First time pedal build help!

[TheRockinRoadie]

Hi there,

Im hoping this is the right forum, im not sure where else to post it!

I've just finished building my first pedal, its a basic fuzz face clone, using two BC108 transistors.

I've got two main problems, the first is the severe lack of volume, i have to max my amp right out to be able to hear it at an appropriate level. It also sounds very compressed and bassy.

Secondly, the fuzz control doesnt appear to do anything.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this? Im pretty sure everything is wired up correctly, but apparently this isnt the case.

Any advice will be greatfully aknowledged!

Cheers
-Lorry

 

[bongomania]

Could be anything, really. The solution is to go through the entire circuit, slowly, with a magnifying glass and a DMM, and verify every single component value, every solder connection, the direction of directional components, the pinout and alignment of the chips, and the power levels at all + power connections. Everything, really. The only way to shorten that process is by gaining experience over many builds, so that you start to recognize which types of problems are caused by which types of faults.

 

[TheRockinRoadie]

Okay cheers.

This is my first project at home, but im an electronics student so im pretty up on most things. I didn't expect everything to go right first time, so im impressed i didnt get too many problems. I'll check the schematics and my stripboard layout, and i'll also try resoldering any joints that look abit dry!

Cheers

 

[sonicvi]

Make sure you have your transistor pinouts correct. Posting a photo here might help us help.