Muffer doesn't boost, just adds some hum

[JebemMajke]

I 've built the muffer from Jack Orman's site ( http://www.muzique.com/schem/muff.gif ) and it doesn't boost or distorts, it adds some hum and that's it. Diodes i used are 1n4148's and bc548b transistor and 250k pot ( didn't have 100k ). Caps are 50v, can that be the issue? Diodes were 0.657 v ( i matched  them, don't know why ), my multimeter didn't show BC548's hfe ( it's a natural thing for my meter ), so that's the information i can not share with you.
Please help.

[LucifersTrip]

I 've built the muffer from Jack Orman's site ( http://www.muzique.com/schem/muff.gif ) and it doesn't boost or distorts, it adds some hum and that's it. Diodes i used are 1n4148's and bc548b transistor and 250k pot ( didn't have 100k ).

you can put a 170K resistor across the pot to make it a 100k...or 200k to make it 111K. It will have a different sweep than a true 100k pot, but will be closer.

Caps are 50v, can that be the issue?

no, as long as the voltage is > what you're supplying it with (9v), you're good.

Diodes were 0.657 v ( i matched  them, don't know why ), my multimeter didn't show BC548's hfe ( it's a natural thing for my meter ), so that's the information i can not share with you.
Please help.

not enough info given...there's nothing you mentioned above that would give you the problem you described (hum & no sound).
I can only say "you wired it wrong...double check everything"

you may get some help if:

[JebemMajke]

But i do get some sound, clean + hum. It's not boosted or distorted, just clean + hum.

q1:
C = 0.2
B = 0
E = 0

D1:
A=0
K= 0.5

D2
A=0.5
K=0

Any thoughts?

[LucifersTrip]

But i do get some sound, clean + hum. It's not boosted or distorted, just clean + hum.

q1:
C = 0.2
B = 0
E = 0

D1:
A=0
K= 0.5

D2
A=0.5
K=0

Any thoughts?

obviously, it is wired wrong, your transistor is dead or oriented incorrectly. Q's v's cannot be basically all 0's for CBE and produce anything.
It is time to check transistor orientation and your general wiring to the schematic. Are you getting a voltage at in the input of the circuit?

Try eliminating the switch to simplify during troubleshooting.

Maybe someone who built this can give the correct voltage readings

[JebemMajke]

All of the "BC" transistors are EBC if they are facing the input. Offcourse it is possible that the transistor is dead.

Could it be that the IC-s are dead as well?

As for the wiring i've followed the schematics, this is not my first build and it's not complicated at all. I've built Beginner Project ( NPN boost ), Fuzz Face ( Npn version ), LPB-1, Screaming Bird, Colorsound One Knob Fuzz ( Amazing pedal ) and some Russian overdrive ( the less said about this one the better ). And I am doing it on cardboard ( schematics drawn on it ) with parts from old VCR's, Radio's and similar, because my budget for this hobby is low as hell. And until i prove to myself that i can nail it ( reading the schematics and making pedals ) i can not allow myself to invest any money into this hobby.

[JebemMajke]

I've changed the transistor, still it doesn't work. Any other advice?

[LucifersTrip]

I've changed the transistor, still it doesn't work. Any other advice?

I gave 3 possibilities: wired wrong, transistor dead, transistor oriented incorrectly. Another possibility is a bad solder joint
and another is a bad component other than the transistor.

The best chances with your symptoms are incorrect wiring or bad solder joint(s).  There are no IC's on the Muffer, just a transistor, caps, resistors & diodes.

Make sure you have continuity on connections, re-check +/- orientation on all caps.  Triple-check your wiring. You need to get reasonable (non zero) voltage readings on Q to go any further. If you still get 0's and components are good, then wiring/soldering is most likely not good...unless the battery is totally dead.

[JebemMajke]

Changed input and output jack's and it works. I guess stereo jack was the problem, since it takes the - from the battery.