ShortScale.org

anyone own one? i presume you can use it anywhere in the signal chain as it is silicone not germanium.

chisa wrote:you can use it anywhere in the signal chain as it is silicone not germanium.

i wouldn't say that
as far as i know it doesn't matter if it's silicone/germanium. as far as placing it goes.

reverbed distortion
distorted reverb

It's a BC108-based silicon FF - I made a clone of it. It's very nice overall - not as warm as germanium, but easily the best sounding silicon FF.

You need to run a FF first in the chain because the saturation characteristic will change depending on the series resistance it sees between the first transistor and the signal source. It won't even distort with certain buffered effects.

Most guys run their Wah before it, but then you either need a special buffer on the tail end of the wah circuit or to carefully pick out the one wah which will work with the fuzz. Otherwise, you get some pretty unpleasant squeals. Adding the buffer to the end of the wah also keeps you from being able to get all the control with the guitar's volume knob, which is where most of the good FF tones are.

does this apply to the silicone version too? i thought it was just the GE versions that had the problem with buffered pedals

Guitarists of all styles, from Hendrix devotees to garage rockers and stoner-metal fanatics, will dig the familiar late-Sixties/early-Seventies crunch delivered by the MXR Classic 108 Fuzz. Dunlop has taken the guts of the BC-108 loaded Fuzz Face, placed them in a more pedalboard-friendly shape, and added the modern conveniences of a battery door, optional AC operation, and true bypass with LED. The M173 pedal's Buffer switch eliminates the audible oscillation caused when some wah-wahs are placed in front of a Fuzz Face. The Classic 108 Fuzz comes in a heavy-duty Phase 100-sized box with a sweet hammer-tone turquoise finish.

paul_ wrote:

Guitarists of all styles, from Hendrix devotees to garage rockers and stoner-metal fanatics, will dig the familiar late-Sixties/early-Seventies crunch delivered by the MXR Classic 108 Fuzz. Dunlop has taken the guts of the BC-108 loaded Fuzz Face, placed them in a more pedalboard-friendly shape, and added the modern conveniences of a battery door, optional AC operation, and true bypass with LED. The M173 pedal's Buffer switch eliminates the audible oscillation caused when some wah-wahs are placed in front of a Fuzz Face. The Classic 108 Fuzz comes in a heavy-duty Phase 100-sized box with a sweet hammer-tone turquoise finish.

that looks ideal

All FF have the same issue with buffers - it has to do with the way the bias is set for the first transistor.

Hendrix used it with squeeling.

They're making these things like hot cakes, when they get down to $50 or around there on the used market might be worth a try.

yeah they are a bit pricey at the moment

Do a little more searching. The JH-F1 is easily one of the finest fuzz pedals I've played through. It's a Jorge Tripps joint & much of its 'goodness' just lies in being properly dialed in. If you're looking for a totally killer 'off the shelf' FF, this one rocks it. If you're looking for something in a small enclosure, with an LED & 9V tap, look elsewhere. I've not played the Classic 108, but the reports I've heard, from folks who've played both, were strongly in favor of the JH-F1. IIRC, the circuits are NOT identical, that is to say, the Classic 108 isn't just the JH-F1 built in a boring enclosure + a switchable buffer.

DuoSonicBoy wrote:It's a BC108-based silicon FF - I made a clone of it. It's very nice overall - not as warm as germanium, but easily the best sounding silicon FF.

I've heard quite a few people swear by the BC109Cs I just ordered some parts to build a FF... I'm planning on using the BC109s but maybe at some point I will have to try the 108s.

I have tons of these transistors. Gotta make some fuzzzzes. Wonder why they didn't put them in a small box. There's like, 10 parts in em.

Also, MXR have really stepped it up with the vintage spec Dynacomp. Just thought I'd say.

Dyna Comps are great, and I don't even like compressors. The reissue one I borrowed from Euan for ages was great and I've heard A/B stuff with the Vintage script ones and that one sounds even better.

timhulio wrote:Wonder why they didn't put them in a small box. There's like, 10 parts in em.

MOJO! = ££££££

chisa wrote:anyone own one? i presume you can use it anywhere in the signal chain as it is silicone not germanium.

Yes and yes. I've used it pre-everything and post-everything and it's never made a difference. It's currently tossed behind my amp however, as its battery power only which gets annoying after a while (especially if you forget to disconnect the input cable). Tis now replaced with a Zvex FF (which you most definitely cannot place anywhere in the chain).

Mike wrote:Dyna Comps are great, and I don't even like compressors. The reissue one I borrowed from Euan for ages was great and I've heard A/B stuff with the Vintage script ones and that one sounds even better.

are you talking about vintage spec RI script or an actual old one?

ive never played/heard IRL anything but the standard issue dunlop LED dynacomp, but i loved it and im currently (since forever) in the market for one. is it worth it to get a more deluxe model?

yea, mike's comment on the dynacomp has had me thinking about it too. I'm thinking about getting the undeluxe behringer version.

mage wrote:yea, mike's comment on the dynacomp has had me thinking about it too. I'm thinking about getting the undeluxe behringer version.

I would pony up the extra case for the MXR, it sounds a lot better. I made this A/B video of them.

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[youtube][/youtube]

Cheers mike. I had forgotten about your demos of those. I totally see what you mean about it sounding so good. it really adds some sparkle to the clean tone. cool. like you said, I could see uses for the behringer too but the MXR sounds really frickin good, damn.