Fulltone 70 and other silicon Fuzz Faces

[Dave]

Wow I feel like a n00b! Zero experience with any Fuzzfaces. I was watching a video comparing the Guyatone fuzz (in classifieds) against a Fulltone 70 silicon fuzz and I thought the Fulltone sounded really cool, more defined than a Big Muff sound. I’ve done a bit of research around and there’s a lot of FF derivations out there. I’d like to get my hands on a decent one later this year, and the silicon I think. I only have youtube to go on.

What’s your thoughts on the Fulltone or any other fuzzes of similar ilk? The Jimi Hendrix Dunlop? MJM London Fuzz? Any decent clones? I even watched a comparison of all the Dunlop FFs and I’m ashamed to admit I like the sound of the Eric Johnson version best, with the Jimi Hendrix close behind. The red sounded like woolly pants full of loose stool.

So what’s the options out there? Anyone got a Fulltone 70? Can I get the same bang for less bucks? 140 quid for a pretty simple circuit is a bit rich for my pocket.

[benecol]

Silicon fuzzfaces are brilliant, but too much money for what they are. And fuck paying the Fulltone knobend for anything. I've got a Euthymia Crucible you can borrow, if you want.

[NickS]

I'm sure Mike does a version that can be tweaked to your taste, if you can stand the waiting list.

[Dave]

Nick - Yes indeed, that was my first thought and had a poke about his fuzzface page. I need to get an idea of what I'm shooting for first ebfore i even think of making an order, to see what's out there and then formulate a final idea.

Tim, yes please! Thank you. I just searched that pedal and saw this quote from the maker – I like the cut of his jib very much, and sounds like my kind of chap (emphasis all mine):

Each unit is made by me personally, including painting, silkscreening, and wiring. It is an artisan-made guitar effect.
How does it sound? It's a fuzz box, designed to distort your signal. It's not supposed to provide “warm tube tone� or “subtle boost� or any of that. It's supposed to make your axe scream, crunch, crush, kill, and destroy. It can get those psychedelic garage tones, those wall-of-sound shoegazer tones and that singing lead Reelin' in the Years tone. It can create feedback at very low volumes.
When I started working on the design, I was shooting for early Stooges, late Hendrix, in that squalling neighborhood. My best description of what I finally achieved was that I overshot my targets. I've always been frustrated with distortion boxes that could just barely get the amount of fuzz I wanted. I wanted one that could get TOO MUCH fuzz. That's what the “Fuzz� control is there for. If there's more than you need, back it off a bit.
For those with a more technical bent, the design is closely based on the original silicon Arbiter 'Faces as resurrected by Dave Fox and marketed by Crest Audio in the late '80's. A pair of HIGH gain-selected BC109's and a tweaked bias are my “secrets.� Pots are Alpha, jacks are Switchcraft and/or Neutrik. True bypass via DPDT footswitch. True to its FF roots, the Crucible Si has no indicator LED (you will have no difficulty knowing when it is in your signal path). The circuit is optimized for operation with a 9V alkaline battery, so I do not include a power jack. If you know what you are doing, and can supply it with a clean 9V, I can be talked into installing a power jack for another $10. The finish is baked-on bluish-grey hammerite, similar to the original '60's Fuzz Faces. Logo and control markings are hand silkscreened. The knobs are bakelite Daka-Ware "stove" knobs, great for making your settings by feel on dark stages. And they look cool on lighted stages.

Some general questions:

What’s the deal with the Fulltone guy? Bad customer service/bad manners? I think we need a ‘Shortscale shit-list’ thread to capture these kinds of things…

What’s the deal with these fuzzfaces all being without power supply jacks? This seems to be presented as some kind of negative over battery. If batteries give better tone then which one does Eric Johnson use (FLARR FNARR)?

Fucks sake, I’ve mentioned Eric Johnson twice now. I may as well give up and go get a corduroy jacket with suede elbow patches and a dose of coffee halitosis.

[johnnyseven]

Have you looked at the Magnetic Effects White Atom? I believe it is based on a fuzzface circuit but it has many advantages - can be powered by battery or mains adapter, has tone and texture controls, is buffer friendly and sounds great.

[markeeee]

How about a silicon one of these (actually it'd have to be the silicon, 'cos the germanium is sold out):

http://buildyourownclone.com/fuzz.html

I got one for Christmas. Dead easy to build, honestly. I'm a complete moron and I managed it.

Sounds, y'know, like a silicon Fuzz Face:

[Fran]

I had a 70 some years ago. It was okay but didn't exactly blow my other Fuzz Face pedals out of the water so I got my £100 back on it. It was a limited edition model in purple if I remember right.
Had a few Roger Mayers as well and they were okay but nothing amazing. Seemed low on volume to me.

Most brands seem hit and miss to me, like Dunlops, you could try three and they will all be different. Fuzz is a trial and error hobby, best off buying a few then move them on until you find the right one.

[benecol]

Fulltone guy is a dick, not well-liked amongst the effects community - plagiarist, bully, egotist, that kind of thing.

Fuzzfaces use such little current that you'll never need to change the battery; my MBM '69 clone has had the same battery in it since 2008.