Superfuzz

[buzzo83]

Has anyone here ever built a Superfuzz?

[jeroen_verbeeck]

Probably

[buzzo83]

Lol...

[petemoore]

  YES...I have one in a box here.
  SuperFuzzy, does the 'extreme DC charge from upper atmosphere blowing up a power station' thing, lotsa wild harmonics and some octave.
  Mark Hammer IIRC has the notch filter adjust mod...

[tcobretti]

I believe that it is the same circuit as the fuzz used in the Shinei Companion FuzzWah, which I own.  The fuzz is pretty nasty, with a switch that goes from very mid rangy to very mid scooped, but not in a metal way.  I believe that many people think it sounds like crap.  To me it is certanly less cool than most of the classics - Axis Fuzz, Fuzz Face, Mayer Octavia, Scrambler, or even the Bazz Fuzz are the ones I've built that totally outclass the Shinei.  If memory serves it's also fairly complicated when compared to a Bazz, Axis, or FF.  However, it does have its own vibe, and if you are looking for something different, it might be the way to go.

[captntasty]

I just did a build of Steve R's SuperFuzz http://ustomp.com/index.html?menu=2&section=12 .

I added a slight mod - after the build I realized I wanted the combination of both Tone modes (notch and normal).  Put a SPST toggle between the tone switch and board - it couples the two signal paths and defeats the tone switch.

The recordings were done with an Epi LP with Classic '57 pups and a Mex Strat with Custom Shop Texas Special pups.
Signal chain =
guitar -> homebrew Champ amp -> Celestion Vintage 30 -> dynamic close mic'd/condenser far(8 ft) -> mixer -> soundcard

There is some picking that was picked up.


Here are some sound clips:

http://media.putfile.com/SuperFuzzClnLP
http://media.putfile.com/SuperFuzzNormalLP
http://media.putfile.com/SuperFuzzNotchLP
http://media.putfile.com/SuperFuzzDefeatModLP
http://media.putfile.com/SuperFuzzStrat

It's a gnarly fuzz - some speak of slight octave effect but it is by no means an octave up.  Lots of components and transistors - I used 2n2222a's in it for the recordings - I think I actually like the 2N3904's I tried before that.

Hope you give it a build...

[Dragonfly]

check out (search) for mark hammers "scoop mod" ...makes a cool pedal even cooler !

AC

[jmusser]

If you look around here for something like "Technology of the Superfuzz", R.G. goes through the whole circuit like Craig Anderton does in his books, and tells you everything that happens in each section of it. In there, is an addition of a pot to the octave section for matching, to get the best up octave out of it. Ricky Vance (Fat Boy Electronics) used to have some really wicked samples of his. I have it bagged up to do, but have been lacking the time for projects of late.

[Bernardduur]

I really like mine; I added a switch to remove the upper octave and now have a great fuzz!

[Ge_Whiz]

Wasn't it a favourite of Steve Hackett (Genesis)? Some commentators have said that, however distorted it gets, it doesn't get as dissonant as most fuzz boxes, so the sound is always harmonically pleasing.

[RDV]

I perfed mine, which was a NIGHTMARE. I'd like to build another as mine doesn't seem to sound as good as it did. I'm waiting for someone to sell the PCBs like GGG(hint hint).

Samples

RDV