Aion Solaris Kit No Effect

[joelorigo]

This is my first project in 9 months because of a busy work schedule, and then having knee surgery as a result of getting hit by a car while walking in a crosswalk! Well now I am out of work and on disability and was able to have some time to start this. And what was supposed to be a simple build doesn’t work!

This is Aion's deluxe GE Fuzz Face. Before plugging it in I was getting higher numbers when trying to bias that the build docs listed, even with the trimmers fully CW. So I decided to plug it in and see what it sounded like.

Getting signal in bypass but nothing when engaged. LED does light up.

I inspected the PCBs with a magnifying glass and don't see any bridges or anything weird.
The continuity on the switch is good (continuity on bottom & middle row when off, and continuity on top & middle row when on).

IC measurements are:
1 9.05
2 4.82
3 0
4 -4.13
5 -8.91
6 2.53
7 1.41
8 9.05

Any thoughts?

 

[hamerfan]

What are you BARTs? MP21?

 

[neiltheseal]

are you sure those transistors have the right Pinout?

The Russian ones I have used have a different Pinout to what is on that board. What’s the model number?

 

[aion]

Any thoughts?

I try to avoid sockets for transistors, even germaniums. With IC sockets, you have the outward pressure of each parallel side pressing evenly against each row of sockets, which keeps them seated securely, but transistors don't have that advantage and can very easily come loose. I would try soldering them into the sockets unless you're 100% certain of the mechanical integrity.

Beyond that, next step would be to use a signal probe to try to figure out where the signal stops. Does it happen when the pickup sim is off?

are you sure those transistors have the right Pinout?

The Russian ones I have used have a different Pinout to what is on that board. What’s the model number?

IIRC it's only the GT series with the 3-in-line pins that have the odd pinouts. The MP ones (triangular pin layout) are the same as the standard germaniums like AC128. We only use the MPs in our kits, but the exact type varies. So as long as he's using the ones that came with the kit, the pinout should be fine.

 

[joelorigo]

I ended up taking another look with the magnifying glass and found a couple of solder points that potentially were problematic, so I reflowed them, and with the circuit still out of the enclosure, plugged it in. It was getting a signal. Then it went back and forth between signal and no signal with the jostling around and biasing by ear. So when it was on a working spell, I put it back in the enclosure and it's working.

So I am going to assume it actually was a poor solder joint, or perhaps the fact that the transistors are in sockets. And my by ear biasing were just about to where the number targets in the build docs.

I am going to compare it to my Sunflower build, which has been my favorite sounding Fuzz Face since I built it, and see how I like it. If it achieves what I want, which is a similar sound as the Sunflower, I will probably solder in the transistors as suggested. I decided to do this Aion kit as a way to get a good sounding Fuzz Face with the added flexibility. I had the Fulltone 69 but didn't like the sound as much as my Sunflower. I also have a CMC copy of the Sun Lion but also prefer the sound of my Sunflower.

Anyway, thanks for the replies!