SOLVED Kliche Mini - Low signal, no distortion

[JDJudd]

Hi gang,

I've got a Kliche mini that ouputs a low signal and doesn't make any distortion.

IC voltages seem fine and the resistor values I've checked are all correct.

Anybody see anything I'm missing?

 

[JDJudd]

the other side ...

 

[Nostradoomus]

Give your board a good wash with a toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol. There may be a few suspect joints in there but it’s hard to tell.

 

[JDJudd]

WRONG CAPACITOR!

Sheesh. 820pf was replaced with 82nf.

 

[JDJudd]

Well ... I thought I had this one figured out. Fixing the wrong capacitor gave me the volume I was looking for, but the gain knob (the dual B100k) still does nothing. With the boneheaded move I already made, I checked all of my components, but can't seem to find anything else out of order.

Do potentiometers ever come d.o.a.?

Any other ideas?

 

[JDJudd]

Could this be it?

The build docs say that R9 should be 2k, but printed on the board it says 51K.

Which should I go with? @Nostradoomus, have you seen misprintings like this before?

 

[Dan0h]

The general rule of thumb is to follow the board. Also what diodes did you use. I’ve found some of the Russian ones have their line on the positive side not the negative you have to use a DMM and test to see which side is which before installing you may have those backwards which I believe has something to do with the distortion. I have fried a dual pot before by overheating but your solder joints look fine and I doubt you fried it.

 

[Dan0h]

Also feel free to compare resistor stripes. For that position. Here is one I did and it sounds life changing good.

 

[Dan0h]

I believe you used the wrong resistor in R9.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

The diodes are wired back-to-back, so as long as you install both "backwards," it works the same as both forwards. I recommend socketing germanium diodes so that a) they are not stressed by the heat of soldering and b) you can try alternate diodes.

Here's a closeup of the diodes in my VFE Merman (same as the Sea Monk), which is a Klon with three extra knobs.

 

[JDJudd]

Thanks guys - it was R9 - I switched it to 2k and the things sings!

Here's another one that I haven't come across yet. The pedal will not pass a signal unless it has power. I'm using the "3PDT Breakout Board for Kliché Overdrive," but I guess that doesn't do true bypass?

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

but I guess that doesn't do true bypass?

That's correct. The Klon and its derivatives are buffered bypass. It can be wired for true bypass, but then it won't be a Klon any more.

 

[JDJudd]

That's correct. The Klon and its derivatives are buffered bypass. It can be wired for true bypass, but then it won't be a Klon any more.

Sweet - I guess I can count this one as DONE!

I would never have figured out that my board had the wrong R9 value printed on it without you guys. Thanks a ton!

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

There is a way to mark this thread as SOLVED. As the originator, you are the only one who can do that.

 

[Robert]

The board you have there is the Kliche Boost (PCB142), not the Kliche Mini (PCB099). That would explain the lack of gain with the values printed on the board.

Nothing to panic over though, the circuits are virtually identical.

 

[JDJudd]

The board you have there is the Kliche Boost (PCB142), not the Kliche Mini (PCB099). That would explain the lack of gain with the values printed on the board.

Nothing to panic over though, the circuits are virtually identical.

View attachment 9045

Sure enough. Wow. I didn't even realize that I had ordered one of those a while ago.

I'll switch out the R11 too!