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Would a testing rig include the bypass switch?

Thanks guys, I had thought of the transistor and tried that with no change. I see it's almost as easy as builds get, but what confounds me is that I've failed twice. For caps 1 and 4 I uses the topmay box type and put them in the middle two of the four pads on each side...this seemed to make sense based on the diagram in the plans which illustrates bigger caps. But I do have to figure a way to make a test setup...

But it's the second one that I've built and this IS with the Mad Bean idea...plus Brian told me at one point that the Tone pad method would work for most. As far as the breadboard, I'm guessing you mean a permanent testing setup? No, I haven't tried that. I've wired 40 successful pedals though, so usually I do get the wiring right. I've also never had  volume issues that were related to the off board wiring. Have you guys seen that?

I've just finished my second failed Thunderpuss. The first one I used the Tone pad easy wiring diagram, and only got sound in bypass. I'm pretty sure I should be able to use that right? Anyway, the second one I followed the given off board wiring. I get sound when not bypassed, but it is just edgier and has less punch. Anybody know of a particular component that could be most attributed to the lack in boost? Again, it does change the color of the sound, but doesn't increase volume. I've put together harder pedals, so I don't know what the problem is, as I was very careful having failed on the first one. The only thing I did that might matter (but I doubt it) was to use a silver mica cap for the 47pf (C2). Any ideas? Thanks...

Thanks a lot! One last question...I'm guessing that diagram is no good for things like the Sunking right...since that has the resistors on the switch?

I notice in the plans for the Aquaboy there's no switch wiring diagram. Is it the same as anything else on here, or can I use the easy Tonepad method? I tried the latter on the Thunderpuss, and it didn't work, though I don't know if that was the problem. Thanks

I am reasonably new to electronics and building pedals, but I learned a LOT from Brian Wampler's book "How to build effect pedals"  Great and comprehensive guide to the meat and veges of pedal building.  He has 2 other books as well for the more advanced.

http://www.indy-guitarist.com/diy
If your gonna buy one make sure you sign up for the discount here first
http://www.indyguitarist.com/free/

If you have a few builds done I wouldn't recommend these books.  I bought the beginners one and the advanced one for the discounted price (thankfully).  While they are ok they really don't tell you "how things work"  I kinda feel like I wasted my money here and much more free info can be found on the internet.

I'm inclined to agree with that. I think the "how to build effects pedals" book is a decent reference, but leaves more questions than answers. It seems to suppose an intuition or prerequisite knowledge that beginners don't have, in its brief coverage of certain things. When I tried to do one of the vero projects, the "smooth overdrive", I did the build twice with all different but identical components. There's something missing or lost in the translation - info about grounding or something, because they both howl and oscillate like crazy, in the same way. This is whether or not it was hooked up to a switch. Hours of experimentation and troubleshooting led me to trying to get tech support, which they make a daunting procedure. They told me this was a topic for the forum, so that is where I posted it at least a month ago and have still been ignored to this day by anyone on there, except for one well intended but irrelevant comment. There's tons of info online, and just spending time on these forums helps you stumble on to knowledge.

Got 'em, but it did say they were no longer in production, so people should jump on them now!

I did a search at Small Bear and there was nothing I could find, but maybe it's sensitive to the "n" vs. the "u". Thanks, I'll check back.

For the Aquaboy I'm unable to find a 39n for capacitor 26 - which I'm aware is the same as .039u. Small Bear turns up nothing, same with Pedal Parts Plus. Mouser, of course, has around 80 billion, but very few low voltage, and mostly if not all out of stock, and something like 32 or 36 weeks before they're expecting any (?!!?) more. So I need a workaround. any suggestions? Thank you, Matt.

Thanks Steve!

As I'm looking to fill my BOM for the King of Klones, I'm having no luck coming up with an ma856 or the 1S1588. Anybody got a line on these, or a substitution? I forgot which, but I think it was the 1S1588 that came up as obsolete at Mouser. But it sounds like some people on here have found one. Any ideas?

Thanks very much Jacob, and since Brain sent me a Road Rage as a bonus with something else, I'll give it a shot. Thanks again, Matt

I notice in the Madbean Rangemaster project that there's no indication in the plans to use the DC adaptor, but rather just the battery. Is this an effect that is better with just a battery? I haven't built any +ground effects yet, but for my last 12 or so builds I've skipped the battery. Just wondering; if I have to use a battery I will. Still a bit confused about the positive ground also...

Also it should be mentioned that if I turn my guitar all the way up the hiss gets noticeably louder, as well as if I turn it all the way down with no guitar sound . These are sudden level changes. I guess I'm partially wondering whether or not I want to build other versions of this if my observations are in any way standard i.e., I've heard Rangemasters are notoriously noisy!

That could vary; on a smaller board (I'm talking Pedaltrain mini) I was thinking of the 1spot. On the next size up it would be the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 plus. If not on a board it would be the 1spot. I've got the noisy PedalPad version that has drawn raised eyebrows for being a PNP transistor with negative grounding. Also curious if you think that, maybe in conjunction with the 1spot could be a problem. In case someone might think I misconstrued something here (regarding PNP/-ground), you can see it in the plans:

http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=83

I just tried a T-Rex Fuel Tank Jr. and the noise is the same as the 1spot. Do you think there is any kind of general rule that would determine that the battery would be less noisy? I've stopped putting batteries in my pedals...do you think it's worthwhile to throw one in? Maybe it's just not the best pedal for a pedal board.