Fuzztone Reissue differences

[jimbob]

I just bought my second one of these. It seems a lot fidderent than the last one. Is it my imagination or is there going to be some sound differences between these due to the Original-type 2N2613 NPN/PNP transistors?

[petemoore]

just bought my second one of these.
 ...what is "These"
  Is it my imagination or is there going to be some sound differences between these due to the Original-type 2N2613 NPN/PNP transistors?
  ...Hard to tell for certain without knowing what circuit but, Ge transistors in Fuzzes IME always sound different one to the next.
  Note the transistor voltages for another source of comparison reference.
  In all the Ge's Fuzzes Iv'e built, interviews with many transistors in the socketted positiions rendered results which made all the Q swapping troubles [swap, measure/reset bias, test] seem worthwhile.

[jimbob]

It was the Maestro/Gibson Fuzz- tone reissue- I didnt care for the way the last one sounded so i traded it. This one sounds great to my ears.  And i got it new for 5$. So im happy with it.

Thanks.

[Bluesgeetar]

Everything I have read and seen shows the 2N270 RCA big black jobs in the Original Fuzztone.  I mean I may be wrong but I have an original vintage 1964 Maestro Fuzztone FZ1 and it has huge black RCA 2N270 in it.

I got a 66 FZ1A that has some old Matsushita and TEN trannys in it.  Both sound awsome.  Both fart different.

[brett]

Everything I have read and seen shows the 2N270 RCA big black jobs in the Original Fuzztone

My research indicates that the FZ-1 had 2N270s and the FZ-1a had the 2N2613s.  The latter are still in production (Sanyo, I think).  The circuits are quite similar.  But they are poorly designed for unit-to-unit consistency, relying on leakage for biasing Q2 (FZ-1a) or Q2 and Q3 (FZ-1).  Given that leakage varies over at least an order of magnitude, the base bias is gunna vary lots, so I suspect that different units will have quite different amounts of headroom.  Also, as with most Ge transistors, hFE is likely to vary quite a bit.

In all, no real surprise that different units sound different.

[Bluesgeetar]

This old guy I know over the net used to work at Gibson way back and confirmed to me that on the FZ1A they did from time to time use Japanese trannys in FZ1A.  He said they got huge batches from American/Japanese salesmen for electronic components.  He said they sounded awsome so they threw them in during runs but that they never did officially start going with Japanese trannys due to agreements with USA suppliers.  I also have an old Sekova Fuzztone that actaully kicks both of my Maestros ass.  The Sekova is my baby!   It's got magical Shinto dust in it.