Tonepad MXR noise gate(Callate gate 2) assistance please. Acting funny...

[jaki54321]

Hello everybody. As im sure you have heard before from others, I am having issues with tonepads callate gate 2 pedal. I recently built one and it works. However it does not seem to kick in fast enough, and when I change the pot setting, it seems to make wierd differences in the way that the gate acts. I used 2 2n3904 transistors as well as a 2n5485. The decay is pretty smooth in going down and I am happy for it. But I would like to fix this issue. Can anybody give me some assitance? I am willing to run any tests, take any pictures, or make audio samples as needed.

Also I did hear about a 680-ohm and 1uf pot range fix. I was wondering if anybody knows anything about that. and for the RA value, i used 2M2 because it gives the best level for release. And I am very satisfied with that.

http://tonepad.com/getFileInfo.asp?id=77

thanks guys! 

[elkulon]

I readed somewhere in the web that you have to match the NPNs.
It means that you have to measure the hFE of some of them and get the two closest values and set them in the board...
The ideal value for those is around hFE 150 (I put mine with 152 hFE...).
But somewhere else I readed that the "150" value doesnt matter, just the two NPNs matched.
The closest values, the smoothest decay.....

[Fender3D]

I readed somewhere in the web that you have to match the NPNs. ...

You simply can't match anything, 'cause one is a NPN and the other is a FET...
Either you read wrong or anyone wrote bullsh*t (it wouldn't be the first time...  ).
You'll have to pick and select a working FET, though...
MXR has (had) a 150K as Ra and no attack resistor...
Try with stock values first and check for issues

[elkulon]

one is a NPN and the other is a FET...

Really? Wow!!!! I would bet my life that THERE WERE 2 (TWO) 2N3904...
I never meant to match the JFET with anything...
Check it out:
http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=77

By the way, the first line has been wrote with total sarcasm...

[Govmnt_Lacky]

I see two NPNs 

Might be worth another look. I also had some issues with the Tonepad Callgate. I have read many, many build reports and I believe it just takes some work to get it "right"

Good Luck 

[Fender3D]

...anyone wrote bullsh*t (it wouldn't be the first time...  ).

lol the last famous words...
anyway, matching those NPNs is useless, unless you have time to waste...
Q1 is a buffer, Q2 just discharge the capacitor when you have enough signal.
There's no direct influence each other, unless Q1 doesn't work...
Your concern will be biasing the FET, because you may only guess how MXR did pick it