TS-50 from AionFX passes signal, but NOISY!

[Mr. Strypes]

Alright, my seriously smart friends. I need help. I decided to try something different. This TS-50 pedal from AionFX looks promising and unique. It incorporates three inductors and a DC converter. I finished the build and it passes signal both in bypass and active, but it's NOISY! There's a decent amount of static in bypass, and a ton when active. The static is exacerbated by increasing gain and/or treble.
I tried a different op amp with no success. I checked my solder points for bridges, blobs, and cold joints, and couldn't find any. I reinforced the soldering around the legs of the pots, since I've had that issue a couple of times in the past.
Oh! And the LED only lights dimly. I thought that was strange, for sure. (I thought it might have burned out at one point while I was troubleshooting, so I pulled it, which is why it's not in the pictures.)
Suggestions?

 

[comradehoser]

https://soundcloud.com/ehlabas-ma-chaussure%2Fts-50b-compared

made with an RC-3.
Here the TS-50B is compared with 2 other amazing bass circuits, so we can feel the difference between TS-50B and a famous bass OD (original darkglass BK3, both switches engaged, blend and drive at noon, highs at 2' ) and a bass OD with real tubes (Sushi Box 's Bass Dude).

The TS-50B gain is set on max value (not the other ODs), Mids at 2 o'clock, Bass at mid rotation, Highs around 9'. The clean loop is played with a mediator (first half) and with bare fingers (second half). No compressor, nothing but the bass circuits mentioned.
T50's boost control changes the gain ratio of the first gain stage* and "tweaks slightly" the EQ, according to the instructions.

*i guess it's a TL71, 2nd stage is Q1 MPSA18, and last gain stage is formed by the 6 other 2N3906, the legendary tri-comp network.

Are you still saying it sounds "underwhelming" ? It's not supposed to sound perfect, it's supposed to grind... It probably sounds at its best when connected directly to the speaker, bypassing the preamp section of a bass amplifier. Lot of the sound's texture is also shaped by the speaker, it's not the circuit by itself that only matters.
So it's hard to really know if a circuit sounds good or bad, unless we can experiment with various combinations.

Conclusion : connected to an other activated preamp circuit, the TS-50 may or may not "grind" in a good way, not the most interesting circuit to play with earphones, for example ?

Chapeau!!! Merci Bien

 

[Mr. Strypes]

Chapeau!!! Merci Bien

Bro! That sounds great!
Yeah, I wasn't saying it was "underwhelming". I like the sound of the circuit. My problem is that I have a crazy amount of static noise that's almost as loud as the desired active voice.
Like I said, I'm going to try and work on it tomorrow morning, if time permits.
I appreciate the input! Thanks!

 

[comradehoser]

Bro! That sounds great!
Yeah, I wasn't saying it was "underwhelming". I like the sound of the circuit. My problem is that I have a crazy amount of static noise that's almost as loud as the desired active voice.
Like I said, I'm going to try and work on it tomorrow morning, if time permits.
I appreciate the input! Thanks!

Yeah, I'm sorry. That was me shanghaing your troubleshooting thread for my own ends and nefarious troubleshooting expedition. I should have just pm'ed Monsieur 'Bama directly.

Pretty sure your static crackle issue is due to a bad joint somewhere.

We did get a very nice audio clip out of it though!

 

[comradehoser]

https://soundcloud.com/ehlabas-ma-chaussure%2Fts-50b-compared

made with an RC-3.
Here the TS-50B is compared with 2 other amazing bass circuits, so we can feel the difference between TS-50B and a famous bass OD (original darkglass BK3, both switches engaged, blend and drive at noon, highs at 2' ) and a bass OD with real tubes (Sushi Box 's Bass Dude).

The TS-50B gain is set on max value (not the other ODs), Mids at 2 o'clock, Bass at mid rotation, Highs around 9'. The clean loop is played with a mediator (first half) and with bare fingers (second half). No compressor, nothing but the bass circuits mentioned.
T50's boost control changes the gain ratio of the first gain stage* and "tweaks slightly" the EQ, according to the instructions.

*i guess it's a TL71, 2nd stage is Q1 MPSA18, and last gain stage is formed by the 6 other 2N3906, the legendary tri-comp network.

Are you still saying it sounds "underwhelming" ? It's not supposed to sound perfect, it's supposed to grind... It probably sounds at its best when connected directly to the speaker, bypassing the preamp section of a bass amplifier. Lot of the sound's texture is also shaped by the speaker, it's not the circuit by itself that only matters.
So it's hard to really know if a circuit sounds good or bad, unless we can experiment with various combinations.

Conclusion : connected to an other activated preamp circuit, the TS-50 may or may not "grind" in a good way, not the most interesting circuit to play with earphones, for example ?

It's underwhelming because I WANT the grind. I want those nasal cutting Jesus Lizard tones, and was expecting something at least from that many transistors.

I don't find it has much break up, if any. It's timid/tepid even with super hot pickups (g&l l-2500). Even with everything dimed, we just barely make the other side of clipping. Maybe if I run a boost? But then, what's the point of the preamp.

[Edit: just listened closely to your clip, and my pedal sounds pretty much identical. I should just get a T-shirt printed with a dude shrugging his shoulders that says, "Welp, that's just the way the pedal sounds!"]

 

[Gordo]

I built mine to the TS-25 spec and as I have a real TS-25 with a WGS spreaker I can attest that the pedal sounds bang on. I haven't had a chance to box mine up yet but here's a clip of the real amp with the gain about 1/3 of the way up with the boost on. Recorded thru the phone so take the quality with a grain of salt.

https://soundcloud.com/gordoamps%2Ffriday-at-5-09-pm

Gaining it (the amp or pedal) doesn't get notably noiser. The TS-50 has more clean headroom and a bit more low mid grunt.