Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hello all. I built the Li’l comp and it works just fine in many positions, but when the sustain knob is turned past 1 or 2 o’clock, it starts gating the sustain.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

It’s hard to tell by the size of your photos but it appears you have several suspect looking solder joints. Lug 1 of the volume pot is one example. If you can still see the solder pad of any solder joints (Q1 for example) I suggest going back and adding a bit more solder so that you cannot see the solder pad. I’m not able to see the sensitivity pot’s soldering well enough to say one way or the other.

Larger photos would be helpful.

_________________
"It’s your soldering."

First, much appreciation for the help and recommendations. The problem is resolved.

I touched up the solder joints that looked a little weak, and the problem persisted.

The solution came by experimenting more with the trim pot. Previously, I had tested the pedal with the trim pot in the two extremes, but what I ended up doing was playing a string quietly enough that it wasn’t opening the gate and while doing so, slowly swept the trim pot until I found the very narrow spot where the playing passed through.

Although this is not how I understood the trim pot was supposed to affect the signal, it has fixed the problem and it sounds good. (Or at least like a dynacomp is supposed to sound).