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Problem with Tycobrahe Octavia

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10/5/2000 2:33 AM

Problem with Tycobrahe Octavia

I've built up my first homemade stompbox tonight and it worked...kinda. I first prototyped it on a breadboard and it sounded great! On to the problem...

Upon etching the PCB, soldering the components on, and trying it out (outside an enclosure), there's something wrong with the signal. If I strike the strings hard, I hear the correct tone but it decays rapidly, almost like the volume is being slowly choked off. Sometimes the signal will swell, then decay again; like the volume knob is being turned up and down. If I strike the strings softly, sometimes I get a very weak signal, if at all.

I didn't make the best decisions regarding the design. I didn't socket any of the transistors (MPS-A18, 2N3906) or diodes (1N34A). My soldering job isn't that great so I'm inclined to believe that's the culprit. I would like to know where to start looking for breaks based on the phenomenon I described above.

Thanks in advance!
Alex

10/5/2000 2:38 AM
Alex	Addendum Just a note: When the signal did come through, it sounded just like my prototype. This leads me to believe that there is a leak someplace (transistor or cap), or I'm talking out of my butt. :-D Also, my battery is new (can't overlook the obvious).

10/5/2000 3:32 AM
MikeB	Re: Problem with Tycobrahe Octavia Which PCB layout are you using? There was a minor problem with the one I used - can't remember the site, but it had a layout for the Axis Fuzz and others . MikeB

10/5/2000 12:36 PM
Alex	I used the layout from www.lazyfinger.com (Brad Fajardo). There's no layout there for Axis Fuzz. Also, I did a quick trace on the board and it looks like a sound design. Thanks! Alex

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