fuzz factory QUICK question

[guitarbobby]

Hi, I'm going by the schematic from http://membres.multimania.fr/davpseudo/ffactorx.htm

There are 2 wiring diagrams for the switch, I'm not an electronics expert (understatement) but they both seem to look like they do the same thing, connecting the 2 jacks to either a little jumper, or the circuit in/out. I see one has grounds marked on, the other has an ungrounded output. Which should I use? The pots will be mounted into a guitar scratchplate and the circuit goes inside the guitar (similar to a certain famous guitarist...) so I was thinking of soldering some ground wires to the back of the volume pots and then to the tremolo springs. But like I say I'm no expert!

Thanks
Bob

[PRR]

> the other has an ungrounded output.

That won't work if wired exactly as drawn.

It probably expects a metal case so that the output jack gets ground through the case from the input jack.

I like the other drawing better.

[guitarbobby]

that makes sense, thanks

[faptdivers]

You know it won`t transform you into Matthew Bellamy right?

[guitarbobby]

You know it won`t transform you into Matthew Bellamy right?

I have seen videos of peoples DIY fuzz factor x boxes before, and what they sound like, but I just have a feeling that mine wont sound the same, it will be slightly naff-er because I will get something wrong. I dont really like Matthew Bellamy, jsut some of his equipment. I have wanted to put some kind of tremolo rate dial on a guitar for ages, but it would be hard as I know nothing about electronics and the "inside a guitar fuzz factor DIY" is better documented on the internet than anything else (mostly because of MB I guess). I am however hoping it will transform me into sonic youth!

[tubelectron]

Hi guitarbobby,

I had in hands a ZVEX Fuzz Factory (hand-painted, green sparkle housing, nice...) and I traced the schematic. THe 1st Q is a MPSA18, the 2 others are PNP Ge TO-5/TO-39 and are not AC128 - these are labelled ZVEX-609. I hadn't the time to measure it, unfortunately.

I replicated on lab board the Fuzz Factory circuit for analysis purposes, and none of the AC125, 126, 128, 132, 2N527, Toshiba 2SA, 2SB, etc... That I tested worked as good as the ZVEX-609 in A/B comparison. All my Q's are fully measured and are correct (Hfe = 50-200 for Ib=10µA, Ice0 = 50-200µA on 9VDC Vce). The AC128 and 2N527 sounded good amongst others, but ZVEX-609 gave more sweet and progressive fuzz decay, mainly at low fuzz settings and sag power pot at hi setting, that the others were not able to match.

Without reliable information on these ZVEX609 (time was my enemy !), I didn't go further.

A+!