1176 REV D - 2k Bourns trim pot necessary?

I have just finished 2  X 1176 Rev D Mnats builds. I sourced all the parts from my local electronics store. The only thing I couldn't source locally was the 2K Bourns trim pots. I used a blue 202 trimpot. They look cheap but I am sure they could work. Only problem is - they don't. I am trying to calibrate the Q bias and am not having any success . I am feeding the input XLR  @ 2.75  from my interface. As I measure the output on pins 2 and 3 with all the knobs and buttons as per hairballs directions I am only reading  .09 vac and the trim pot doesn't affect anything. Perhaps I have something else askew..yet they both do exactly the same thing. I have checked all the wires - resistors etc all is correct. Could this just be a trim pot issue, or are can anyone offer an idea to check .

Thanks

I'm coping your question to the Rev D thread.  Please use the official support thread.