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
Here are my findings...
Looking at the top of the board calling the diodes left and right:
Ground
Left: cathode has continuity to ground
Right: anode has continuity to ground
S4
No continuity to the diodes
C11
Left: cathode has continuity to C11
Right: anode has continuity to C11
R12
Left: cathode has continuity to R12
Right: anode has continuity to R12
Will do as soon as I can get back to it. I'll post the results here when done. I'm colorblind so let me make sure I'm seeing this right:
Green = Left Ge anode to right Ge cathode to the - power jack (ground, i assume).
Red = the left Ge cathode to right Ge anode to the 1k (R12) resistor to S4.
Orange = 390 cap (C5) to the 1 lug of the dual gang gain pot.
giovanni
Well-known member
Did you audio probe it? Do you have a scope?
benny_profane
Well-known member
Did you try swapping the diodes out? You've just confirmed that the traces are intact. You could even test the diodes by pulling one leg and performing a diode test with the multimeter. They won't test in circuit, though.
I tested for continuity with the MM. I do not own an audio probe. I do own a scope. I’m assuming that since the audio signal does not die that the audio probe/scope won’t tell me much. But I’m not well versed in the scope so my assumption may be incorrect.
giovanni
Well-known member
You may be able to verify the clipping with a scope since the symptoms seem to point to an issue with that. Or better, you can compare the signal at various points in the circuit with your working unit. The scope will tell you a lot. You do need a probe to use it, but that’s a really easy build.
What behaviour are you seeing from the gain control? The gain on this does 2 things. It increases the gain (which should introduce some dirt). It also pans from an all clean signal to an all dirt signal (not that this ever gets really dirty). It is possible therefore to have the dirt part of the circuit working perfectly, but not get any dirty signal if the other half of the gain pot is not working properly
The issue is the gain produces very little overdrive and mostly volume. It does not pan from all clean to all dirty. Turned all the way up, there is a tiny bit of overdrive and a lot of volume. The overdrive is closer to what you'd get at 9 or 10 o'clock. This is the 2nd one I've built and my first works.
Also, I swapped out the gain pot to rule out it was the issue. With the new pot, I have the same issue.
swyse
Well-known member
Looking at the schematic 4.7k would have given you the opposite problem that you have now, that red band on the 47k when compared to the diode and other resistors is surprisingly brown, but anyways...
My last guess is an issue with the switch, I tested this in simulation (albeit without the bypass network) and if S4 stays grounded you just get ridiculous clean signal boosting according to the simulation. Green is signal at grounded diodes, blue is the clean signal from the other branches before it goes into the next gain stage (u3 on my picture) and then red is node Vtone, before the volume control, with the multiple lines representing position of the gain control. So if my simulation is to be believed then maybe check that the switch is switching correctly on the S4 half and if it is then I don't know what else you can do but check continuity with each component in the clipping section and compare voltages with your working unit.
My last guess is an issue with the switch, I tested this in simulation (albeit without the bypass network) and if S4 stays grounded you just get ridiculous clean signal boosting according to the simulation. Green is signal at grounded diodes, blue is the clean signal from the other branches before it goes into the next gain stage (u3 on my picture) and then red is node Vtone, before the volume control, with the multiple lines representing position of the gain control. So if my simulation is to be believed then maybe check that the switch is switching correctly on the S4 half and if it is then I don't know what else you can do but check continuity with each component in the clipping section and compare voltages with your working unit.
Should I check my S4 for continuity with ground? Or, are you saying that the S4 should be disconnect from ground with the foot switch engaged? I can check either. I'd need to know what S4 is connected to on the foot switch but if the trace is on the underside I won't be able to follow it b/c of the switch.
swyse
Well-known member
Yep, that's what I meant, If those are your findings then it sounds like the switch isn't grounding out the clipping signal
