silicon fuzz

[HTH AMPS]

gwEm, since you're a bit handy with a soldering iron, just make one - there is a guy doing repro PCBs for all the classic guitar effects for under a tenner.  parts will then cost you under £20.00 inc the enclosure and stomp switch.

well HTH, I was thinking of it since its a relatively simple effect. the thing is, theres a certain fuzz tone which i like, and alot which i don't like.. its a sort of light silicon fuzz, which is almost a bit overdrive like, or treblebooster-ish maybe...

when i hear a silicon fuzz face, and the player rolls back their guitar volume down a few notches - thats the tone i really like.

so anyway, knowing me if i start this project it will turn into a largeish R&D exercise I'm sure.

ok, thats easy peasy - if you like the sound of a silicon fuzz with the guitar's volume turned down, you just need to add some series resistance at the input of the effect - that is all you're doing when turning the guitar's volume down.  start with a 100k pot and play with it from there.  there are LOADS of websites showing how to tune in a fuzz face, its really one of the simplest effects out there, but one with LOTS of mileage in it once you get started.

in fact i might give it a go after all.. i just saw this on ebay and it looks entirely reasonable:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Fuzz-Face-Circuit-Board-Clone-Kit-/140422300165?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20b1d24205#ht_2053wt_930

yep, those are the ones I was on about - not bad at all considering the parts are vintage correct.

if you need a couple of BC108 or BC109 transistors, gimme a shout.

[coelacanth]

You might be interested in the Way Huge Red Llama. Discontinued but heaps of clones out there.

It's not a silicon fuzz if I recall, well, it's not a transistor-based design to even begin with - the 16-pin IC does most of the work.

But it's got a really nice fuzzy overdrive sound to it. Had great results with 6V6s and EL84s in the past.

[peps1]

in fact i might give it a go after all.. i just saw this on ebay and it looks entirely reasonable:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Fuzz-Face-Circuit-Board-Clone-Kit-/140422300165?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20b1d24205#ht_2053wt_930

Right, time to increase my prices then! ;)

[HTH AMPS]

You might be interested in the Way Huge Red Llama. Discontinued but heaps of clones out there.

It's not a silicon fuzz if I recall, well, it's not a transistor-based design to even begin with - the 16-pin IC does most of the work.

But it's got a really nice fuzzy overdrive sound to it. Had great results with 6V6s and EL84s in the past.

the IC in that pedal is a silicon transistor array (four transistors in the one package) - the pedal is based around the opamp version of the Big Muff that EH made at one point.

speaking of silicon fuzzes, I quickly threw this together for myself as I need one in my new band for a few songs...

[gwEm]

in fact i might give it a go after all.. i just saw this on ebay and it looks entirely reasonable:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Fuzz-Face-Circuit-Board-Clone-Kit-/140422300165?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20b1d24205#ht_2053wt_930

Right, time to increase my prices then! ;)

Hi there Peps!

[bucketshred]

I was reamping a song demo with the Fuzz War today and thought you might wanna check it out.

http://soundcloud.com/phantomisle/exhortation-of-the-heights-demo

All of the guitar parts are the Fuzz War aside from the 2nd solo, which is the Fulltone Ultimate Octave. It'll be REALLY obvious when the UO kicks in!

Sounds like a chick doing an impression of Danzig. Cool!

Paddy

[gwEm]

right, so continuing my mission of experimentation for this period between christmas and going back to work:

i have just built a silicon fuzz face. its not finished since it needs housing, but nevertheless it is making sound. i quite like it, though having said that its a circuit you could spend hours dicking about with... which is precisely what i'm not going to do ;)

anyway, it sounds very good with strat leads, which was my intention. time will tell how often i use it.. or if i put it in a box

[peps1]

What transistors did you use in the silly face?

Im A real fan of the BC108C transistors.

[gwEm]

What transistors did you use in the silly face?

Im A real fan of the BC108C transistors.

BC108C all the way :)

[asianaxeman]

I've just ordered a freekish blues coily fuzz - fuzz face clone from the states...sounds awesome...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ftPGxEFHQg