Building the Bronx Cheer : question about Diodes and other things

[alchemist]

It has been a while since I built a pedal, since I am a synth player. I have an old Yamaha CS20m synthesizer and I was thinking about building a Fuzz for it (something cheap and cheerful). I settled on the bronx cheer and I am going to start building it soon with a circuit board from GGG. Anyway two (probably dumb...but what the hell) questions:

1. I noticed 3 Diodes in the bronx cheer schematic... refresh my memory are these Diodes that are protecting the MPSA13 from shorting or are these clipping Diodes? If they are clipping diodes has anyone tried using Germanium diodes (nos from small bear) in place of the 1N4148's ??

2. Has anyone had a good time using this pedal with an analog synth? All I can find is a youtube video of a Guy using it with an organ.

3. Has anyone done interesting modifications to the Bronx Cheer to make the Trail off fuzz sound more gated or irregular?, I am looking to build it so it sounds like my Synth is broken and on that note...The Jen HF modulator hated by most guitarist everywhere, will sound Shitty and Great on an analog synth or a theremin. I did build it from a GGG PCB as well.

Thanks ahead of time if anyone can answer these questions-Josh

[Strategy]

I haven't tried Bronx with keys/synth (intend to build one) but if you are looking for a fuzz that can get "gatey" and choppy that sounds good w/ keys try Lovetone Big Cheese - on this forum as the Great Cheddar project. One of the fuzz stages is a gated setting and you can tweak the bias to make it more or less so. It sounds amazing on keyboards. I use it especially on keyboards with a high output because other fuzzes will increase the background noise. This one doesn't.

Strategy

[alchemist]

Thanks for the tip on the Great Cheddar, I will check it out on the GGG webpage and  give the schematic a look over. and on that note What's your take on the Good Filter D.I.Y pedals? I know about the Gristleizer, You told me about that one. -Josh

[Strategy]

Great Cheddar is just an awesome workhorse and uses common components.

I haven't built any filters other than Gristleizer yet but for 9V projects I intend to build:

- Tim Escobedo Q&D VCF
- Tim Escobedo 'Phuncgnosis'
- Meat Sphere www.musicpcb.com

Strategy

[chemosis]

is there any mods to give the bronx cheer more controll over sound

[rutabaga bob]

I'm not sure what you want to control...my advice about this circuit (which I love) is to up the capacitor values, which will give you a lot more of the 'razzberry' sound.  Use .0033s in place of the .001s, and put a .04 or .047 in the cap-to-ground with the switch.  Of course, if you use a breadboard or sockets you can try whatever values you want.