Mostly Great
I enjoyed this build. All the components were well-packed and to spec. My one star deduction is due to instructions, which I think could benefit in two ways, and a small materials qualm:
1. Mainly, I didn't seat the second output XLR jack flush to the pcb. This happened despite, and maybe even due to, following the instructions exactly, which state to flip the board over and leave it lay propped on an angle. The subsequent difficulty was that when I finally tried to attach the output side face plate, one of the mounting holes on the XLR cup was very off. This difficulty was compounded by the fact that the screw path on the XLR jack is not threaded, but is threaded by the screw itself upon insertion, so any attempt to screw into it will not only give zero indication when doing a 1/4 turn reverse turn to seat, but can create problems in the event that you do manage to thread it crookedly. So I firmly feel that an improvement to this critical portion of the assembly guide give this sensitive step the extra attention that can prevent needing to reflow the jack.
2. A very minor point, but I don't believe that the type of soldering tip that is best for this job is suggested. Granted, the one I used was close to what is included by default in many kits, but I had to swap out my chisel tip that I use for guitar pots. This is a smaller nit pick, but given that this is a beginner's kit, I'd hate to see someone heat up their iron and try to force their way into some of these joints, which are honestly fairly tight, especially on the XLR and toggle switch pads.
3. I'll add, if I'm being totally honest, that for $50, the tolerance of the case could be a little tighter. The body is slightly concave, which creates a ridge on the edges where the end plates connect. To the hand and eye, this creates imperfections that are not easily solved with readily available tools. It's not terrible, but it's not stellar.
For these reasons, I offer the constructive feedback instead of a full five stars. Thank you for your consideration.
