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DIY FUZZFACE CIRCUIT

Started by LJN, April 24, 2011, 09:26:56 PM

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joecool85

Quote from: LJN on June 12, 2011, 07:21:47 PM
I've printed out a large assortment of fuzz pedal schematics from fuzz central.com, but I've been too busy to try and find the parts, and they don't tell how to wire the switch into the circuit. I have schematics of a whole bunch of fuzz boxes, the big muff(which is another one I want to build), my wah pedal, and the very infamous clyde mccoy wah pedal. Maybe one day I'll get to build some of them(there are quite a few I'd like to experiment with). Thanks for all the advice. So, on the fuzzface, how do you wire the switch?

This is how you do it:

http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring/
Life is what you make it.
Still rockin' the Dean Markley K-20X
thatraymond.com

LJN

Alright, I'll look into that the first chance I get. Thank you.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

SJF

Hi, new here. This thread may be dead already but seeing as I have recently been spending many frustrating hours buildinga fuzzface -  I thought I would chime in with an answer about leaky germanium transistors :grr
Yeah you can get away with using just about any germanium transistor so long as it has sufficient hFE (forward current gain).

I would suggest reading this old article by RG Keen http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fffram.htm

In the article, which is well written and easy to understand for us newbs, it explains how to measure your transistors gain and actual leakage voltage. Sticking a germanium into your dmm won't cut it. In the article he shows a small schemo/diagram for setting up a test device and a couple of small calculations you need to do.

Anyway to cut a long story short hFE of 80 to 120 - is the magic number you need to make a classic fuzzface. I had a bag of germaniums AC128 (pnp) and AC176 (npn) that I got off ebay - tungsram new old stock - avoid these like the plague - as the old motto goes - buy cheap buy twice. Of the the few that had the correct gain the leakage was too high, vice versa - i think out of 50 I got 3 usable ones. I did however get the pedal going with Q1 a BC108 and AC176 in Q2 - sounds pretty good. You can get matched pairs of transistors but it'll cost $15.00 + shipping from smallbear Http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories.bok?category=Germanium+Transistors

There is some good news about all those left over leaky transistors - apparently they can be used to make a buffer - http://www.muzique.com/news/leaky-transistor-buffer/
and as clipping diodes, so at least they will avoid becoming land-fill :)

This looks like a great forum and I will have a ton of questions for you guys for an upcoming amp build I am planning.
Hope this helps someone.
cheers
Steve

joecool85

Great first post, Steve.  Welcome aboard!
Life is what you make it.
Still rockin' the Dean Markley K-20X
thatraymond.com

yustech

Hi,my client wants me to put a fuzz in his bass.the bass has an active onboard preamp.
Where would be best to put it.before or after the preamp?parallel?

Thanks guys.
http://yustech.blogspot.com/
That Tech & Tutor from greater KD

joecool85

Quote from: yustech on September 20, 2011, 01:41:19 AM
Hi,my client wants me to put a fuzz in his bass.the bass has an active onboard preamp.
Where would be best to put it.before or after the preamp?parallel?

Thanks guys.

After the preamp would be my suggestion.  That said, I'm not a fan of "fuzzy" bass at all.
Life is what you make it.
Still rockin' the Dean Markley K-20X
thatraymond.com

probodger

#21
Easiest way to build your own first pedal (mine was a Systech Harmonic Energizer)is cheat slightly and get a PCB from  somewhere like Madbean.com or GGG. That way you will usually get a parts shopping list of components and detailed instructions on how to wire all the off board parts like switches at pots.

If you are going "try bypass" and using a 3PDT you can just find a diagram online (Beavis Audio is a good place) and use that to guide you as it will be more or less the same for the pedal you are building.


edit.. should read page 2 before posting, didn't see this thread had one lol