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Messages - pedalbob

#16
Build Reports / What does the Foxx say ?
February 29, 2024, 07:52:41 PM
Just finished this Wolfshirt ... this thing rocks ... now I know what the Foxx says  ;)
#17
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Solved
February 08, 2024, 11:44:09 PM
Thanks for all the help.  Couldn't be happier with the sound of this ... I'm more of an overdrive guy than a distortion or fuzz guy so this is great. Love the pots for blending the soft and clean clipping compared to selctor switches on most pedals with alternate clipping choices.  Here is the finished pedal :
#18
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 08, 2024, 02:51:28 AM
Brian-

Solved I think ... based on your comments I went back and looked at the trimmer ... the wiper connection looked questionable so I cleaned it up and reflowed.  I'm getting 4.09 volts at pin 3 of the IC1.1 with the trimmer all the way down and the pedal works !  Still a little low at Pin 3 of IC 2 compared to build document (I'm closer to 3 v) but the pedal sounds good and plenty of gain.

Thanks for your coaching on what was giving me funny chip voltages !

Bob
#19
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 11:19:48 PM
Last Pic
#20
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 11:18:37 PM
More pics
#21
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 11:15:59 PM
Here is a picture of top of board.
Hard to get a clean shot at bottom with all the pots ... I bent them up as much I could and took a few side shots but not sure they help. The blob of solder at the front edge of the board is to jumper two of the 1N34's together ... one of the grommet pads pulled out somehow when I was tweaking it and since they are tied together anyway it was easiest just to run the lead over to the other pad ... 

#22
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 06:15:27 PM
Ok here are voltages with the 2 chips pulled :
      IC 1.2        IC2.1        build doc
Pin 1  0.0v          0.0            4.55
Pin 2  0.0            0.0            4.55
Pin 3  0.0            2.3            4.14
Pin 4  0.0            0.0            0.0
Pin 5  4.5            4.6            4.44
Pin 6  0.0            3.5            4.44
Pin 7  0.0            4.3            4.44
Pin 8  9.2            9.1            8.88

I double checked all the component values and they look correct ... I checked most of them with a Peak passive component analyzer before solderingg them ... I'm pretty anal about that too make sure nothing is way out of tolerance.
I also bent back the bigger pots a little and don't see anything funky under the chip sockets. I reflowed a couple of other joints that looked not great thru my magnifying glass.  I really struggled with this board for some reason because the gromments are so small .... I've done hand work on SMD's before  but still struggled with this one for some reason.

No change in output yet.  Photos to follow.
#23
General Questions / Re: Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 02:51:25 AM
OK thanks for the quick reply ... you guys are great ... I'll take some more measurements and take some photos and post tomorrow.  :)
#24
General Questions / Blues King Issue - Help!
February 06, 2024, 12:29:08 AM
Hi-

Just finished building a VFE Blues King.
The Switching Board is working fine (9.03 volts to effect board, bypass on and off fine, LED lights up with Effect on).
The Effect itself sounds very "splatty" and not much gain and volume not consistent.
I checked the voltages at the IC's and they are quite different on a couple pins each compared to reference voltages in build document (see below).  Any thoughts on why Pin 3 would be so low on both ?  I'm guessing that per the schematic Pin 3 of IC2.1 is fed by pin 1 of IC1.1 so the issue is upstream of IC2.1.  Any other reference voltages I can check ?  I'm kind of knew to troubleshooting using the schematic.  Thanks for any suggestions.

        IC 1.2        IC2.1        build doc
Pin 1  8.4v          4.6            4.55
Pin 2  8.4            4.6            4.55
Pin 3  0.8            2.3            4.14
Pin 4  0.0            0.0            0.0
Pin 5  4.5            4.5            4.44
Pin 6  4.5            7.1            4.44
Pin 7  4.5            4.5            4.44
Pin 8  9.1            9.1            8.88
#25
Hi-

I just looked and it appears that Amplified Parts has the values you need (25kB too).
#26
Hi-
Building a Rangemaster with one of the original Rangemaster PCB's (so it doesn't have the charge pump/voltage inverter already on the effect board) and I also have a Road Rage board that I want to use to supply the -9v.

Question 1: I've read thru all of the build documents for both in the Road Rage document  says something like "...when using as a voltage inverter for Positive Ground effetct connect the -9V pad and the "G" pad to the effect board  ... but if it is a fuzz just connect the -9v lead to the effect board".  Does this mean for "non-fuzz" effects I connect the -9v as well as the "G" (ground) from the Road Rage to the Rangemaster Board  but if I was building a Fuzz (like a MAngler or Bumblebee" I don't connect the "G" ground on the Road Rage to anything on the effect board ?

Question 2: Do I do anything differently with the sleeve or sleeve/ring connections on the output and input jacks because of using the RoadRage?  (i.e. what Ground do I connect them to ? on the Rangemster Board or Roadrage Board or it doesn't matter ?)

Thanks for any help.  I've never built a Positive Ground effect before and while I can follow the Rangemaster Diagram if I was just using a battery my head got twisted with the Road Rage instructions.
#27
General Questions / Re: VFE Builds - PCB Eyelet size
January 13, 2024, 02:20:56 AM
Thanks for the tips .... I'll give my other solder tip a try which is slightly larger. My fine one (Weller I think it is 0.4mm) works great for most small stuff but it seems hit or miss on these little eyelets. I think because they are so small it id not transfering enough heat to them quickly. The slightly larger tip should do better if I can keep it away from the adjacent pads.  :)
#28
General Questions / VFE Builds - PCB Eyelet size
January 12, 2024, 11:57:38 PM
Hi All-

Just looking for some friendly (or unfriendly  :) ) advice.  Building my first VFE pedal ... I bought a few circuit boards months ago and finally getting around to it .
Is it me or are the soldering eyelets on these boards extremely small relative to others (I have built pedals and amps from all the usual suspects and consider myself a pretty decent solderer) ??
I have the finest solder tip I can find and the smallest diameter Kester solder and still having trouble getting the solder to make the initial adherence to the eyelet without ending up with a big blob running up the lead.
Getting the knack on all of the resistors but I'm worried I'm heating the leads too long when I get to the other more sensitive components.  I always socket the IC's so not worried about those.
Wondering if anyone has some advice on some other technique.

I also realized I didn't clean the board before I started ... most times I gently wipe down the solder side with some acetone to clean off any contaminants.

Thanks in advance !