LKB1 (liberal komrade boost 1)

[pinkjimiphoton]

ok, whup out your breadboard and try this one out.

4 @#$%ing parts. (not counting switch/power supply/jacks and enclosure)

this is ONLY for SHITTY, LEAKY LOW-GAIN GERMANIUM TRANSISTORS.

it's so @#$%in' simple i won't even post a schematic. try one on your breadboard, and let me know what you think.

hfe's best between 10-60. high hfe and non-leaky ge or silicon transistors do not work. the leakage of the transistor is what makes it work.... this was designed to be a good sounding boost with minimal parts using stuff that otherwise would be garbage.

here's the circuit.

input to  .0047 input cap to base of transistor.

ground emitter. (9v b+)

connect 100k trimmer set up as a variable resistor between 9v battery minus and collector.

connect .047 output cap to node of collector/trimmer.

plug your guitar in the input, connect the output to your amp, and crank the trimmer up til it sounds good.

that's it.

if you REALLY need a volume control, put a 1m linear before the input cap. ground pin 3, input pin one, wiper to input node of .0047u cap...


easy breezy. try it out. nice sounding cleanish distinctly germanium sounding boost, with just enough balls to overdrive your amp.

you can use the volume knob of your guitar, or the 1m pot. unity gain is about 3:00, full blast about 5:00 on the gain pot if you add it.

you can use a switch for the input cap, too.. connect a .022u cap to the node of b and the .0047u cap, and use a simple spst footswitch to connect the other side of the cap to the input node of the .0047u.

this will give you a nice boost and crunchy fuzz, footswitchable.

if you have too much hiss, play with the transistor voltage a little, or try a different ge.

this is the simplest fuzz i think i've seen. one transistor two caps and a resistor! 

i know peeps will say its no good without the biasing resistors.

all i can say is try it.

3 in series can make a rather noisy, but quite amusing fuzz tone.

see the ancient prophet/ bias schmias  thread.

peace!

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Why do I feel that Jimi has tried jacking his guitar into a SPAM can to see if it will fuzz?     

Jimi Photon = K.O.F. (King of Fuzz)

All hail 

[pinkjimiphoton]

damn, greg, you a fly on the wall??

[kingswayguitar]

K.O.F.

10-4

[pinkjimiphoton]

naaah, i'm more like the guy who empties the king's chamberpots..   

dude, you gotta try this thing.

if ya need a couple transistors, let me know!

[pinkjimiphoton]

revision.... by itself, it seems to sound best with a .022 input cap. in the end, i bypassed the emitter rc network too.