Aion Stratus no OD

[pgflores]

So Ive built the Aion Stratus and I'm not getting any drive. The Volume and tone pots work fine and so does the bright switch. I checked the voltages on the Ic and they are within range of what I was told they should be. I tried to disconnect the drive pot and used a resistor to jump and nothing. Im pretty new at this so any help would be much appreciated!

[JackSkellington]

Hi and welcome.

Here we can get the build document: https://aionelectronics.com/project/stratus-ibanez-ts9-od808-tube-screamer/

Ok, it's a bit tricky PCB because it includes a bunch of mods and several version! So it's a bit difficult for us check it fine looking the picture.
Are you including some mods? I see at least two switches. Read well the instructions in case you have missed something, jumpers or extra parts.

[pgflores]

Im trying to do the bright mod, which seems to work, and the stock ts9 and mosfet clipping. For c9 which terminals would i use there are three I am using the +,- and don't think polarity matters here. would you know which components specifically are for the overdrive that i can make sure to check. Thanks alot for your input @jackskellinton

[Ralfg]

So your volume control and tone control are working. When you use gain on does it act like a volume control? Or just does nothing?  Check your C4 and R5 and reflow those. Also try to reflow your clipping diodes.  It looks like you got the bright mod set up right. Maybe reflow your clip switch? Nothing is really standing out from the pictures.. Good luck man, hope you figure it out.

[pgflores]

pulled out c9 and R5 and they are fine threw them back in. I pulled out the drive potentiometer to test it and according to what ive read online its ok. but while it was out I tried it out just for fun and found that the three way drive switch works on the top and bottom position with the mod clipping the center position cuts out. I dont know too much about circuits but isn't that a good indicator that maybe something is shorting out? Also while writing this I noticed c3 is actually 56 nfFinstead of 51 pF could that be it? going to try to find a cap rn.

[Ralfg]

Hmm... center cutting out seems weird. I assume it's an on-off-on switch, so Center is no diode clipping which would lead to op amp clipping but if it cuts out it makes me wonder if your op amp is not working properly. Are you saying it is currently 53n? The schematic says 51p. C3 cuts highs and has a great effect with higher gain settings. If yours is 53n or anything huge like that I would assume you would be cutting a whole bunch of highs I would think it would sound really dark, and maybe there is the problem?

[pgflores]

Thanks for that info!!!! @Ralfg . I pulled C3 out and its working any idea why?

[Ralfg]

My guess is that you were cutting out so many highs that there was nothing left 

Glad you got it working!

[pgflores]

Thanks going to order the right capacitor and a new ton pot because I accidentally cracked the one i have now. One last question tho. When I use the clip switch the center position is loudest with a volume drop on the other two. is that normal? or is there something else I should look for.

[Ralfg]

Thanks going to order the right capacitor and a new ton pot because I accidentally cracked the one i have now. One last question tho. When I use the clip switch the center position is loudest with a volume drop on the other two. is that normal? or is there something else I should look for.

That is normal.  When you are in the center position (off) you are omitting the clipping diodes which clip the signal and make it sound distorted and not as loud.  The different types of clipping diodes will have a different effect on the how the sound is clipped, which will give it a different character.  When you don't use clipping diodes you will probably get op amp clipping at high gain.  Different op amps clip at different levels and sound different when clipped, and some sound (IMHO) horrible while others sound awesome.