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Let's say you're going to have a mix knob, or an output level knob, both of which you know exactly how to do and what you're going to use...  Do you put it on the breadboard anyways or just put it in once you build your first one?  I hardly ever get around to putting mix and level knobs on the breadboard until the very end, if at all.

-Colin

I actually rarely build things the same way twice.
There's usually something in there that get's rewired, rethought or whatever. I guess it's a weird combination of wanting to tune something to a certain application (every guitar/amp combo is different) with some laziness thrown in (I just can't be bothered to keep tinkering once I've met my goal. When I do another build however...)
That said, breadboards I usually do in full, even with the final volume knob. Makes it easier to test, see what pedal settings will require what volume setting (do I need to lift/drop the average level?) and to listen to how a certain pot might influence the sound.

While playing with something I usually leave out volume and other similar controls but when the circuit is in the final debugging phase I add all my controls. You never know when slapping a simple control on will add some unusually things. Its good to catch these things before you build a final version or when you make a PCB.

Andrew

not to sound too %^&*y but very rarely do my own projects give me that many problems..  if i am buidling soemone elses stuff then i might go ahead and give it a whirl but usually i just do it..  like nike