5e3 Hoffman Layout build issue

[Rafiote]

Hi all,

This is my second 5e3 that I built. First one regular fender layout I had no issue. For this one I decided to give a shot to hoffman layout and the fact that I could order everything from him saving cost to ship to Canada.

Here is my issue. Technically the amp is working except I get strange interaction with the volume controls and tone.
From 1 to 2 on vol I get motorboat sound or squeal sometimes. If all volume are at 0 then I get that sound as well and playing guitar at that volume I can hear it thru speaker. It is also doing it once the jack is plugged or not. 6v6 are kinda flashing  a bit once im in that stage. Hum present etc... When jack is in then the interaction also happen on the upper level of the volume pot but only the when the other channel vol pot.
All the voltage are within 10% of the stock 5e3 regular voltage except the split cathode bypass from Hoffman layout on V1 which is about 1.8V. Continuity from ground wire installed underneath the board look good. I have no shorts in between chassis and lugs. I installed components first prior installing board.

Pass those point the amp is working great and his pretty quiet. Im actually impress using film resistors how quiet it can be. No hum when pots are in the non issue area.

What I tried so far :

Triple check every resistors and wire locations. They all look to be at the good place.
Reflowed pretty much everything.
Took a filter cap and alligator clip it in parallel to filter caps on board to check if faulty one is present.
Chopstick around to see if maybe is capacitive couplance between wires
I made sure that no wire going to sockets are touching each other and also when they cross they do at 90 deg. Specialy the plate one.

Im kinda new in amp building. Really interesting and fun to do tho and still learning everyday.

Also excuse my english im french. Another thing that Im learning everyday lol.

Hopefully you guys can guide me on what to check or do next cause Im a bit stuck at the moment.

Attached are some pictures from the build itself.

Regards

[Rafiote]

Here some pictures of the sockets and jacks.

Probably gonna help the diagnosis

[shaun]

I can probably only help in terms of language use. Try to avoid pronouns - instead, use regulars nouns, even if it seems you are repeating yourself.
For example, you say, "From 1 to 2 on vol I get motorboat sound or squeal sometimes. If all volume are at 0 then I get that sound as well..."
Which sound do you mean when volumes are at zero - Motor boating or squeal? Or both?

Also, you say, "If all volume are at 0...and playing guitar at that volume I can hear it thru speaker." This would indicate a wiring error, because when volume is at zero, you should not hear anything much. Trying to figure out what might be wired wrong from your description seems next to impossible because it could be all sorts of things.

I suggest you check one section of the amp at a time to see where the wiring error(s) are. i.e., first, check that all the HT and B+ is wired perfectly. Then check the heater wiring. Then check the signal wiring. And of course, check the ground wiring. Take it step by step. It seems there must be a wiring issues, and you are in the best position to find it (them).

Oh, also, if the 6V6s are flashing, you have a serious wiring issue, so don't play the amp unless you want to pay for new 6V6s.

[Rafiote]

Shaun, thanks for the reply.

I will check everything again section per section.

I was trying to explain more than not enough in my initial post. Mainly when volume pots are at 0 the issue is there. I would say motor boat sound and the 6v6 are flashing when I look at them in the dark.Once you increase the volume the amp is working ok. Im not playing that amp yet cause its not in a usable state right now. Ill unsolder sockets and lift the board to check underneath and redo a couple wire i dont like.

Quick question though is it better to have the cathode and signal wires laying on the chassis and the plates elevated or the opposite?

Is the split cathode on v1 having higher voltage compare to the stock voltage could be somthing to worry?

I forgot to mention I did add a standby switch which the red wire from the OT is connected to the switch instead of B+

Btw thanks for the quick english tip. I accept those anytime.

[sluckey]

You have some unusual symptoms. Many times unusual symptoms are due to poor grounding. The buss bar soldered to the back of the pots looks suspicious to me. Connect the end of that buss bar (near input jacks) to the ground lugs on all four input jacks. Any joy?

[Rafiote]

I found my issue. I checked everything again and found that one of my input jack shielded cable was the problem. I used mogami 2519 for those signals since i had some left from a pedalboard I've done last year. It fit pretty tight underneath the board and did the mistake to not install those cables before the board in the chassis. Long short story i replaced those and its working now. I think i bent to much the 68k resistors to a point they broke inside the insulation.

I need a scope. I could have found that issue way sooner by tracing the signal along.

Anyway I learned a few things with that mistake tho and will definitely avoid doing them next time.

Thanks for the replies and taking time to look into my issue. Really appreciate it

[Latole]

Ton anglais semble plutôt bon.

J'utilise souvent ce site gratuit pour traduire. Il est excellent.
Seulement quelques petite correction a y faire en revisant mais pas souvent

https://www.deepl.com/translator

[Rafiote]

Merci

Je vais regarder le site que tu me suggere afin de faciliter la communication dans ce forum.