This is why I don't trace circuits from photos

[Robert]

Where does the trace coming from the left end of R21 go?

Spoiler

Lug 3 of the 9mm pot, right? Wrong. Look closer.


It doesn't go anywhere. Sneaky joker put a cut in the trace and tried to obscure with the silkscreen.

This was done twice on the PCB, in addition to goop and a handful of "dummy" components just intended to prevent tracing.

 

[Dali]

This was done twice on the PCB, in addition to goop and a handful of "dummy" components just intended to prevent tracing.
[/spoiler]

Wow, "fake parts" seems like another level in "security by obscurity" !

Which in IT, just doesn't work...

 

[Nostradoomus]

 

[Robert]

Which in IT, just doesn't work...

It didn't work in this case either.

 

[Ratimus]

It makes me so happy to know you don't trace from photos! I think all the goop and fakery is so stupid; you have to do it to every single unit, but it only takes 1 patient person with a multimeter and some dental tools to render it pointless! It's an annoyance, not a barrier.

In a former life I used to reverse-engineer obsolete aircraft electronics and create FAA-approved repair procedures for them. I once reversed engineered a power supply that had custom-wound transformers, unmarked components, and 7 different PCBs at various heights, all connected with 42 gauge flying leads and completely encased in hard epoxy. Another time it was a 4" by 7", 14-layer pcb with smd components on both sides. If those can be reverse engineered, you can be damn sure somebody's going to figure out what kind of stuffing is in your "cornish game hen"!

 

[HamishR]

Do you mind telling what the pedal pictured above is?

 

[music6000]

Do you mind telling what the pedal pictured above is?

It looks like a Simple circuit to my eye!

 

[Robert]

And now for the second installment of "This is why I don't trace circuits from photos"...

Here we have a sneaky little decoy transistor, all three pins are grounded, it does nothing but add confusion.

 

[carlinb17]

And now for the second installment of "This is why I don't trace circuits from photos"...

Here we have a sneaky little decoy transistor, all three pins are grounded, it does nothing but add confusion.
View attachment 16463

Maybe its like a spare tire... just in case of an emergency?

 

[JamieJ]

Is that the pedal company that will give you a royal like tone? Some would say king like.

 

[Robert]

Verily.

 

[Robert]

Maybe its like a spare tire... just in case of an emergency?

Could be, but that'd be like putting a spare tire on a set of skis.... There are no other transistors in there.

 

[andare]

Is that the pedal company that will give you a royal like tone? Some would say king like.

The one with a waiting list so long that people forget they were ever on it and then when their turn comes up they ask strangers who know nothing of their music which features to ask for?

 

[Robert]

Not that one, but you're close.

 

[Juhdemuh]

This one adds Power to your Blues!

 

[fig]

That's what I said, booty twaps!

 

[danfrank]

If the manufacturers were really serious they would pack about 4 ozs of C4 in the pedal and finish it off with a tamper switch on the enclosure... An added benefit would be instant stage effects during the show! That would be clever...

 

[uranium_jones]

I can tell it's fake because there's no trim pot to dial in that transistor bias

 

[music6000]

And now for the second installment of "This is why I don't trace circuits from photos"...

Here we have a sneaky little decoy transistor, all three pins are grounded, it does nothing but add confusion.
View attachment 16463

What's the Scoop, is it Transparent?

 

[Feral Feline]

Freq'n idjit's waste of a transistor...

The waste of time, effort and money is stupendous.