My germanium octave doubler prototype was finished today.

[Pedal love]

These are the last sound files I have. It doesn't give it justice. Poor recordings and I have carpel tunnel, so I really pushed myself to overplay, which hurt the sounds. These are bad driver fuzz:

http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdrv4.wav
http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdrv.wav

[$uperpuma]

Ft. Worth Fuzz

(bedford here)

[Pedal love]

OK...one more.

http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdrv5.wav

[soulsonic]

It sounds like something that could be usable. I see what you say about it being like a good Fuzz Face.
Did you ever come up with something that worked for the octave thing?
I know what it's like trying to play with carpal tunnel. I'm starting to get it too, and it's rough to try and play when your hands are numb.

[Pedal love]

Its not really another fuzz face by any means, but its not a bad 60's sounding fuzz. The octavia thing is going to take longer to work out. We'll see. I think it needs more current drive. If you use strictly voltage amps, preamps, I don't think you create enough force, to drive the octave section right, as far as my design works. My whole out look is that I am tired of the whole germanium transistors are just bad, attitude. So I went on my own trek to see what can be done. They are more noisy but the process of selection is helpful. Also seek specific germaniums, that may have lower gain but have low leakage, which is obviously, the main  problem with noise.

Carpal tunnel is awful. Fortunately at this point I have only ulnar tunnel syndrome. It affects only the ring and pinky of my hand, but is still a bitch when playing guitar. My doctor says 90% of these improve on their own. Try to keep  your hands and arms, from exerting as much direct pressure as possible. The numb thing is weird. Its hard to get used to especially for guitar. Give the whole thing a few months to run its course. If it doesn't improve in 6 months you might want to talk to a surgeon. Thanks for your concern. Terence 

[soulsonic]

If you need more current drive with germaniums, you could try something like a Deacy amp. It's basically the circuit used in most old transistor radios; a push-pull pair of AC128s that drives a little output transformer.

[Pedal love]

I tried the section the deacy was made after a one watt mullard amp that is a very commonly seen circuit. It uses two oc81ds with a transformer at the output.
I hated the sound. Too under powered for me. I think the deacy had expanded it to a larger output, which might be silicon. If I could use a deacy and modify the output to use germanium power transistors, like the ones used in the 1950's for car radios or later vox amps thats cool. If the deacy uses germanium output, I will try the deacy as it is. Just know that I am trying to keep the whole thing germanium. To use any silicon amps to drive it is not my intent. Terence

[Pedal love]

Here is the driver with the octave circuit for those who are interested. i hate the sound.

http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdv6.wav

[demonstar]

Hey, that last sound clip is a very similar tone to that of the solo of purple haze. You may have a new hendrixian pedal.

[Pedal love]

Hey, that last sound clip is a very similar tone to that of the solo of purple haze. You may have a new hendrixian pedal.

WONDERFUL!

[joelap]

Hey, that last sound clip is a very similar tone to that of the solo of purple haze. You may have a new hendrixian pedal.

+1, I thought that actually sounded pretty darn good!

Also, love the homemade Darlington combo on the last stage of the Bad Driver.  A homemade germanium darlington... sounds awesome in concept alone!

[RedHouse]

So are we gonna see a schem? you initial post spoke of posting a schematic.

Nice sound-clip BTW

[Pedal love]

Thanks for your kind words. While I agree the sound of the octave circuit driven by the bdf is interesting, I really think it is too confined and trebly. I found a fuzz as I was working on a section of the driver and added a darlington configuration. I actually felt it might drive the octave circuit better. Maybe there should be more research into building germanium darlington transistors. I really don't know. What I have been concerned with from the start is the same. Germanium transistors must continue to be produced and used. They are harder to work with but the character, (in my opinion) is far superior to silicon.

The octave circuit schematic will have to wait. I am still working on the octave section and will continue. I can't release anything unless it sounds right. Theres just too much noise for the most part and it would be a frustrating build at this point. Give me a bit more time. Thank you, Terence.

[Pedal love]

I did another sound file on the driver. It sounds pretty good on chords. Unfortunately my hand feels like I have been laying on it, ulnar tunnel syndrome, so pardon the playing. Thanks and happy building.

http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdrv7.wav

I have to apologize for the sound files. I can only upload 1/2 meg at a time. I can't do mp3 either. Trying to get mp3 going.

[Pedal love]

I built one with the driver and the octave circuit under one roof with one battery, not two different circuits. Again, I apologize about the brevity of the clips.

http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdr8.wav
http://www.classicfuzz.com/bdr9.wav

[Pedal love]

I have received messages about the driver circuit. On the schematic, the negative side of 20uf capacitor, thats between the base of q3 and the 100k potentiometer, should not be connected to the emitter of q4. Terence

[Pedal love]

I finally got the whole germanium octavia designed and in one pedal powered by 9 volt battery(its all positive ground with pnp germs)

Heres the final products sound: 

http://www.classicfuzz.com/geoct1.wav

I hope you like and thanks for all of the positive responses. Now I can move on to other builds.