Author Topic: Modern Germanium based Pedal recommendations (Read 2937 times)

Elliot · « **on:** January 25, 2008, 05:30:19 PM »

I have an old, car boot sale acquired Arbiter Fuzz Face that is bashed to smitherenes but creates the most godlyke Hendrix tone through my Blues Junior.

Trouble is the germanium growl is beginning to get a bit iffy due to the trannies beginning to degrade - Any one got any recommendations for a fuzz face germanium tone in a slightly more user friendly sized pedal (with on on/off light preferrably).

I was thinking the DAM Drag n Fly as a compromise but would like to hear some other ideas.

indysmith · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2008, 05:40:51 PM »

Why don't you just change the trannies?

This always looked attractive to me (especially for the price)
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/fuzz.html

sgmypod · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2008, 05:40:57 PM »

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/ocatvefuzz.html think you buy them fully made as well link of site instructions say it has "2x 1N34A germanium"

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/fuzz.html
this one say in instructions has "2 - AC127 NPN germanium transistors"

keep looking to build one there is a supplier in the uk...going to start with Vamp and work up to build one of these *L*

Skybone · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2008, 07:27:56 PM »

http://www.stompboxes.co.uk

Excellent UK built fuzz... :)

Elliot · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:23:13 PM »

Apart from the DAM Drag n Fly (which I have been on the waiting list at Vintage and Rare for over a year now, they are so hard to get - in fact I have given up ever getting one) I don't think the others will do - If I wanted a bare bones pedal I could stick my cr@pped out Arbiter circuit in a box rather than the flying saucer.

Anyone tried the ThroBak Electronics Fuzz Haze - http://gundrymedia.typepad.com/throbak_electronics/2005/08/fuzz_haze.html

this is the sort of pedal I think I want.

kellar · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:38:19 PM »

My personal recommendation would an AnalogMan Sun Face. I used to have one and loved it! Great germanium based fuzz.

Doctor X · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:13:42 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

Apart from the DAM Drag n Fly (which I have been on the waiting list at Vintage and Rare for over a year now, they are so hard to get - in fact I have given up ever getting one)

Elliot - Sorry to tell you this but I got a DAM Drag'N'Fly from Vintage and Rare in August last year. I just rang up and they said they had one left in stock and I had it a couple of days later. It might be worth asking them about their waiting list! Better still is to check on the DAM forum as I think they're now selling direct.

I've previously owned an Analogman NKT Sunface, which I sold a couple of years ago. It was good but only if front of a cranked amp. If you're playing at home then I wouldn't recommend it.

The Drag'N'Fly is far better at home volumes IMO and works well with a wah. It ain't cheap though.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2008, 12:00:41 AM »

I'd be surprised if the transistors are degrading in your old Fuzz Face - it's more likely to be a leaky cap. I'd have it checked over to make sure the transistors are biased right.

8)

Elliot · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2008, 12:58:03 AM »

To be fair to the great guys at Vintage and Rare - they did ring me in August - its just I was on holiday at the time and so couldn't get the pedal.

HTH = I think it is the volume pot actually as I knocked it tonight and the pedal went off - still, the Fuzz Face is a cumbersome device and having learned the joys of germanium, I would like something in a slightly more modern package (and an on light!).

Kilby · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:47:47 PM »

I was going to post yesterday but the proxy in work dosn't allow posting (in a reliable fashion) on the board.

For parts germanium trannys http://www.muzique.com/ is pretty good plus he knows his business with pedals.

For Germanium fuzzes, TBH the ZVex Fuzz Factory can fo all the old tones but there is so much temptation to get really silly with the settings. Hence it gets written off as a modern gizmo

As HTH said check the posts, and while you are at it cxheck all the solder joints too. If a Ge transistor is goig to go phut it's when it's being soldered, apart from that they just keep on rolling

They can be very temperature sensitive though, and a mate of mine used to use them as temperature sensors as nobody would export equipment to South Africa.

Ted · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2008, 09:31:25 AM »

I always thought these pedals sounded unique.

http://www.earthquakerdevices.com/devices/crimson.html

Not a fuzz face clone.

I built two Fuzz Face clones with BYOC and cannot recommend them enough. You get trannies included, but you can always buy gain matched trannies and experiment as they are socketed.

Excellent sounding and very easy build.