Fuzz Face sounds...dead

[LucifersTrip]

Just tore it all off the breadboard and redid everything.  Exact same problems.  Excellent voltages, almost no fuzz with the fuzz knob at full.  Back the fuzz knob off from full just slightly and everything gets muted.

did you double-check off-board wiring as suggested:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=93242.msg800788#msg800788

also, a close-up pic might help others spot the problem

[MrTonesNZ]

I think you might be missing a ground somewhere. Look at each grounding point. I rember once i looked over it a hundred times. And kept missing that I hadn't grounded q1s emitter. Also, have you grounded the pots? Try taking the volume pot out of the circuit, and try taking the 1k pot out.

[spargo]

Just tore it all off the breadboard and redid everything.  Exact same problems.  Excellent voltages, almost no fuzz with the fuzz knob at full.  Back the fuzz knob off from full just slightly and everything gets muted.

did you double-check off-board wiring as suggested:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=93242.msg800788#msg800788

also, a close-up pic might help others spot the problem

With the volume and fuzz turned up, the signal sounds very clear, there is just little to no fuzz.  Input/output is connected well and grounded.

I think you might be missing a ground somewhere. Look at each grounding point. I rember once i looked over it a hundred times. And kept missing that I hadn't grounded q1s emitter. Also, have you grounded the pots? Try taking the volume pot out of the circuit, and try taking the 1k pot out.

There are only 4 ground points in the circuit and they are all grounded.  I removed the ground from Q1 and the signal cut completely out.  Removing the ground from the pots only had an effect depending on where they were turned to.

[MrTonesNZ]

Maybe it's the breadboard?

[LucifersTrip]

Just tore it all off the breadboard and redid everything.  Exact same problems.  Excellent voltages, almost no fuzz with the fuzz knob at full.  Back the fuzz knob off from full just slightly and everything gets muted.

did you double-check off-board wiring as suggested:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=93242.msg800788#msg800788

also, a close-up pic might help others spot the problem

With the volume and fuzz turned up, the signal sounds very clear, there is just little to no fuzz.  Input/output is connected well and grounded.

I think you might be missing a ground somewhere. Look at each grounding point. I rember once i looked over it a hundred times. And kept missing that I hadn't grounded q1s emitter. Also, have you grounded the pots? Try taking the volume pot out of the circuit, and try taking the 1k pot out.

There are only 4 ground points in the circuit and they are all grounded.  I removed the ground from Q1 and the signal cut completely out.  Removing the ground from the pots only had an effect depending on where they were turned to.

since you got the correct voltages (you have a good chance of the circuit being wired correctly):

Q1
C: 1.6v
B: .6v
E: 0v

Q2
C: 4.5v
B: 1.6v
E: 1v

...and have the off-board wiring also correct, by process of deduction, what does that leave? You know for a fact that the circuit works just how it is, so you're either missing something you think is correct (close-up pictures will definitely help) or the problem lies outside the circuit and the offboard wiring (bad jack, guitar cable, weird amp problem, etc).

Btw, what's the resistor value on Q2's collector that got you 4.5v?

[spargo]

The trim pot is currently set to 4.64k which is giving me 4.15v.

I just don't see how the problem could be any of those things.  The cables, amp, etc. work fine for everything else.  I can't imagine one of those causing an issue where a distortion pedal is turned clean.  It just does not make sense.  Usually if something is messed up it would cause crackling or hums, not clean things up very nicely.  Something has got to be wrong with the circuit, I just can't figure out what.  The simplicity is killing me.

[LucifersTrip]

The trim pot is currently set to 4.64k which is giving me 4.15v.

that's cool...you don't want to deviate too far from 8.2K

I just don't see how the problem could be any of those things.  The cables, amp, etc. work fine for everything else.  I can't imagine one of those causing an issue where a distortion pedal is turned clean.  It just does not make sense. 

exactly...that's why I think you're missing something that someone here might see in a pic

Did you try different jacks? I've had similar symptoms when the 1/4" female jack is going bad and the guitar plug doesn't make a perfect connection....and did you actually try a variety of transistors?

but again, the pic...don't know why you've haven't posted a nice closeup

[spargo]

Pics as requested...

[LucifersTrip]

Pics as requested...

what transistors did you use...and since you didn't pic the input jack & power, where are they/what colors...input yellow/black? power far right?

[spargo]

Pics as requested...

what transistors did you use...and since you didn't pic the input jack & power, where are they/what colors...input yellow/black? power far right?

You see the I/O as the yellow wires in the second picture.  Input on the left most yellow wire, output on the right bottom yellow wire.  Power and ground are supplied to the power/ground rails on the breadboard and measure +9V.

Q1 is currently a 2N4123 and Q2 a 2N2222A (I've tried lots of variations, that's just what is in there now).

[LucifersTrip]

it looks like the 2.2uf is going to the collector instead of base

[spargo]

it looks like the 2.2uf is going to the collector instead of base

Wow...so, I had redrawn the schematic, and when I did I connected the cap to the collector. So technically, I was building it according to my schematic.    For some reason the first time I built it I put the cap in the "wrong" place according to that schematic but in the right place.  Yeesh...

THANKS so much for the help on such a ridiculous problem! It's fuzzin' up a storm now! 

[LucifersTrip]

it looks like the 2.2uf is going to the collector instead of base

Wow...so, I had redrawn the schematic, and when I did I connected the cap to the collector. So technically, I was building it according to my schematic.    For some reason the first time I built it I put the cap in the "wrong" place according to that schematic but in the right place.  Yeesh...

THANKS so much for the help on such a ridiculous problem! It's fuzzin' up a storm now!  

your welcome!  time to enjoy the fuzz

...and now you know why to post pics right away...and the schematic!