First Fuzz Face Build

I finally got around to building a Fuzz Face, a silicon NPN, using the circuit below.



Yeah the labels are primitive but functional.
I tried Q1 2N3904, Q2 2N5088 first, it was way too tame almost had to dime the fuzz pot and at max it oscillates run away.

Q1 AND Q2 2N5088, better but kinda weak.

Q1 2N5088 Q2 2N50889 - SWEET SPOT.

I never played a real Fuzz Face or this type or any other to compare, but this is so much better than the Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz.

Still seems I need to get both pots pretty high for any strong effect and unity volume. Dont know if anything is wrong or not.

The settings above worked well power chord noodling through an Epi SG Jr. with a GFS Mean 90 HB sized P90 type deal with just the FF into my 18w TMB build on the tone channel. Master at between 2-3, gain at about noon and the tone at around 1:00. Without the pedal the amp just starts to break up there with light attack and is a little crunchy with a heavier attack, without rolling up the guitar volume which I am normally around 6-8. With the FF adding the last bit to 10 pushes things nicely for some solo licks.

You can see the Rat is a little jealous trying to sneak into the last pic. The compressor couldnt care less.

Nice symmetry at the output - this should sound great. And it has masses of internal gain, so even a low output pickup will drive it happily. Here's what a Spice simulation looks like.

Nice, thanks Don.
Could you work that up with Q1 2n3904, Q2 2n5088, if its not too much trouble?
I am curious as to why that config. was very weak on both fuzz and volume.

Done, and for whatever reason it looks absolutely no different to that first one. Well, maybe the output was a tiny bit lower, but not enough to hear.



Are you sure you didn't put one of the devices in upside down? That would do it.

I'll double check my board and the CBE on the Qs.
Thanks again.

Nice build .

The Madness has begun...

syscokid said:

The Madness has begun...

Click to expand...

I did a Zevex SHO and an A/B/Y and this one all from a bulk Tayda order a year and a half ago. Just didnt figure it would take me this long to get 3 or 4 built. I have a Rangemaster variant planned to compare to the SHO and at least 2 other germanium fuzz builds and then some that I have the parts for.
I shoulda' got a haricut and a real job way back in the day; I'd be retired now and have time to tinker in the workshop.

Nice FF!

Cool, well done. Good to see you socketed the transistors. As you noticed, different devices can make a noticeable difference. I usually just label mine with a sharpie type marker, so long as we can see what controls are what it's all good. I like to put the jacks & DC plug on the top edge rather than the sides, they take up less room on your board then. I'll post a template for you later. Cheers

Here you go,
Showing positions for jacks & DC plug on the top edge,
& showing the various positions of pots(16mm), LED & footswitch with enough room for a 9V battery. Cheers
Edit; these templates are for 125B type enclosures. Cheers

Thanks Ivan, very helpful and much appreciated!!

Glad to help a fellow pedal builder. I think I got the templates from the General Guitar Gadgets site (some time ago). They have them for all different size enclosures, dual footswitch types etc. The template for the jacks & DC plug on the top edge makes them a very neat fit. The DC plug MUST be fitted first, then the jacks which affectively lock the plugs nut in place, preventing it from loosening.
I've never built a fuzz face, but have a (germanium, OC75) tonebender mk1.5 (which is the same circuit with different cap values) ready to be boxed up. They are not really a high gain type fuzz, the beauty of them is they have the ability to clean up with the guitar's volume control. Cheers

I finally see a group where a label maker is actually a good gift!!

LOL good one Ray!

Well done jtcnj....damn well done!