Best Fuzz Pedal Ever - an absolutist, empirical question.

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aen
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Post by aen »

JCYPHE! SAYSOMEHTING ABOUT HOW FUZZES ARE OLD CIRCUITS AND THEY'RE ALL JUST COPIES AND VARIATIONS!
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Post by aen »

Not mine.

It's only mostly derivative.

And almost entirely hypothetical.
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Post by jcyphe »

aen wrote:JCYPHE! SAYSOMEHTING ABOUT HOW FUZZES ARE OLD CIRCUITS AND THEY'RE ALL JUST COPIES AND VARIATIONS!
i don't know if you're being sarcastic but basically a lot of stuff does borrow or ouright steal from other things.

Take the Octave Fuzz as an example, many boutique pedal makers do a straight copy or pedal inspired by the Tychobrahe Octave. But the Tyco is just a copy of Roger Mayer original design that the guy got a hold of one and cloned, he's even stated so. Roger Mayer has since updated his octave up effect and does a whole new circuit, but everybody is copying the copy of his original for Jimi!

With the Internet now I think there is more of sense now of originality and what comes from where, even if people are still doing a lot of vintage stuff. Back before the internet you only had so many sources, Electronics Journals, Craig Anderton Books, and pedals you had on hand to figure out how to put a working box together. There are also alot of Craig Anderton "inspired" pedals out there too.
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Post by aen »

No, not kidding. I agree.
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Post by Fran »

Tweez wrote:I'm not going to post it on here, but if anyone wants the schematic and the stuff I've collected, PM me.
What transistors did you use Tweez?
I built a couple of FuzzFace clones one with Germ. one with silicone, i'll have a dig around for the schems over the weekend.
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Post by Tweez »

Fran wrote:
Tweez wrote:I'm not going to post it on here, but if anyone wants the schematic and the stuff I've collected, PM me.
What transistors did you use Tweez?
I built a couple of FuzzFace clones one with Germ. one with silicone, i'll have a dig around for the schems over the weekend.
I've bought a pair of new old stock germanium AC128 transistors from here, and there is a silicone 2N3904 in there too.
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Post by euan »

Gotta be careful Tweez. The germs need to be matches and have only a certain amopunt of leaky current.

See http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Fuz ... /FFFAQ.htm for advice.
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Post by Tweez »

euan wrote:Gotta be careful Tweez. The germs need to be matches and have only a certain amopunt of leaky current.

See http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Fuz ... /FFFAQ.htm for advice.
I sent the place an email and they said they test them for that mallarkey before they send them out. Apparently.
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Post by euan »

Might still be worth giving them a test to make sure. Small Bear Elec will send you a matched pair and the values of the resistors you should use in the circuit to get it working properly.
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Post by Tweez »

euan wrote:Might still be worth giving them a test to make sure. Small Bear Elec will send you a matched pair and the values of the resistors you should use in the circuit to get it working properly.
I'm starting to have sincere doubts now, although thanks for the heads up mate. If it doesn't work then I'll get onto Small Bear (the components arrived today from them).
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Post by euan »

Check out Geofex as well for lots of info on the Fuzz Face.
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Post by Tweez »

euan wrote:Check out Geofex as well for lots of info on the Fuzz Face.
Thanks again euan :)
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Post by fiveways »

i really disliked the big cheese i owned for a while and was happy when it was out of my collection. I also am still on the wall with my fuzz factory, its kinda blah. I need to find a nice oscillation fuzz that is made by e13 or whatever devi's new company is [i hate the sound of all of the fuzz's that human has made]

My favourites:

bajatech da moaf 2 [it does both fuzzy and distorty things]
barge bbjr
bee baa proper
pe experience
my fulltoneb 69 [no 2 fulltones 69 sound the same, ask nels cline]
vintage foxx tone machines
superfuzz's of any name
kay fuzz

actually there arent too many fuzz i really dont like. hell, the big cheese wasnt even that bad of a fuzz, it just wasnt nearly worth the asking price for one at this point.
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Post by Doog »

What didn't you like about the Big Cheese, Fiveways?
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Post by Fran »

Tweez wrote:
euan wrote:Check out Geofex as well for lots of info on the Fuzz Face.
Thanks again euan :)
Aye, This is a good website as well Tweez.
If you are going to Doogs in august i'd like to hear one of them FuzzFaces. I'm gonna bring one of mine, the results with the germ version where really impressive. :wink:
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Post by Tweez »

It's gonna be a Zvex Fuzz Factory Clone actually :)
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Post by aen »

From fuzz central:


"What about PNP Negative Ground Wiring?
I personally do not think that wiring up PNP transistors (Silicon or Germanium) as negative ground is one of the best ideas. The PNP transistors are simply not meant to function with a negative ground and osciallation and "motorboating" sounds are common results of wiring a Fuzz Face with PNP transistors as such."


Well, that sounds pretty awesome to me.
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Post by Tweez »

aen wrote:From fuzz central:


"What about PNP Negative Ground Wiring?
I personally do not think that wiring up PNP transistors (Silicon or Germanium) as negative ground is one of the best ideas. The PNP transistors are simply not meant to function with a negative ground and osciallation and "motorboating" sounds are common results of wiring a Fuzz Face with PNP transistors as such."


Well, that sounds pretty awesome to me.
I saw that and thought 'Wow cool, if only I knew what the fuck it was!'
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Post by aen »

I tkind of explains it, i wouldnt be surprised if the fuzz factory had some similarities....
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Post by handen »

I've got a GGG Octavo. It sonds kool.