fuzz face clone help

[sushimandaddi]

im trying to build a fuzz face clone from scratch. i am trying to understand the addition of leds to tell when its on and off, using a stereo jack to cut off the battery when not in use, adding a power supply jack (standard boss type), and finally adding a noise gate.

[nomorebetts]

This should help to explain the off board wiring a little:

http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/thoughts/wiring-up-a-1590b/

[smallbearelec]

Can't help you with the noise gate, nor should you think about adding that till you have a FF fully working on its own. Otherwise, it's too steep a learning curve.

BREADBOARD IT FIRST!

http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/Breadboarding/BreadboardIntro.htm
http://www.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/BreadboardSiFF/BreadboardSiFF.htm

Those tutorials will get you to a working circuit minus power switching and in-use LED, which is where you should aim to be before adding those features. You may be able to find the parts locally if you don't want to buy my kit.

This article:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Projects/FurFace/FurFace.htm

discusses adding power switching and in-use LED and describes a fully-realized build.

It's all done in silicon for economy and ease of setup, but, when you get that far, making it germanium is close to plug-and-play.

Regards
Steve Daniels

[tubelectron]

Hi,

You probably don't need a noise gate, as a well built FF has a very little noise. smallbearelec is right : BREADBOARD IT FIRST!



A+!

[petemoore]

i am trying to understand the addition of leds to tell when its on and off,   
  Think of it as a completely separate circuit, the LED and the current limiting resistor [3k3 ?]...just happens to be able to share the circuits 9v power supply, put through an SPST switch allows it to turn on/off...consider the SPST as 2 of the 3 lugs left over after bypass wiring is assigned to a 3PDT [three double pole double switches, two are needed to bypass input-circuit/circuit-output, leaving one 'column' of lugs open, a throw and a pole can then turn on/off the separate LED circuit as it bypasses/effect switches.
  Using a stereo jack to cut off the battery when not in use,
  Work with a DMM, a stereo jack and mono phono plug, find the *ring/*sleeve switches to connected condition when the mono-plug-sleeve connects *them, they are separated when the plug [sleeve] is removed. Use the DMM in 'beep mode' to detect the connection of the jack Ring/Sleeve when mono plug is inserted, also to test that the ring is otherwise not connected to anything yet [Battery or V+ goes here], and the same true for the jack sleeve [which will be assigned/connected to ground]. Either the input or output jack has been used, only 1 power switch is needed, I had good luck with stereo input jack /ps switch wiring.
  adding a power supply jack (standard boss type), and finally adding a noise gate.
  I used the same method as the input jack switch PS trick. Ferreted out that the DC jacks also do different things [depending on how they're made/labeled]...and simply use DC jacks and floating, regulated DC outputs for power supply, eliminating input jack power switching and battery clip. ie...other pages and study of components in hand [jack plug, and whatever switch may be in the jack, as well as does the jack body connect to ground...etc. lots to ferret out in my experience], perhaps something 'color by number' with part #'s etc. could be found, can be tricky.
  Noise gate...that's a whole nuther ball of wax that is a bit bigger in most respects than the FF circuit.
  Making a FF gate is generally something that is asked about in terms of how to eliminate or use it to wierd effect, simply mis-bias the circuit.
  Recommend Si FF circuit, negative ground [Fuzzcentral Axis Face] trimpot where Q2 collector resistor was [I like 10k trimpot + 4k7 resistor there...allows 4k7 through 14k7 adjustable collector bias resistance], but if you want gating perhaps a wider range would be needed...IIRC the range mentioned did cause gate-out of soft notes, for that effect + biased FF sound, make the trimpot a surface mount pot instead.