Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hello everyone. I'd be greatly appreciative of any help I can get from the community here as I try to get my classic compressor pedal working. This is my first build and first time soldering anything. Pic attached.

I'm building the Classic Compressor (https://buildyourownclone.com/collectio ... ressor-kit)

I plugged it into the amp, and the guitar played clean with the compressor pedal off; when I pressed the footswitch, the pedal's LED light came on, but the volume through the amp was next to nothing, even after turning the level and comp all the way up and down.

I went over the wiring and realized that I'd soldered the socket of the IC upside down (with the notch facing the footswitch instead of the plugs). I'd installed the chip with the proper orientation in my failed test. I tried inverting the IC and still got no signal.

Here are the DMM readings:

With the IC oriented properly in the inverted socket
Pin 1 0
2 3.65
3 3.65
4 0
5 0.6
6 2/6
7 9
8 0

With the IC oriented inverted in the inverted socket
Pin 1 7.5
2 7.6
3 7.5
4 0
5 5.8
6 2.5
7 9
8 0

I imagine I"ll have to resolder the socket properly. While I'm at it, do you all see anything else that needs adjustment, or does the DMM readings reveal anything else unusual?

Thanks so much,
Evan

Couple things:

1. The orientation of the socket is irrelevant. The orientation of the IC itself is very relevant. It should be installed with the notch/dot facing toward the top regardless of how the socket is installed. Hopefully the chip was not damaged while it was installed backwards.

2. Did you adjust the trimpot as indicated in the instructions?

3. Assuming correct component placement (which I haven't checked yet) and a functioning IC, your symptoms are most likely to be related to poor solder joints, but we can't evaluate that very well without seeing the bottom side of the board. So if #1 and #2 don't get you working, we're going to want to see more photos.

_________________
Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

Thank you! I will reinstall the IC right-side up; I had no luck with any signal from the trimpots, but I will toy with it again, and then prob. have to resolder the board. Photos to come after more tinkering.

Best,
Evan

Here's some guidance for that process: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=52188

BTW, I've moved this thread over to the Compressors sub-forum where it more properly belongs....

_________________
“My favorite programming language is SOLDER” - Bob Pease (RIP)

My Website * My Musical Gear * My DIY Pedals: Pg.1 - Pg.2

Hello!
Another first timer here. I just finished a Silver Pony, it didn't work. LED worked so I knew I had power. Bypass worked because I could get a clean signal to the amp. I checked all my wires and component placements, still nothing. Then I very carefully re-trimmed all my leads and painstakingly re-soldered the board. BINGO!!! Beautiful tone.

Problem was not so much my soldering skills - well a little bit for sure. BUT, I was using a cheap old Radio Shack 25 Watt soldering iron my dad gave me years ago - it sucked. So, I spent about as much as a new Wampler Pedal would cost on a variable temp digital Weller soldering set-up. OMG, don't waste your time with cheap tools.