Build Your Own Clone Message Board

First off...the 5 knob compressor sounds fantastic! Very transparent....how have I lived so long without one!
Now for the problem...because of the poor fit of the IC into the socket I chased what shouldn't have been a problem...if the chip fit into the socket as it should the compressor would have worked the first time I fired it up. In the end I ended up soldering the chip into the socket...now it works perfectly.

I was never very fond of the socket either. Just seemed to fit better without it.

However, can you elaborate on the problems you had.

The IC socket didn't allow the chip to fit in snugly...it wiggled around and flopped from side to side. I tried using a piece of foam on the back of the bottom-plate to apply downward pressure to keep the chip in however I still had problems..the pedal effect didn't work all the time (the light was on..bypass worked however no effect on the signal). So I got frustrated and soldered the chip into the socket and problem solved. It was like having a size 9 foot in a size 11 shoe...
btw...4 out of 5 of the pots don't turn smoothly either...good thing I don't adjust this alot.

What kind of socket was it? Was it a machine tooled socket or was it one of the ones with the leaf springs? The leaf spring type can take a set so I use the machined spring versions. I've had better luck with those.

You mentioned that 4 out of 5 pots are a bit rough. Is there any possibility that the knobs are set too low and dragging on the nut at the base of the pot? I get that sometimes if I push the knob all the way down on the pot shaft before tightening the screw.

The socket was the one included in the kit, listed as "9 pin strip socket" in the parts list...it's for the BA6110.

As far as the rough potentiometers are concerned...I noticed the problem when I turned them before I installed them.

You didn't have the IC pushed all the way into the strip socket. Once the IC is pushed in all the way the IC will not move.

If the pots are hard to turn it's probably because you have the knobs too low on the pot's shaft. Loosen the knob's set screw and raise the knob a bit and re-tighten the set screw.