Capacitance on 1k Fuzz Pot

[dogtone]

Hi Folks
I have been reading stuff here since the Fuzz Bug bit me. Cool stuff what a couple of transistors and a few caps and resistors can do.
I spent most of last weekend figuring out how I could screw up such a simple circuit.
After rebuilding the whole thing, an easyface type fuzz with a 1k fuzzpot and an external bias pot, I come to find out the 1k fuzz pot is acting more like a variable capacitor than a resistor .
I check another one, both alpha pots with a  code of8A4 on the back, same deal.
So I  replace the 1k pot with another alpha pot with a different code and it works!

Any one else have this problem with pots?

Thanks

[cpm]

I come to find out the 1k fuzz pot is acting more like a variable capacitor than a resistor

how is that? can you tell more details?

[joegagan]

when you say easyface type, that implies there would not be a fuzz pot. if you wired the fuzzpot like a normal fuzzface, it actually does act like a capacitor control, the 22uf to ground is being varied by the fuzz pot.

[dogtone]

The thing is I get the capacitance reading with the pot out of the circuit. That's the perplexing thing.
I removed it and put in a new one and the pedal works great.
Before I replaced the pot I couldn't get a steady 4.5 volts on the collector of Q2.

Joe,
doesn't the 1k fuzz pot I put in vary the bias in the easy face like it does in the ff and the 100k pot act like a tone control by mixing the input caps?

Thanks

[dogtone]

Here's a picture of the board of my not an easy face fuzz



Thanks Again for your comments

[joegagan]

interesting, nice picture. looks like you have a silicon at q2 and ge at q1. did you try it the other way around ( the way i usually like it )?

sounds like you found the problem, a messed up pot.

my fave combo for easyface is 2k/47 uf to ground at q2(ge)emitter, 25 k trim to set bias @ q2, 250k input gain control pot, no fuzzpot, maybe even a 75k feedback resistor in place of the 100k.

if the tranny is good on q2, it sounds pretty nice.

[dogtone]

Cool suggestions
Right now I really like the smooth sustain with the ge in Q1 and the hi gain si in Q2. I will have to take another listen to the si in Q1 and the ge in Q2
I am going to try a 2k fuzz pot and see how it sounds.

Thanks Again