter on the chassis and the red lead on the following leads of the tranny.
C=9.76
B=9.67
E=9.67

Here are some pictures in the hopes that they will help. I'm sorry that all the leads are the same color...

[petemoore]

C=9.76
B=9.67
E=9.67
  These voltages are all near V+ Rail, the transistor can't pass signal.
  The emitter is connected through the 5k pot, so you should be able to read between 0k and 5k between emitter and ground, depending on the pot setting...so the emitter should read 0v = Gnd. with the pot adjusted to 0.0 ohms resistance.

[Gilles C]

Did you check also between the board ground and the FET instead?

It looks like the pot or the chassis is not connected to the board ground.

Check with the meter for 0 ohm between the chassis and the board ground.

Gilles

[Hiwatt25]

Ding! Gilles C, you nailed it.  I was sure I checked every connection but for some reason that one escaped me.  What a huge help it is to have a fresh set of eyes.  Thanks so much for the help.  The pedal is up and running and the mod even works too.  Building it was fun but getting running was pretty satisfying too. Thanks a million.