Josh Scott builds pedals professionally. He's built hundreds, maybe thousands. And yet even veterans hit walls. This episode of Short Circuit tells a story every hobbyist can relate to: the moment a project that should work simply doesn't.
The kit in question is a Fuzz Face kit designed by Stac at Stomperz. It's based on the classic Silicon fuzz circuit—a variant of the traditional Fuzz Face, using silicon transistors rather than germanium. The design uses Pedal PCB's layout and features three controls: output volume, fuzz level, and bias. Unlike some modern fuzz circuits, this particular build doesn't include a standard guitar volume knob control—instead it relies on those three knobs for shaping tone.
Scott had built this exact kit a year prior to filming this episode. The enclosure was painted hot pink. It looked professional when finished. But during the final tuning step—with transistors yet to be installed—the circuit simply stopped working. Something went wrong in the year between completion and now. That's what makes this troubleshooting session compelling: it's not about assembly errors but rather a mysterious failure that developed over time.
Setting Up for Troubleshooting
Before diving into diagnostics, Scott prepares his workspace. He prefers standard plastic input jacks over the metal ones that came with the kit—those metal jacks frustrate him because they're prone to causing ground problems. He's already modified his jack accordingly and drilled it out slightly to fit properly.
The power supply setup requires connecting the barrel connector correctly: positive terminal on the right, negative on the left. Scott bridges these connections intentionally rather than using batteries, which he avoids entirely in his builds. After heating his soldering iron—tip described as "ancient"—he begins the actual troubleshooting process.
"Troubleshooting is a pedal builder's life—you're constantly troubleshooting."
The Diagnostic Process
The first step involves checking continuity on the transistor sockets. These are problematic because the kit doesn't include proper spacing for standard transistor sockets, forcing builders to break off individual units and solder them directly. Scott uses his multimeter in continuity mode—essentially a circuit tester that beeps when connections are good—to verify whether each socket is properly connected.
He checks all three transistor ports systematically. The ribbon cables connecting these sections appear intact, but something clearly went wrong between the initial working state and now. The mystery isn't trivial: this kit worked perfectly during the original live stream a year ago, with Scott playing "Spirit in the Sky" through it successfully before the broadcast ended.
Re-Flowing Solder Joints
After confirming continuity, Scott moves to visual inspection of the PCB's underside—the board is mounted upside down, which complicates testing. He observes that some joints appear cold—meaning poorly soldered—and decides to re-flow every single pad rather than add new solder. This is a deliberate strategy: when circuits fail unexpectedly after working initially, cold joints are almost always the culprit.
He systematically heats each joint, allowing it to reflow without adding additional material. The goal isn't just correction but prevention—ensuring no joint remains suspect. This approach requires patience and careful observation of every pad on the board.
Testing With Transistors
Once the re-flowing is complete, Scott installs BC108 transistors into the sockets—not NOS vintage units but standard silicon transistors that came with the kit. These are NPN-type transistors, oriented correctly following the instruction manual's guidance. The orientation matters because improper installation causes no signal at all.
With everything connected—input jack, output jack, transistor set—he tests for signal by bypassing the pedal and plugging directly into his amp. Nothing works yet. He's getting static on the bias potentiometer, which indicates some current is flowing but the audio path remains broken. The trim pots are still in their default positions.
Bottom Line
This troubleshooting session demonstrates something every DIY builder eventually learns: sometimes circuits that should work simply don't, and patience plus systematic testing is the only way forward. Scott's methodical approach—continuity checking first, then visual inspection, then joint re-flowing—represents sound practice even when results aren't immediately obvious. The mystery remains unsolved in this episode, but the diagnostic process itself provides value for anyone building their own pedals.
The real lesson isn't about the specific kit or problem—it's about the methodology. When your circuit dies unexpectedly after working initially, start with simple continuity tests before assuming component failure. Scott continues troubleshooting in subsequent episodes, still searching for answers.