NPN Booster turned into distortion not distorting :(

[smoguzbenjamin]

Hey guys!

I took the booster, and added two diodes (1N4148) back to back to ground -> see schematic:

http://scorpius.spaceports.com/~ubermaus/guitar/npnds.html

But it ain't distorting, boosting, or whatever...  :cry: I went over every solder joint, every part that could go wrong, it's fine. I replaced the transistor with one that I know that works, no difference. I suspect a bad part... Where and what do I measure, guys?

Oh btw I have an el-cheapo multimeter that doesn't have a continuity meter....  :?

[aron]

Max the boost and turn down the 10K output volume pot.

It should distort then.

[smoguzbenjamin]

Hmmm, I've just realized that turning the boost pot doesn't do diddly squat... I'm gonna have to resolder everything Oh well, here's to another day of debugging. At least I learn something when I debug stuff

[aron]

No, don't redo the whole thing, just the pot to ground and capacitor.

[smoguzbenjamin]

I tried the volume pot all the way down to ground, this just shuts the pedal up. Also when I turn the boost, it doesn't make anything happen. Not even with the volume pot disconnected. I'm starved for ideas on what's wrong  :cry:

[aron]

Somehow you have the boost pot miswired.

Can you take a picture and send it to me?

[smoguzbenjamin]

Hmmmm. I donno when my sister-in-law will be home, she's the only one with a digital camera... Or maybe I'll bring the NPNbooster to a friend or something... I'll see, and try and get you the pic as fast as I can. As for me, I'm going to rewire the boost pot  

[aron]

OK.

If I saw what you had, I could probably figure it out.

Aron

[smoguzbenjamin]

I'm gonna get a pic as soon as I can, don't know when that'll be though  :cry:

[aron]

Do you have a scanner?

Put the circuit right on it and scan.