Hi kids. I have an issue with my Kliché Mini. The gain adjustment does not add a lot of overdrive sound but the pedal is stupid loud. Also, this is the 2nd I've built and the first one works as expected. Everything seems to be in place. I don't see any bleeds or unwanted connections in the solder. Any ideas? Below are pics.
Kliché Mini - Low Gain, Very Loud
- Thread starter jamie j.
- Start date
Chuck D. Bones
Circuit Wizard
Make sure the TREBLE pot body is not contacting anything on the back side of the board.
I don't see any parts out of place. Inspect every solder joint under magnification. Looks like there might be some cold solder joints on the pots.
If you have a DMM, you can check the Ge diodes in-circuit.
I don't see any parts out of place. Inspect every solder joint under magnification. Looks like there might be some cold solder joints on the pots.
If you have a DMM, you can check the Ge diodes in-circuit.
I swapped the 072s out and no difference.
I know the charge pump is good b/c they initially sent me the wrong IC but I had a LT1054 sitting around so I used that. Had this problem. Hoped the 1044 would fix the problem but kinda it wouldn't because those are compatible.
So, I'm generally stumped unless it's a bad dual gang pot.
I know the charge pump is good b/c they initially sent me the wrong IC but I had a LT1054 sitting around so I used that. Had this problem. Hoped the 1044 would fix the problem but kinda it wouldn't because those are compatible.
So, I'm generally stumped unless it's a bad dual gang pot.
Last edited:
Swapped out the dual gang. No difference. Same issue. I'm running out of things to try. I can reflow all the solder but I already do that. When I cut the leads, I flow the solder again (because I think it looks better than the cut lead). So, I'm thinking this will do nothing but I don't have anything left to try. May do that this weekend. I got another pedal to build and have been putting it off dealing with this. I'm gonna build that one then I'll take a look at this one again. I'll post when I'm done.
In the mean time, if anyone has anything else to throw out there, please do.
In the mean time, if anyone has anything else to throw out there, please do.
benny_profane
Well-known member
Have you verified the components? Swapping out parts without reason doesn’t make much sense. Go through the board and verify that the caps/resistors are the correct values.
benny_profane
Well-known member
No one is questioning your ability. Mistakes and issues can happen at any point regardless of the amount of successful builds you've had. Since you've got a control unit, I'd suggest comparing them while using an audio probe. One thing that is sticking out to me is the potential for failure with the Ge diodes. The connection with the body can incur damaging stress when installing them into such a small footprint. Is the GAIN control acting more like a volume control? Is the quality of the distortion the same between the two units? Or, does it seem like you're hearing op-amp clipping with this pedal?
I just wanted it to be clear this isn't my first build and that I have experience in trouble shooting. I've double checked the components and the look for any stray solder connections. I am truly stumped as to what the issue is.
That said, compared to the working one - no, the distortion is not the same. There is way less distortion on the non-working gain pot. It is more like a volume pot. The pedal is stupid louder than the other. I mean, ridiculously loud compared to the working one (which, you know is, loud, but no where neat that loud). If I turn the gain all the way up, I have to turn the volume almost all the way down. I get some distortion, but very light. what I would expect at like 9 o'clock, 10 tops. This is the issue with the pedal.
Like I said, I reflow the solder every time I cut a lead because it just looks neater. That said, I did reflow the solder to the pots (which I don't typically do). I haven't reflowed the IC sockets yet but will start there. Since I don't clip them, I don't tend to reflow them as I go.
I'm trying to give you as much info as I can so you can best help me out. I may try cleaning the board a little better with rubbing alcohol. I did so to begin with but I notice some white smudging in the pics I took.
benny_profane
Well-known member
Okay. It is my guess that that diodes have been damaged. Can you try subbing them and see if that changes anything? The issue isn’t with the solder joint here, it’s that the diode/lead connection itself may have been damaged and resulted in an open connection.
I’m taking your word for it that you’ve verified the correct values. I’m generally skeptical about parts values when it comes to these kits because the incidence rate of incorrect parts is quite high.
I’m taking your word for it that you’ve verified the correct values. I’m generally skeptical about parts values when it comes to these kits because the incidence rate of incorrect parts is quite high.
OK. I have replacement Ge diodes I specifically bought for Klons that I can swap out. But, I took a reading of the diodes on the board and they matched the working pedal - which tells me they are ok. That said, I did it from the top of the board so I'll do it again from the underside and make sure I have the same values.
Also, as far as correct values. I am too meticulous to mess that up. I read every resistor before I put in on the board. Also, if you put something in the wrong spot, something else will no have a spot to go into. I cannot see how you wouldn't catch that. If I put a 1uF cap in a 4.7uF spot, the 4.7 will no longer have a spot on the board. How can you miss that? That said, I did verify all of the caps and they are most def correct. I've even compared them to the working pedal.
swyse
Well-known member
Have you checked for continuity between the diodes and ground and the diodes and S4/R12/C11? I would assume the issue is with the diodes in some way, those are giving you the hard clipping and clamping your signal to ~0.3v or whatever the forward voltage of your specific diodes are before its boosted again by the 27v headroom section of the circuit.
Dirty_Boogie
Well-known member
Any chance you have a bad Volume pot? Had a similar issue with my Kliche Mini, and that was it.
