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Mine arrived today (Thanks Eric!) and I have a quesiton before I start (which I can't do until tomorrow at earliest as i'm going to need a soldering iron with a much finer tip then I currently have).

Ok so my question is regarding adding a switch can I build the kit first and add a switch later if I want to or do I need to get a switch first and then build it?

Also, my kit didn't come with a battery clip but I'm pretty sure I should be able to pick one up tomorrow when I grab a new soldering iron.

You can build it as is, and if you want to wire it up to a switch later it shouldnt be too much trouble.

sorry about the missing battery clip! i can definitely send you one asap if you like, but if you are itching to build it you'll probbably get one much faster by snagging one when you get an iron. they are pretty cheap

No probs Eric, don't worry about sending a clip it'll cost you more than it's worth to post it and I want to have a crack at building it tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to pick one up when I grab the new iron.

Aagh! I tried to build my kit using the iron I have (cos I'm impatient!) and a batt clip 'donated' by a FAB Overdrive and I have managed to botch it! (probably between the wrong sized iron tip and my clumsy soldering!) I'm pretty sure I followed the instructions properly it just won't make any sound! I think I may have fried the board! I can't post pics atm as it's too dark and the flash makes it impossible to see anything so I'll take pics in the morning and post them and maybe my build can be salvaged?!?! I hope so...

i think you should be able to salvage it. get me a decent photo of the solder side of the pcb and we'll trouble shoot

OK will do, not sure if it's light enough yet to get good pics but just to check I should unsolder the pot so you can get a good look at the board yeah? (probably a stupid question but just want to make double sure).

yes tried to unsolder the pot. it may be slightly difficult because it has 3 legs. try touching the iron to each leg a couple seconds each at a time for a couple times to get them all warm at once, then keep doing that while trying to pull it out. should be able to make it budge little by little.

OK I have a couple of pics, one with flash one without, they might not be much use in which case I'll wait til it gets brighter and take more but I thought I'd throw these out ande see if you get anything from them, prepare yourself, it isn't pretty

the top pic is pretty clear.

i think your big issue is going to be getting a solderin iron with a nice fine tip. youve got some big old blobs and hten some joints with little to no solder. lots of cold joints. what i would do, is get the new iron, and touch it to all the joints so the solder reheats and melts and sucks up into the joint. then the handful of joints that have little solder will probabbly need some more. there is one in the toppish middle that looks like it has hardly any, as well as one right by the pots legs.
so with a new clean iron try reflowing all the soldered joints and see what happens. also double check your wiring to the jacks and stuff, maybe a picture to verify that as well will be good.
also make sure yur transistor is oriented correctly.

OK, I just had a go at fixing up some of those joints with the iron I already have, didn't fix the problem so a new iron it will be it seems. I hvae taken a few more pics though, firstly of the back of the board now...



The front of the board...



Input jack...



The wire furthest LEFT goes to 'In' on the board, the MIDDLE wire goes to ground on the board and the output jack, the wire furthest RIGHT goes to the battery clip (have I got this right?)

Output jack...



The TOP wire goes to the Input jack and the BOTTOM wire goes to 'Out' on the board (any mistakes here?)

The whole thing...



Thanks for your help so far!

check your wiring agian. I remeber reading the instructions and it seemed worded wrong. For the input it said wire it to the input or something like that.

When you solder you have to let the solder heat up, and sink into the joints. Warm up the components, and its hole by placing the iron in the space between them, then apply some solder, and then remove the solder keeping the iron there. The solder should sink down into the joint, now you remove the iron. Ya dig?

This is a great sounding fuzz, really warm and a good amount of clarity. Kicked my big muff off the board!

i can has footswitch mod?

rbtr wrote:check your wiring agian. I remeber reading the instructions and it seemed worded wrong. For the input it said wire it to the input or something like that.

When you solder you have to let the solder heat up, and sink into the joints. Warm up the components, and its hole by placing the iron in the space between them, then apply some solder, and then remove the solder keeping the iron there. The solder should sink down into the joint, now you remove the iron. Ya dig?

This is a great sounding fuzz, really warm and a good amount of clarity. Kicked my big muff off the board!

Cheers man I'll give it another go.

It may help to also look up a diagram, Eric's instructions are pretty clear, but it's sort of hard to get whats happening. I find it easier to put something together if I know whats happening (in this case in terms of signal flow), a wiring diagram for pedals may make this a bit easier.

Somebody posted one with a foot switch, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a diagram without a foot switch. With that you could see the whole picture, and it may make it easier.

It's worth it! This thing is awesome!

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/ind ... &Itemid=27

Here's most of the wiring diagrams you could need if this helps?