Marshall Bluesbreaker - way too fuzzy + a battery leak.

[wayne ny]

Hi,

I finished the Bluesbreaker (original wiring) as per the generalguitargadgets.com design.

The unit powers up, and the vol, tone, gain pots work.  The on/off feature and LED work.

When I plug into my clean channel, the sound is extemely fuzzy (clipping?) - much similar if not identical to my Peavey Transtube at full gain (my Strat sounds like the intro to Little Miss Strange! - I was hoping for the silky sounds depicted in the Tone Frenzy site)

Could the use of 0.01 uf Ceramic vs. Film caps be the problem?
And, as for the power drain, over night the device kills a 9v battery (both cables unplugged, and switched 'off')

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Wayne

[axis]

As  far as I can see on the GGG layout when the switch is in the bypassed position and the plug is pulled on the input jack, it's breaking the ground connection to the battery, which will stop the current.
I'd check your wiring on the switch and the jacks, maybe that's why you're not getting the proper sound also.A 3PDT would do a better job in that spot.

[wayne ny]

Assuming it's possible to use the less desirable DPDT switching, shouldn't we expect 'normal' sound?

In the FAQ, I read that resistance values are additive in series (and I had a flashback to Freshman Phyics!).  The FAQ goes on to state that in most stombox situations resistor subs can be made without audible differences.  Does anyone know in which situations it will make a difference?  To build my Bluesbreaker stacked resistors in the 6k8 (6.8k?), 220k, and 2.2 m positions.

Also, I used the thin disk shaped ceramic caps in all 5 of the 0.01 uf positions.

Wayne

[brett]

Hi.  Your resistor and cap subs are ok.  You've got a substantial problem elsewhere, by the description.  Oh yeah, -first put a new battery in it and see if that fixes it.  Then check the current draw with a multi-meter and get back with some voltage readings.

good luck