Build Your Own Clone Message Board

So I have everything built and it sounds good when it the pcb is out of the enclosure but as soon as I put it back into the enclose it sounded horrible...

Hi, and welcome to the forum. We're here to help!

In order to proceed, we'll need to see photos of your build, both sides of the board and all wiring. Make sure the photos are well-lit, in clear focus, and large enough for us to see all the color bands on your resistors.

While you're at it, a more detailed description of the bad sound you're getting would be very helpful.

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Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

Moving this over to the "Op amp based Distortions, fuzzes and overdrives" sub-forum where it properly belongs.

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

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

!

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Can you describe the horrible sound for us?

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Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

the sound had a lot of static and sounded like mountains crashing...

OK, the most likely problem is something shorting out when you install it in the enclosure. Does the problem happen before you screw the back plate on, or just anytime the PCB is installed?

You can sometimes track down the source by gently wiggling the PCB and various components and seeing if something causes the sound to appear/disappear. Try the cable plugs, the switches, the pots, etc. See if it makes any difference and report back if it does.

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Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

I haven't screwed the back plate on yet. but yes the sound is just when the pub is in.

OK, this is good because it makes it a lot easier to poke around and see if you can get it to go away by wiggling stuff.

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Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

so I tested it out and it seems to be the volume pot and it seems as when pull the actual pot up it seems to get better.

alright I figured it out it was a film capacitor. I wiggled it and everything sounded great. what can I do to make sure that never happens again?

Is the back of the volume pot contacting the solder joints of that capacitor? If so, insulate the back of the pot with electrical tape or slip a piece of a business card in between the pot and the PCB. Or is the problem a poor solder connection on that cap or one of the volume pot legs? In which case, reflow the solder joints on one or the other....or both!!

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

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

nothing is touching so its probably a poor solder joint. I'm very new to soldering so I'm 90% positive thats what it is. But I wiggled it and everything is kosher now!

That won't last--it may be making contact now, but I can all but guarantee the problem will recur unless you reflow the solder joints of that cap.

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

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

sounds good ill resolder that joint!

also one more thing I have the Weller Wlc100 it goes from 1 to 5. what is the best setting to solder these joints?

I'd try it at about halfway and then dial it up bit by bit if that doesn't give you a quick melt of the solder.

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

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