Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hi,

I've completed my first build, a BYOC Mouse kit and it's ALIIIIIIIIIIVE

I have a couple of questions though, the first is probably down to me being new to this pedal building thing. The pots (vol, dist and filter) all seem to go the wrong way, e.g. volume 0 is turned all the way clockwise and volume max is all the way counter-clockwise. Have I just done something dumb like connecting the wires to the pots the wrong way around?
Next up, this thing is LOUD! It seems almost unusable to me as the volume jump from clean amp (mouse off) to pedal on is huge with the pedal volume on anything over about 1. Is this normal/just how the mouse works, and, is there a way of reducing the overall output volume so I can have the pedal vol turned up more without exploding my amp ?

Sounds like you connected the pots backwards. The only pot you would want to intentionally connect backwards is the Filter so it will work like a RAT's Filter works. The fact that you have the volume pot connected backwards might be the cause of your volume problem since the pot's log taper is now backwards resulting in the volume level ramping up very fast as you start to turn up the volume. It could also be due to errors you might have made during the build. Post photos of your build and include shots of both sides of the PCB and of the wiring to the jacks and stomp switch. Make sure the photos are in focus and crystal clear. Blurry photos are useless. We need to see as much detail as possible.

Ah, the backwards taper thing would make sense. I assume switching the wires going to pins 1 & 3 on the pots would be the answer to this? If that's the way to go I'll break out the iron and give it a try (hopefully this evening) and report back.

Thanks for the speedy help.

Yes, exactly. Leave the Filter as is, though--that's how the control works on a Rat, rolls off treble CW.

I never knew that about the Rat Voodooman ! (treble tapers off with clockwise turn on the tone?) , I never had one until I got the BYOC mouse , and it was one of the first BYOC's I did. My treble on it works the traditional way , and I have always loved it, come to find out I must have put it on backwards then, I am gonna take it apart today and have a look see. Maybe I will switch it around see if there is any difference whe done in reverse. Thanks DVM

Yeah, I guess the idea of naming it the "Filter" control is that it filters out treble as you turn it up. In any case, if you want your Mouse to be "vintage-correct", wire that pot in reverse. I also think it makes the pot sweep more useful, because that's a log taper pot, so reversing it significantly alters the rate of resitance change across the sweep. Try it and see what you think--you can always change it back.

OK, that took longer to get round to doing than I expected! I've made the wire swaps as described above on the volume and gain pots (leaving the filter 'reversed' and vintage correct) and it's cured! Everything works as it should now and it boots ass!
A huge thanks for the help guys