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I assume that if there is no little black node on the intersecting lines, it means there is no connection, correct? So like, here, where the intersection happens, it is just that there wasn’t room to draw where it goes without crossing over a line, but those wouldn’t connect.

I’m used to being spoon-fed the transistor part list, but here I have a value range and not sure what it means. I think it means “any transistor with an HFE in this range” but not sure. For example, see Q1 here. I think it wants any transistor (NPN) with an HFE ranging from 140-200. Am I correct?

I’m wondering what the universal color codes are for wiring. Here is what I’ve been using, but wondering if that is confusing for anyone opening up my pedals later. Red: Positive Black: Negative or Ground Green: Ground Yellow: Input Blue: Output White: Jumpers

Is it ok to use heat shrink tubing on electrolytic capacitors or do they need to breathe? Like, does heat need to be able to escape off of the top of them or something? The reasoning for it could range from a preferred look to avoiding a short when bent and touching the underside of the circuit...

I have a 9V battery only (no power jack) on a fuzz circuit. How can I wire a footswitch so that when it is in true bypass, the battery is not draining? (I don’t have a stereo jack.) It has an LED as well. If I use this wiring technique, would the battery keep draining regardless of the switch...

I just finished building a Radium Springs. I noticed there’s not a lot of demos out there for it so I added one. I really enjoyed building it and to me the pedal sounds great! Perfect for what I needed. I had some big ambient reverbs already but wanted something more subtle and ampy for faster...

I have a question about DipTrace. I’m very new to this. How do I ensure nodes intended for grounding get connected to the poured copper ground plane. See video explanation.

Do you prefer lead or lead-free solder? I’ve been using 60/40 for the PCB pads and lead-free for the hardware. (Two separate irons too so they don’t cross-contaminate.) I was at Home Depot getting more of the larger solder and noticed they also had 60/40 lead solder in that size. I wasn’t sure...

I have a fuzz face type of pedal that I build from a schematic using prototype board. I notice when I use one of my power supplies that has only 500mA, I get noise from the pedal’s output. (Almost sounds like night crickets in a forest.) But, when I use my other power supply that has 1700mA, the...

I’m ready to take the next step and start working on building custom PCBs. I’m a tech savvy guy and not worried about the learning curve, so if one is more complex, but better, that is ok with me. My question is, should I get into learning KiCAD or Eagle? Which is better and why? Something I...

I’ve been cleaning scratchy potentiometers with DeoxIt D5. Sometimes it causes a loss in friction and the potentiometer becomes too easy to spin/change. I guess it loses its grease or something, or loosens the grease inside that acts as a mechanical resistance for making the knobs change more...

Do I have the IC chip orientation correct on these? I think I’ve got it right but double-checking before soldering them down because there are seven of them and I’m not using sockets. I always thought the dot aligns with the side containing the arch marking and square pad. However, in this case...

I’m working on an Ocelot which calls for a 2SK30A, but I don’t have any. I have this pack from Amazon (see attached) and I have some 2N5457s and some 2N5458s. Will any of this work as a substitute or should I place an order for the 2SK30As?

I have a question around branding. I made a batch of fuzz pedals to give to some of my guitar playing friends. Several have told me it is their favorite fuzz pedal. It is a Sandspur circuit with a modification in that I brought the internal trim pots out to the front panel and changed the taper...

I realize this is a noob question, but I’m trying to understand something about the audio signal path vs the power signal path. I’ve always thought (before I got into this stuff) that the audio and power path are joined at some point within a circuit. Now I’m not so sure. Things I’ve noticed is...

I’m about to stock up on resistors and wondering the best place to purchase. The reason I ask is they seem way cheaper on Amazon vs Tayda, but I’ve read that Amazon resistors aren’t great. I went to Mouser and that seemed both expensive and limited. Is there a better place I haven’t looked...

When a transistor has a “cut out” look (like this), does it mean it is fake? What I mean is that the edge around the seam looks rough.

I recently purchased some 2N5457s and 2N5458s and am wondering if there are some simple pedal circuit schematics out there that use those transistors. I know the Rat uses it, and I may start there, but am wondering if there is a better or more simple place to start.

Does anyone recognize this diode? (Trying to figure out what it is.)

Which capacitors in the Kliche Mini affect the tone? I know for sure C15 affects tone. Wondering if other caps impact it as well? (btw-The reason I’m asking is because I have the StewMac Ghost Drive with the same diodes and it sounds different. I’m trying to get their sound closer matching by...