Si Brassmaster or Ge Assmaster?

[jpiddy118]

Building a GGG Brassmaster for a friend... listening to the clips of the Barker Assmaster and digging the Ge version... anyone know the specific differences? Looking at the schematic (http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_brassm_sc.pdf), i'd assume the magic in the fuzz is up around Q4&5, driving the octave stage, but could be wrong. Any thoughts on Ge subs for the 2N3391s?

[R.G.]

Building a GGG Brassmaster for a friend... listening to the clips of the Barker Assmaster and digging the Ge version... anyone know the specific differences? Looking at the schematic (http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_brassm_sc.pdf), i'd assume the magic in the fuzz is up around Q4&5, driving the octave stage, but could be wrong. Any thoughts on Ge subs for the 2N3391s?

Just subbing in (or rubbing on...) germanium does not automatically make something sound good.

[jpiddy118]

oh i'm aware... but if you listen to the Ge Assmaster clips on youtube, there's a difference compared to the Si GGG/original. Enough to justify a new topic 

[R.G.]

oh i'm aware... but if you listen to the Ge Assmaster clips on youtube, there's a difference compared to the Si GGG/original. Enough to justify a new topic 

(a) it's pretty simple to get a difference on *anything* on youtube clips
(b) who needs a reason for a topic?

[jpiddy118]

Sure, there lots of variables in Youtube clips. I just prefer the Ge Assmaster clips to the others. Could be the way it was recorded, sure.

Also just read on another forum that the difference is actually in the diodes, not the trannies... assuming the Ge diodes would clip earlier than the Si. Looking fwd to playing with those.

[R.G.]

Sure, there lots of variables in Youtube clips. I just prefer the Ge Assmaster clips to the others. Could be the way it was recorded, sure.

Also just read on another forum that the difference is actually in the diodes, not the trannies... assuming the Ge diodes would clip earlier than the Si. Looking fwd to playing with those.

Yeah. I've read on other forums about a range of pedals that in various cases it's the oxygen-free wires, NOS caps, carbon comp resistors, para-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, phase of the moon, whatever.

There is nothing like actually knowing and measuring. Anyone with any interest in selling something may say anything, and anyone who reads the internet a lot and wants to appear knowledgeable may echo whatever they find there. The reality comes from doing and measuring in repeatable ways.

I urge you to try the stuff yourself and post what you find. And in general there are no germanium subs for 2N3391 without making any other changes. It's that bias thing.

[jpiddy118]

There is nothing like actually knowing and measuring. Anyone with any interest in selling something may say anything, and anyone who reads the internet a lot and wants to appear knowledgeable may echo whatever they find there. The reality comes from doing and measuring in repeatable ways.

I urge you to try the stuff yourself and post what you find. And in general there are no germanium subs for 2N3391 without making any other changes. It's that bias thing.

I plan on doing just that... but while at work, and bored, i figured i'd see if anyone had any experience with this circuit. Also trying to figure out the appropriate spot to sneak in an "octave off" spst... based on my limited experience with other octave circuit, i'm thinking either just after C8, or before D2&D3. We'll see what works.

[R.G.]

I plan on doing just that... but while at work, and bored, i figured i'd see if anyone had any experience with this circuit. Also trying to figure out the appropriate spot to sneak in an "octave off" spst... based on my limited experience with other octave circuit, i'm thinking either just after C8, or before D2&D3. We'll see what works.

Cool!

[jpiddy118]

Ge diodes sounded great! More compression, sustain, and a nice octave harmonic feedback swell. 

My brilliant idea of an octave on/off spst after the phase splitter didn't work at all, just dropped the fuzz to a very low level. I don't have nearly enough electronics knowledge to understand why this would work in something like an Octavia for FTM but not here...  would love to learn the difference.

Next idea is a hi/low blend pot, instead of the switch...