Harmonic Percolator- Tagboard.. switch wiring?

Update time!
I put in a new 2N34A and a new 2N3565. I also swapped those large caps for smaller ones.
Good news is it makes sound.. sort of. I am able to hear the guitar coming through but there is a crazy amount of feedback and oscillation. When I flip the switch it just oscillates. No distinguishable notes from the guitar come through. I made sure my pin out was right on the 2N34A and I even tried swapping the 2N3565 and it did the same thing with it in either way.
Could my 2N34A be in the wrong way?

2B352C7E-DCA5-4754-90FC-B6BE72D2B0FA.jpeg 8DC4C216-118C-4CF8-AC07-99F0B6B76204.jpeg 1A984607-0623-4EAE-98CA-5A24DD609D93.jpeg A766305F-EDF9-470D-BEDF-97BE17EB412F.jpeg E96073CF-04D6-4544-B08A-93CD60F54102.jpeg
 
I know that I need to check my voltages. I will report back once I have done so.
The 2N3565 pin out isn't obvious since it is the older style. It's fully round on the top
 
Okay so unless I am not sure if I am testing these correctly. I am taking the ground from the multimeter and touching a ground point and then using the hot to go between the different legs.
These are the results I got-
2N34a
B: .867
C: .8
E: .81

2N3565
E: .87
B: 1.4
C: 5.67

I am not sure what this means, other than those numbers do not match the ones in the chart.
I have double checked all of my resistors and capacitors to make sure they are the right value and in the right spot.

Not sure what's going wrong
 
I am genuinely stumped. I spent last night and some of this morning verifying the board and the wires to make sure everything is going to the right place.
 
Where are you all getting your tag board? I rarely use it (only for BS vintagey looking stuff), but I always used to get it on eBay and the seller I used to buy from disappeared— can’t find anyone else on eBay who doesn’t charge an arm and a leg for shipping to the US
 
Is that rust on top of your 2N404?

Your transistors aren't biasing correctly looking at your voltages, did you try tepee'ing a 67K to the 680K as I said I don't know what effect a 70K difference would have

Take voltage both sides of the 91K resistor, to me albeit I know little about this circuit that's where I'd start your 2N3565 collector voltage is high and may be having a knock on effect driving the 2N404

It could be something as simple as a dodgy solder joint
 
Is that rust on top of your 2N404?

Your transistors aren't biasing correctly looking at your voltages, did you try tepee'ing a 67K to the 680K as I said I don't know what effect a 70K difference would have

Take voltage both sides of the 91K resistor, to me albeit I know little about this circuit that's where I'd start your 2N3565 collector voltage is high and may be having a knock on effect driving the 2N404

It could be something as simple as a dodgy solder joint
Thanks for the input! It is not rust, I think it got a little too close to my iron.
I have a 750k resistor I am going to swap out.
I will also check the voltages on each side of the 91k and see what's up.

To my eyes, my solder joints look good, but I may start checking the wires off board as well.
I appreciate any advice on what I should check.
I want to learn as much as I can so I can be more self sufficient in the future.
I am glad it's a simple circuit
 
It is not rust, I think it got a little too close to my iron.

🙀


tumblr_omixbmBDjs1s46p8ao1_500.gifv


⁉️


EDIT: old gif got scratched, here's a new'n'
 
Last edited:
Again you probably do this but I'm always a bit more careful with germaniums especially expensive one's so I use a croc clip as a heatsink to protect against possible heat damage like this

If you've any other PNP germaniums or lowish hFE PNP silicons like 2N3906 you could try them whilst you wait

20210721_162115.jpg
 
Back
Top