Modding a fuzz for bass

[zhx]

I have this tycobrahe octavia clone, that a guy wants me to mod to be more suitable for bass.
I´m thinking 4,7uf input cap. Any other things I should try out? Do I need to tamper with any other cap values? The output cap is already 33uf.

There's the schem:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Library/1355/tychobrahe.gif

[AzzR]

With bass fuzz a wet/dry blend knob is usually a good idea since a lot of circuits mess up low end, or so I've heard anyway.

-Azza

[zhx]

Since there's plenty of volume available, I guess I could put a passive blend knob in there, right?

[fuzzo]

I thinks a blend dry/wet is a good idea, to keep the basses clean and to don't transfom your sound in a "crackle box". You can also increase the input cap's value, to have more bass. I think also, don't use a hi-gain fuzz otherwise it'll have a great porridge. But try, It's the better way to know.

[tommy.genes]

Since there's plenty of volume available, I guess I could put a passive blend knob in there, right?

A passive blend is easy enough to try first to see if you like it. When passively blending between a raging fuzz and a clean bass signal, however, I have found that by the time you match the two in volume, you've turned the fuzz down to where it's lost a lot of its oomph. One solution would be to put a clean(ish) boost in the clean path so that you have more of a merger of equals rather than a hostile takeover.

I recently did some studio work, however, where we gave the clean and effected sounds each their own channel strip on the board and it sounded really good; much better than the sounds I was getting with my own passive blend pedal. This has me wanting to build a new fully-active blender with either separate clean and fx volume knobs, or else a cross-fade or balance control (both signals see unity gain at center detent).

-- T. G. --

[Gus]

The simple thing to try is adjusting the input cap sometimes smaller.

Sometimes with bass increasing the input cap allows more lows and adds to much distortion/harmonics in the mids and highs.

Think about this the cores of the bass strings are bigger than guitar strings and move more magnetic metal in a larger area than a guitar.

So a simple way to adjust for this is to cut just enough lows.  I will try different size input caps with circuits like a FF type and the bass that will be used to find the size that gives the sound I want.

Now this is a taste issue maybe you want a bigger cap or a smaller one or sometimes an effect like a TS sounds OK stock with bass.

Try your 4.7uf than maybe a .1uf to check at different points and hear what happens A bass fuzz I built I like a .047uf as the input cap loaded at 220k

[MikeH]

Search for "buff n blend".  It's just a buffer that allows you to blend between clean and the effect.  The board can be made small enough that it might even fit in the existing enclosure.  If you have to add a pot anyway, you could probably mount it on the back of the pot.  I would work a TON better than a passive blend.

[MikeH]

Here's a layout:

http://aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Toneys-Album/Buff_n_Blend.png.html

[fuzzo]

You've also this one (but more complex to create a layout) :
http://www.hiboox.fr/go/images/divers/bblender,c0005d79b3e46ca7896d4fae4a05978f.gif.html
or
http://www.hiboox.fr/go/images/divers/minbblender,5b2126e05eabd23bc3e58fadbf592349.gif.html

[zhx]

Ok, thanks guys.
I'll have to start testing. The _smaller_ input cap is an interesting take to the subject though. I'll also have to look into the buff'n blend, but with larger caps, right?

oh crap, edit: the circuit itself is +ground, so that blender won't work