First vero build - circuit works but output is barely audible.

[zakco]

My first Vero build. It’s the Mind Bender as per this layout:

Mindbender Fuzz - Compact layout

Collection of vero (stripboard) & tagboard layouts for 100s of popular guitar effects, with over 1000 verified designs. DIY your own boutique effects!

tagboardeffects.blogspot.com

The only modification is the trimpot is wired off-board to a regular pot

Voltages at all transistors are good, all controls function as expected but the output is barely audible - probably 30db quieter than it should be, but I can clearly hear that other than the output level, the volume, attack and bias pots are working. The gigantic GT404s make it difficult to see the top layout, but I've taken photos from a few angles, so hopefully everything is visible.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[gonzo]

You can poke around the signal path with a point to a small amp. (Audio probe). That way you'll know where the issue is in the chain. Or you can use the multimeter's continuity beepers and go through each connection. It's less time than hastily building another.

 

[Locrian99]

I saw this comment and assumed that it had been fixed. Also, I tried reversing the cap tonight and got no output at all.

Well maybe, it seems like the wrong orientation to me but wouldnt be the first time I was wrong. Be careful with vero just because things are verified even they aren’t always right. Dirtbox layouts eqd seamachine one of the pots is wrong and does nothing its verified. I know I commented what the fix was and that it wasn’t right. I havent looked in a few years but I know months later it still wasn’t fixed.