(Solved) Octa Mayer no bypass signal.. She's a dud

[swelchy]

this build looked clean...took my time soldering.. no idea what went wrong. I have a status led that turns on fine.. no bypass signal... first i changed the input and output jacks from plastic to a normal frame jack. Then I changed the footswitch with a breakout board to another 3pdt switch...still no signal.... Then I reflowed every joint on the board.... still no bypass.. no signs of life when pedal on besides led...

 

[Coda]

Is the jack grounding out against the pots when the cables are inserted?

 

[Robert]

It looks like you had the signal wire on the wrong lug of the original plastic input jack. This would affect the active and bypassed signals.

What @Coda said could definitely be an issue with the metal open frame jacks. This would also affect the active and bypassed signals.

I also don't see the jumper wire across the outer bottom two lugs of the 3PDT, this would affect the bypassed signal only.

 

[Barry]

Can't see the bottom of your switch, I assume you jumpered the two bottom corners
Edit: What he said^

 

[Barry]

Not crazy about those solder blobs around the power and ground connections

 

[swelchy]

It looks like you had the signal wire on the wrong lug of the original plastic input jack. This would affect the active and bypassed signals.

What @Coda said could definitely be an issue with the metal open frame jacks. This would also affect the active and bypassed signals.

I also don't see the jumper wire across the outer bottom two lugs of the 3PDT, this would affect the bypassed signal only.
View attachment 27048

Crap your right… not getting bypass after changing my switch… that’s why… With the other jacks I was getting bypass just not pedal

 

[swelchy]

Is the jack grounding out against the pots when the cables are inserted?

double checked... nope

 

[swelchy]

Not crazy about those solder blobs around the power and ground connections

solder blob is from me reflowing all joints with solder......That blob is from solder wicking from one side to the other.... pre-blob it wasn't working either..

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

First, check to make sure there’s not continuity between the tip of either the input or output jack and ground. Then…
Probe time! Is the signal reaching the input of the footswitch? If so, is it reaching the output of the footswitch (when in bypass)? Go along the audio path of the bypassed signal, from the input, down each step to the output, and find out where you’re losing it.

 

[swelchy]

I've avoided building an audio probe for far too long...lol guess I have no choice... i have a few build that i never got going and just put them in a drawer to sleep until motivated. I guess it's time to bite the bullet.

 

[BryGuy]

A full on probe is great but if you're in a hurry a single capacitor & some wire with alligator clips can do the job.

 

[swelchy]

Gave it shot yesterday totally out of the enclosure..... I have bypass signal.... just nothing when engaged. I do get led light on and off with switch..... I poked around measuring voltages with multimeter like I knew what I was doing... transistors are seeing voltage... some positive.. some negative voltage.. Going to take a shot at building a probe and hook up a little practice amp

 

[Coda]

Your C2 (470p)…is that a polar cap? Also, did you make any transistor substitutions?

 

[swelchy]

Your C2 (470p)…is that a polar cap? Also, did you make any transistor substitutions?

Notta C2 is just standard dipped ceramic non polarized….used transistors called out in build docs

 

[swelchy]

I ordered another board and carefully populated and measured every component.... upon installing the last piece I had an idea... Let me check the bad build and see if I put the right transistors in the right spot.. and duh.. I used all MPSA13 and forgot to use the 2N3906..... swapped it in and tested out of enclosure.. Viola.. it's alive... Boxed it and tested and it's fine..... Definitely not for me and not a fan.. I'm still trying to find a fuzz I love.. so far none have gave me the feels. Now I have two that work..lol