Foxx Tone Machine Done..easy build- unique too

[jimbob]

I built this today. I hated that it had so many damned 10 uf electro caps but it really is a unique little gem. I guess some people dont like this- at least thats what I got from reading threads- But I like it. I built it according to the GGG site. To my suprise it started up the 1st try. That ussually never happed to me when I perfed projects. Now that im etching them myself it makes the whole job ALOT easier and a lot less time consuming.

Anyone else build this thing and like it? Or is it just my taste in something different?

[Mark Hammer]

You've got great taste my friend.  I love this little sucker.  The fuzz itself is nothing to write home about, but I find the octave-up to be one of the more soulful ones out there.

The tone control itself can be something that one likes or that one finds irritating.  Me, I'm undecided.  Where the BMP uses a pot to pan between the lowpass and highpass sides of two parallel filters, the FTM provides what is essentially a notch/scoop filter, comprised of the 3300pf bypass cap, 47nf cap to ground, 22k resistor and 4k7 resistor.  The 50k pot acts essentially like a continuation of the 4k7 resistor and also a series resistor for the bypass cap.  When panned all the way to the treble end, the content passing through the 3300pf cap is given prominence, and the content passing throgh the resistors+pot is downplayed, for a more nasal sound.  It shifts the tone, though not as obviously as the BMP control does.  On the other hand, for an octave-up unit, the squawkiness tends to nicely complement the octave-on setting at the same time as the capacity to mute the sizzle somewhat complements the octave-off fuzz.  Put simply, there are probably better tone controls for an octave tone, and better tone controls for a fuzz, but few that handle both duties without having to change too much.

If the tone control doesn't please you, one alternative is the two-position tone switch found in the Superfuzz that selects between mid-scoop or no scoop.

[jmusser]

Mark, while you're on the topic of the FTM, do you think there is enough difference between it's tone, and the Dano French Toast, to warrant building it? From the sound samples I've heard of it, they sound fairly similar, and I believe I read somewhere that the French Toast was modeled after the FTM. If I remember right from a past thread, Pete Moore said something about it having Si diodes instead of Germs, and it helps to change them out due to the clipping differences. I've never pulled it apart to look in there, but I'd assume it's a surface mount board. So far, the only thing I've heard that's more wicked sounding, that I have built, is the Digital Octaver Fuzz. It goes into a high pitch fizz that is close to white noise!

[Mark Hammer]

I haven't been able to do any A/B comparison myself.  I have not personally verified it, but the French Toast IS reputed to be a FTM clone, and given the age of the FTM circuit, and the propensity for Danelectro to incorporate some post-copyright classics into their mini-pedal line, I don't doubt this at all.  Any changes to the diodes should not affect the octaving aspect, just the fuzz aspect.  If you have a "piece of toast", and like the octaving, then I can see no reason to build the FTM other than if you wanted to tinker with mods (e.g., tone control), or wanted to lay out the controls differently in some manner (e.g., footswitchable octave function).  Even there, the FT should be adaptable to another chassis for modding purposes.  IMHO, save your energy (and 10uf caps!).  There are other fish to fry.

[jimbob]

I say catch ALL the fish and fry them. That way you know you got the right one. Until not, this thread, I never new about the similatities beween the FTM and the Dano. Ive owned the Dano and not fond of small plastic enclosures but the sound WAS good. Id never Gig with it though. But one of my main reasons for building it was for a collection of the classics. One by one, Im going through and building my own collection of the classics. Some are great, and some are better than others. But the main thing is that i HAVE them. Some times out of bored I look at the projects lying along shelves, I look at a drying, curing, shelf of enclosures admiring my paint jobs and day dreaming of whats next and what will go with what. Silly, I know. But, I enjoy the fruits of my labor and enjoy the labor as I find it relaxing and a great time to relax my mind away from work, grad school, screaming children, and a lawn that needs mowed.

To sum it up: Im sure there will be more pedals I'll build that will only sound "decent" but I dont care. Ive collected the ones for a pedal board/s I'd more likely use anyway. So, build them all.

[Doug_H]

Here's where you can get a real gen-u-ine Dano French Toast:

http://www.bayharborhockey.org/Danos.htm

Doug

[MartyMart]

Here's where you can get a real gen-u-ine Dano French Toast:

http://www.bayharborhockey.org/Danos.htm

Doug

I HAVE TO MOVE TO THE USA !!!
Those prices are fantastic  !! it would cost "tripple" that in London  :cry:

.... come to think of it, most things cost double/tripple over here ... what's that all about ??

Marty.   hmmm ......

[jimbob]

Thats was funny

[Yun]

i LOVE the foxx tone machine, man!!!!!!

I like how you can get all sorts of sounds/tones out of it.  i'm not a fan of octave up effects, however this Tone machine is the only octave up that i've liked.  Sounds like hendrix, man    .

[Wild Zebra]

Out of all the pedals I've made.  Every time someone plugs into the FTM
Its they're fav.  I really like it,l it was one of my first GGGbuilds.  I was totally surprised when I plugged it in (1 it worked and 2 it sounded awesome)

[sovtek50]

I have not personally verified it, but the French Toast IS reputed to be a FTM clone, and given the age of the FTM circuit, and the propensity for Danelectro to incorporate some post-copyright classics into their mini-pedal line, I don't doubt this at all.  

Important note in defense of Danelectro:
Foxx-chief and -founder Steve Ridinger has been the president of Danelectro Co. since the 90s. So I guess it's okay if he clones his own design... :wink:

[Mark Hammer]

Well that's a hoot. :lol:

My comments were not made as any sort of criticism.  Indeed, I see resurrecting some classics at affordable prices as something of a community service. This is entirely in keeping with the tradition of a company that used masonite to produce low-cost instruments that the average person could afford.  

On a more general note, other than Roger Mayer and Mike Matthews, how many other folks from "the golden era" are still heading up pedal companies/divisions?  It doesn't have to be their own original line, just something where there is a historical connection over time.