Cobalt Drive doesn't distort

[GS4558]

Volume and tone pot sounds and feels fine, but the drive pot makes the circuit sound strange; no output when set to 0, very loud but barely distorted sound when set to max.

Parts used not as listed on build guide: (Original - My choice)

1N914 - 1N4148
All the 1/8W resistors - 1/4W resistors
TL071 - TL071IP
J201 - MMBFJ201 to through hole by StompBoxParts

 

[Erik S]

Are these two 10k or 1k?

 

[GS4558]

Can confirm, those are definitely 10K's.

 

[Nic]

May not be a problem ... yet. Those looks like near touching

 

[GS4558]

Like you said, not a problem yet, but I’m definitely clipping off those loose ends.

 

[Laundryroom David]

Dual gang insulated?

 

[GS4558]

Yes, even when I make sure absolutely nothing touches the pots, the problem persists.

 

[Coda]

Sounds like something is grounding out. Double check all of your resistor legs (the lean-to ones), and quadruple check the dual-gang...encase it in carbonite if you have too!...

 

[GS4558]

I checked all the resistor legs as far as I can see, and I put on cut-up bottle caps on the dual gang because I don't have anything specifically for it either, still same issue...

 

[jimilee]

Have you reflown everything? I can see through the pads, especially around the diodes.

 

[GS4558]

Have you reflown everything? I can see through the pads, especially around the diodes.

Reflowed everything on the pcb, made sure solder is visible on both sides of the board for all the components I can see, but still sounds the same