ampeg scrambler, fender blender, univox superfuzz.... DARKER

[school]

alright, ive heard all the samples, checked out all of their schematics, but how would i take any one of those nasty little fuzz circuits and make them DARK.  thats really close to the sound im looking for, but they all seem really bright, i want those sounds, only ominous.  anyone get me?

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello--
      The Super Fuzz circuit can get pretty dark [witth proper twiddling of the controls....] but maybe you would be happier with something like a Big Muff???   Have you actually played through these pedals or are you just listening to sound samples?  Alot of  the sound samples don't give you the complete picture.
Brian.

[school]

only sound samples, i dont want to commit to building anything im not sure i'll be able to make sound the way i want.  nah, the big muff isnt what im looking for, my dilemma is this: i love the way that any of those pedals really mangles the sound, destroys it really, but i wish they didnt sound so trebly and thin and bright.

[phillip]

Larger value input capacitors?  That'll block treble and pass more bass.

Phillip

[school]

do you really think that that would do it? whatever. OO! that raises another question of mine:  can i use a 3PDT switch to switch between two sets of two input/output caps?  like, id like to be able to switch the pair (both input AND output), basically because i want to make a fuzz usable by both a guitar and a bass with just one stomp.

[brian wenz]

Hello school--
   What guitar and amps are you using??   That can really make a difference.   Phillips'  [Hi Phillip!] input cap suggestion could work for you.
I still think a Super Fuzz with the tone rolled back would get you a good, ugly, "grind".
Brian.

[school]

hmm, well, maybe on my next parts run i'll have to pick up the parts for a superfuzz. thanks! but what about my little in/out cap switch problem?

[NaBo]

Yep, you can even use a DPDT to switch both at the same time... so if you're set on using a 3PDT, you could also wire a bi-color indicator LED, or two LEDs, to show which frequency response it's set for.

[school]

well hot damn!

[Mark Hammer]

A good Superfuzz sounds like death has come looking for you.  Well, at leastr in the notch setting.  The other switch position is closer to a Foxx Tone Machine in tone.

If you look at the Superfuzz schem, you will see that the notch filter has a .001uf bypass cap.  This is what lets the treble through, while the 10k, 22k, and .1uf roll off the highs and balance out the level of the remaining low signal.

Here's what I suggest as a prescription for you.  Replace that 10k resistor with a 10k, or even 25k pot (linear, probably), and wire it up as if it were a Big Muff tone control, with the wiper going to the volume pot.  In one direction it will reduce the treble, and in the other will increase the nastiness.

The Superfuzz is a really nice design.  I think this will allow it to meet your needs.  FWIW, you can get rid of the tone switch and skip the 47k/10k resistive attenuator.

Report back when done.

[octafish]

Ummmm IIRC //www.home-wrecker.comIn the articles section, goto the bazz fuss page. the deluxe schematic has an input cap blend pot arrangement you might find usefull.
EDIT: fixed the link, I hope.

[school]

mark: where is a decent superfuzz PCB layout? uzzfay utsgay? is that a good one?

[Dan N]

http://ustomp.com/ has the only one I know of. R.G. used to have one, but I have never seen it.

Uzzfay is my site and I kind of think using old layouts that fit in big giant boxes is not the best idea. That said, it has been done...

Good luck!

[Doug_H]

Larger value input capacitors?  That'll block treble and pass more bass.

Phillip

No, that won't block treble. It will just filter out less bass.

Doug

[Mark Hammer]

mark: where is a decent superfuzz PCB layout? uzzfay utsgay? is that a good one?

Don't know.  I had to perf mine to fit a specific chassis.

[shawn]

Larger value input capacitors?  That'll block treble and pass more bass.

Phillip

No, that won't block treble. It will just filter out less bass.

Doug

Doug's correct. It will only filter out less bass. Maybe a cap from input to ground? I think the Boss DD-3 "analog" mod is basically this. Right?

[shawn]

And btw, I find that the ampeg scrambler destroys your signal more if you are doing chords.  The fender blender is the same way except I feel it is slightly less than the ampeg. I've been meaning to try the others.

[Mark Hammer]

Just about ANY octave-up fuzz will generate cacophony with chords.  They have a tendency to produce sideband products (in plain english, they also work like ring modulators).  That in itself is bad enough when you try to bend a string.  Having 6 strings whose pitch varies a little because of finger vibrato or neck bending only makes it worse.  The Scrambler does tend to be a little bit "ruder" tnan many others, but the Foxx Tone Machine and the Green Ringer are not that great for chords either.

Incidentally,  my Green Ringer was clearly performing much better with a hotter signal, so I installed a single FET Stratoblaster booster in it (ahead of the stock circuit) to extract more robust octaves.  Works MUCH better now.