Informant overdrive - help with first build

tpmc12

New member
Building an informant overdrive. When testing all the pots behave as expected - distortion/volume make the static louder, turning the cut clockwise increases bass, but no guitar signal is getting through. Footswitch and led function, though it does seem louder switching than any professionally built pedal I’ve bought since 2003.

I’m getting continuity on my meter from all of the grounds. I’m also getting continuity through the tip of the input jack wiring to the “in” joint on , because that was my first and only guess based on the symptoms. Reflowed a few solder joints as well. Also stuck/wedged electrical tape on the pots because why not.

Apologies for the sloppy soldering/wiring. Only other pedal I built was a kit during early COVID.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I should try or test?


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Lets determine if the problem is onboard or offboard...

Insulate the back of the tone pot, electrical tape isn't good enough, if nothing else just temporarily (and gently) bend it forward slightly so it's clearly making no contact with the PCB.

Disconnect the footswitch wiring from the PCB completely

Connect your Input Jack Tip directly to the IN pad

Connect your Output Jack Tip directly to the OUT pad


Test to see if you get a signal now
 
The back of your tone pot is contacting the circuit board and should be insulated with one of those plastic dust caps - electrical tape isn't enough

Lots of messy soldering but it looks like it should function - just pull up the tone pot away from the board and test again
 
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