Help with Distortion+ Breadboard

[Bensnap]

Just now teaching my self to breadboard from schematic. I've been running into a problem. Just put together a Distortion+. I got the schematic from Dano's site http://www.beavisaudio.com/bboard/projects/bbp_MXRDistortion+.pdf I'm not using his breadboard layout just the schem.

So my problem is when I turn up the volume the gain turns down. So if the volume is wide open it seems to be running a clean signal. I breadboarded a Trotsky with the same results. It sounds good just can't turn the volume up.

Used a RC4558N
P1 6.33
P2 6.39
P3 5.25
P4 .3
P5 1.41
P6 1.11
P7 12.04
P8 12.58

[earthtonesaudio]

Is the volume pot wired backwards?  If you turn it the other way, does gain go up?

[petemoore]

Used a RC4558N
P1 6.33  [output of OA1, at about 1/2v looks good
P2 6.39   -input
P3 5.25     +input, looks reasonable...
P4 .3   [should be grounded, and measure 0.0v from ground.
P5 1.41    [suggest grounding this one
P6 1.11   [and ground this one
P7 12.04  [grounding the two inputs should hold this output at ground.
P8 12.58   [big battery or PS...you used 16v or better capacitors ?
  P7 seems high, but it's not connected to the circuit in the scheme.
  LM741 opamp is what the original [and mine] has, different layout because its a single OA though.

[Bensnap]

Is the volume pot wired backwards?  If you turn it the other way, does gain go up?

When I turn the pot right to turn up the volume the distortion slowly goes down. However once the volume is all the way up and the tone is clean if I turn the gain down there is a drop in volume.

The more I turn down the volume the more distortion comes through.

Used a RC4558N
P1 6.33  [output of OA1, at about 1/2v looks good
P2 6.39   -input
P3 5.25     +input, looks reasonable...
P4 .3   [should be grounded, and measure 0.0v from ground.
P5 1.41    [suggest grounding this one
P6 1.11   [and ground this one
P7 12.04  [grounding the two inputs should hold this output at ground.
P8 12.58   [big battery or PS...you used 16v or better capacitors ?
  P7 seems high, but it's not connected to the circuit in the scheme.
  LM741 opamp is what the original [and mine] has, different layout because its a single OA though.

Grounded all the pins you said. Didn't seem to help. Im using a 9v PS and all my caps are better than 16v.

[Boogdish]

Are you sure you don't have your volume and gain knobs mixed up?

[GibsonGM]

Time to search the forum for "audio probe" )  Check those pots first, though.  It's easy to get a little backwards at times.   Breadboards can get loose, so wiggling parts around sometimes helps, too.  Also be sure no parts are touching and shorting out.

It gets easier as you go along, you'll start to instinctively check certain things when stuff isn't working right. Take it 1 step at a time and you'll get it working!

[oskar]

Well, could it be that you are letting the circuit drive a heavy load?
If you then turn the volume up more signal is shunted through this load and eventually it would get
bellow clipping level...      ?

[Bensnap]

Well, could it be that you are letting the circuit drive a heavy load?
If you then turn the volume up more signal is shunted through this load and eventually it would get
bellow clipping level...      ?

Well I was using a small bass amp because its the only small amp I have and it was sitting nicely on my work bench. Changed over to a guitar amp and it helped a lot. The distortion still drops off a little when turned up all the way. But when its set around unity its sounds nice. Thanks Guys.

[earthtonesaudio]

From your description it seems clear to me that you have your volume and gain knobs backwards, and should switch the wires going to lugs 1 and 3.
Also, you might have the labels for gain and volume switched. 

But the answer to one question could solve this:
What happens when you turn the knobs "down" (or left, or counter clockwise, whatever you want to call it)?  If your knobs work backwards it's highly likely that the control is wired backwards.

[Bensnap]

From your description it seems clear to me that you have your volume and gain knobs backwards, and should switch the wires going to lugs 1 and 3.
Also, you might have the labels for gain and volume switched. 

But the answer to one question could solve this:
What happens when you turn the knobs "down" (or left, or counter clockwise, whatever you want to call it)?  If your knobs work backwards it's highly likely that the control is wired backwards.

Ya, I Have them wired right for sure. Its working now. I think its was that bass amp I was using. Hooked the breadboard to my Blues JR. and its sounds right now.

[earthtonesaudio]

Ah well my mistake.   

Glad to hear it's working for you now.

Cheers!