Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hello, this is my first time using a BYOC kit, and I'm sure I just overlooked something simple. I can get Bypass, but no effect. The LED is working fine as well as it should too.

At first after I tried it after I finished the assembly, and I could hear some slight signal, like if I moved the EQ, volume and tone, I could hear through the amp, very very quietly, the signal, it didn't sound like the effect was on as it should have been mind you.

So I kind of looked and browsed through the forum here for ideas before I posted. I double checked wiring, and I made sure the leads were clipped down good and also that all the solder connections were better, right now I don't have the best pair of dykes to clip these down, I will bring some home from work to try it again and re solder alot of those connections (which I hope will probably fix it)

Anyways, I noticed that after I re-soldered some connections, I get no sound at all when the pedal is engaged.

Also I will mention that I am partically color blind, with reds, browns, greens, but my wife helped me make sure on the colors for the transistors, so please look those over, I am going to do the same with my wifes help

Any help, suggestions, etc. Let me know, thanks!

Here are the photos. (if these images aren't good enough let me know and I'll get a better camera)

I'm not an expert by any stretch, but since I just had this same problem this week, I'll pass on the same advice that helped me....

Go over the resisters again very carefully. My problem ended up being the wrong resistor (red and orange stripes look pretty similar). If you can, check it in the sunlight... that's how I finally found my issue.

Also, make sure you have those electrolytic capacitors oriented the correct way.

Your soldering looks ok to me, but like I said, I'm no expert. Good luck!

C1, the blue electrolytic cap, is installed backwards. Not sure that would cause the issue you're seeing, but it should certainly be corrected. The resistors all appear correct, though I can't see R4 or R12 in either of the component-side photos. Did you measure R1 before installing it, to insure that it's the 120 ohm resistor and not the similarly banded 10K?

My guess is that it still comes down to a solder joint issue somewhere, especially because the pedal reacted (though not positively) to your last round of solder joint checks. Good solder joints are generally smooth, shiny and conical in shape, so concentrate on any that don't match that description. Add a bit of solder to any joints that look "thin" or don't completely wet the solder pad. Also, look for and clean up any stray bits of solder, "bridging" between adjacent eyelets not already joined by a trace (don't worry about the pairs of diodes, which are connected at either end), or other possible sources of shorts.

Thanks for your reply and info!

Okay, I will correct the C1, first and foremost. I will also get some other angles pictures of the resistors as well so you can see the ones that were obscured, I noticed that but it was so late and I thought I would get some more snaps of the board today. Also, I can also borrow a multimeter from work to test the R1 as you suggested.

I know my soldering isn't the greatest, and I need some touch ups, and I am definitely of the opinion that if it was slightly working, and then I re-soldered a little and it isn't working now that it is more than likely solder related (as well as seeing other posts, it generally is it seems). I am gonna pick up a solder sucker tool too tonight to clean up any bits like you mentioned, as well as some better snips, and go for it again.

Also thanks wstimson for your advice. I am going to go over the resistors again just to make sure definitely (your right about the lighting, that is half the problem, other than my crazy color blind self haha!)!

Stay tuned for now folks, thank you again for the suggestions/advice

Here are the photos of the other resistors that were obscured

Those look fine. Can you post a shot or two of your footswitch, please?

Also the C1 is put on correctly now, no change, I did a little bit of re-soldering, and I am getting response from twisting the eq, volume, tone and sustain. I know I am close! Gonna check the resistors now.

sure thing, here is the footswitch

I have tried the multimeter on the R1 as well, it looks like when I test the R1, it beeps but I get a zero read out. Is it the 10K possibly?

UPDATE:

Low and behold! Guess what gave me a 120 reading in R2? Well, there ya go, gonna switch those around.

Stay tuned.

After much trial and tribulation, many tears and solder fumes, I've got a Large Beaver functional.

Thanks again for your help and suggestions!!

Awesome, good work!

Just wanted to add for troubleshooting purposes if anyone reads this as an archive. Another thing I had to fix, the wire on the "in" on the PB going from terminal 5 on the FS snapped (probably as I was fixing things etc.), I replaced the wire there, you can see in the image of the foot switch that it clearly is disconnected, that was what got it working in the end.