DIY FUZZFACE CIRCUIT

[LJN]

Hello, Does anyone know if the fuzzface schematic on freestompboxes.com actually works? I've been thinking of building a fuzz box that's more "vintage" flavored, but I've never built a stompbox before, and I'm not very good at reading schematics.  Will any transistor work? Or do I have to use the very same one it calls for? I was also thinking about ordering one of those DIY mosrite fuzzrite kits.I have a seymour duncan tweak fuzz pedal that I use every day, but it does sound a little dark and muffled. Any advice on building a fuzz box? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[J M Fahey]

Post a direct link so we all refer to the same schematic.
Without seeing it, in principle it should work, we are talking simple circuits here, few parts.
Transistors are usually easy to interchange, but yours probably uses obsolete PNP germanium transistors, somewhat more difficult to find.
*There is* a more modern, silicon transistor version, although it has a somewhat buzzier sound.
Worst case, build it anyway as to get your feet wet , you may even love it.
A fuzz circuit plus a 70's Sears will certainly be a classic combination.

[joecool85]

"Classic" fuzz boxes almost all use germanium transistors.  That said, I'm not much of a fan.  My first stompbox was such a build (because it was easy) and I never use it anymore.  There are other great sounding stompboxes available.  But if fuzz is your thing, go ahead and build one - they're easy.

[LJN]

Thanks alot guys, Unfortunately All I remember is the freestompboxes.com part I'll have to look it up again. I really like the fuzz effect(I'm into the old psychedelic stuff),But I like a brighter, more aggressive fuzz. Here's a list of the pedals I use: Vox V847 wah;Johnson EAD-2 analog delay;Johnson SC-2 stereo chorus;Johnson DEQ-2 distortion; Boss OC-2 octave; and the seymour duncan tweak fuzz. I'll look the fuzzface schematic up again and see if I can post that direct link.Thank you for the replies. I'll keep you posted on what I find out.

[LJN]

Hey, guys. Here's that link you requested; http://www.montagar.com/~patj/fuzzface.gif
I'm also going to look for a Vox Tonebender schematic, If I can find it, I'll post a direct link to it, too

[J M Fahey]

But I like a brighter, more aggressive fuzz.

In that case build a silicon transistor version, much easier to get parts.
Check http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/fuzzface.php and build the Silicon one.
They suggest a PCB too.
What the heck, you gave me ideas, I'll build one too, lots of fun. :tu:

[LJN]

Thanks, i've been thinking about building my own fuzz pedal for a while now, but I've been afraid to try it.

[joecool85]

Thanks, i've been thinking about building my own fuzz pedal for a while now, but I've been afraid to try it.

No need to be afraid.  Only 9v power source and they are easy to debug.  Let us know if you decide to go ahead and build one.

[LJN]

Thanks,Joe. I'll build one if I can find the parts. As far as testing it, I'll use my starcaster amp.

[LJN]

No need to be afraid.  Only 9v power source and they are easy to debug.  Let us know if you decide to go ahead and build one.
[/quote]

I'm just afraid of blowing an amp is all.

In that case build a silicon transistor version, much easier to get parts.
Check http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/fuzzface.php and build the Silicon one.
They suggest a PCB too.
What the heck, you gave me ideas, I'll build one too, lots of fun. :tu:
[/quote] Thanks, Juan. Let me know if that works out for you. I still have a question, Can I just use any PNP transistor?

[joecool85]

No worry about blowing an amp either, totally safe.

[LJN]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I'm going to build one as soon as I can.

[J M Fahey]

The page I linked to carries different versions, NPN, PNP, Silicon, Germanium.
Each of the schematics call for a specific transistor, follow the recipe faithfully.
As a suggestion:
*nobody* today uses the original Germanium transistors, because of unavailability, so they use any one they can grab, including *very* unsuitable *power* germaniums (AC187/188) , RF types (2SAxxx, originally for early transistor radios), etc.
Yet most find them "superb" .... the power of Mojo  :loco
As of Silicons, any TO92 cased, small signal, general purpose will do, of the right polarity of course.
Argentina is an "European" country, so here we use BC547 family NPNs and BC557 family PNPs, maybe somebody can suggest what's popular and widely available in the US.
Small signal means transistors that handle 25V , 100mA, 500mW, have beta (gain) over 100 ; good for any pedals or preamps you may want to experiment with.
Buy 20 of each (they cost cents) so you have an ample supply for future projects.
A Protoboard is great for experiments without soldering, allows instant, hassle free parts swapping.

[LJN]

I'm going to build a fuzz pedal soon, but I'm not sure which one. there's alot of them to choose from.

[LJN]

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?