Biasing a Ge Fuzzrite??s

[superferrite]

I have had one of these built for months but it is extremely polite compared to the Si version I made.
Since I had a dozen or so transistors I tried to swap them all but they're not really hitting that wicked fuzz I'm thinking of.
Which of the resistors should I tweak, etc, and what hfe should I be shooting for here?

Any advice?
Oh, I used this layout courtesy of His Holiness Dragonfly:
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album18/album144/GERMANIUM

[Solidhex]

Yo

  You want the first transistor higher in gain than the second one. Like reverse your usual fuzz face gains and don't be afraid to stick some leaky guys in there.

--Brad

[sengo]

Also, try to get the low hfe transistor very low (I think a gain between 30-60 hfe) and the higher one quite high (300 hfe is about right if I remember). In my experience you don't need to tweek the resistor values at all, I built several and they all nailed that In-a-gadda-da-vida sound. I've actually been considering rebuilding my last one, I've been missing it

Nick

edit: I almost forgot, make sure you are building it based on the Germanium Fuzzrite schematic, it is slighty different than the silicon one.

[superferrite]

Leaky low gain transistors?
GOT EM!

I think I can do this--thanks guys!
I can't wait to crank it with my Harmony Bobkat.  Gotta work on Gloria...

[superferrite]

Finally got it together again with the Hi gain/Lo gain suggestion.
And HOLY SMOKES!

I can do a wicked sax impression and the guitar characteristics still cut through!
My Si fuzzrite is way nastier, but I think this one will really be able to be on the pedal board.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, it really dialed this build in.

PS, you don't need a stinking LED indicator on this one--no doubt at all when it is ON!

[sengo]

Glad to hear you like it! It's definitely an interesting fuzz, I thought the fuzz pot was screwed up on mine until I built a second one, then I found it to be awesome. Sort of sitarish if I remember.

[superferrite]

RIGHT!

There is a small range on the tone knob where if you pick near the bridge with the bridge pickup engaged, it is sitar city!

[Solidhex]

RIGHT!

There is a small range on the tone knob where if you pick near the bridge with the bridge pickup engaged, it is sitar city!

  Yeah,

  Since the depth knob is blending between two out of phase signals  that's probably where they are perfectly balanced. Gets a little of that octavey ring modyness. Pretty subtle but rad.

--Brad

[kupervaser]

Hello, I built the germanium Fuzzrite from this verolayout:


Is it neceeessarry to bias the both transistors? If yes, which resistors should I be swapping?

Thanx in advance,

[8mileshigh]

Mine rips with a 160hfe for Q1 and a 30 hfe for Q2.  It is the best fuzz I've built to date.

Chris

[kupervaser]

Allright, but what about biasing the transistors?

I use some of the Russian transistors. I thought I might have to bias them correctly, like to 4,5V on the collector, both of them.
Any idea if it is neccessary?

[superferrite]

Just resurrecting this thread for all FuzzRite lovers.

I don't think biasing is as necessary as in a fuzzface--just follow the Q1=high hFe, Q2=low hFe advice and let it rip your face off.

My Ge Fuzzrite has finally found its way onto my pedalboard and it's staying.  Works great with a guitar volume knob unlike my Si version.  Put a boost in front of it and you can get nice note-bloom effects sorta like Neil Young. 

DO IT!

[kupervaser]

I might did something wrong. The pedal just doesn't sound right. When turning the gain knob to the right, I get more fuzz but also a voume and a huge bass drop.