creating the ultimate in versatile fuzz'

[Narcosynthesis]

right, i am thinking of trying to make a really versatile fuzz pedal, basicaly capable of a load of different sounds

i was thinking of using the bazz fuss as the basic circuit, i built one out of some off parts i have about, and while it gated really badly (as i was using the 'wrong' parts) i could completely change the character of it by switching the clipping diode, or swapping form a darlington to single transistor

so the plan is to build a basic bazz fuss, then use switches for swapping clipping diodes, input/output caps and possibly the transistor

so what sort of part changes would you recommend for the bazz fuss? i know the normal one can use 1N34A, 1N914 and leds as the diodes, so how well would some other ones work? a zener or rectifier diode for example?
and what other transistors would be practical, possibly something like the silicon one listed and some form of germanium one if it would work...

basically i have half a plan in my head, and would like some ideas/input form you guys (who know quite a bit more about this stuff than i do)

David

[octafish]

While you might have some trouble biasing the germanium transistor I think replacing the resistor with a trimpot should allow you to use just about any NPN BJT. However I found the darlingtons to be the best answer in this case. Everything else you can- "Socket and see".

Hmm, I'm assuming you are using the schem at //www.home-wrecker.com if so definately build the cap blend input of the deluxe bazz fuss. I didn't find the dirt contol that useful though, YMMV.

My 2 cents: The most versatile fuzz I have ever built has been a modified tripple fuzz with a switchable notch filter from the superfuzz tacked on. Even without the notch the tripple is a killer. Google "circuit snippets" for this and other nuggety goodness from Tim Escobedo.

edit: fixed the home-wrecker link, no more porn, I hope there were no popups or dialers, sorry.

[Mark Hammer]

Sounds to me like you want to build this on a breadboard.  That's not a snarky comment.  Rather, the somewhat extensive plans you have for this will likely result in a veritable rat's nest of wires (and after working with rats for the better part of a decade, I know what these look like!) with leads having to inevitably run to places where they place the high gain circuit at risk of instability or unwanted oscillations....if only because not all switches can occupy the same place at the same time.

In view of the degree of flexibility you desire, the smartest thing may simply be to have an essentially solderless system in place, with well documented locations of things and enough space to replace components with other values.  You might note that breadboards can often be easily bought for $10, which is what a lot of very inexpensive places will charge you for a pre-made PCB, so a breadboard is really not that expensive for a place to stick a circuit permanently, all things considered.

At the very least, I would think that you'd want to make a significant portion of the critical components (e.g., transistors or IC's) socketed in some way so that toggle switches could be kept to a blessed minimum.

If anyone has ever experimented with using a breadboard as PCB substitute, inside a chassis prepped for gigging, I'd be interested in hearing from them here, and I suspect you'd be interested too.

[jmusser]

One thing you have to consider here, is that you may want to actually "USE" this thing when you get done with it. I have been messing around with this circuit with Marcos lately, and the thing you run into with versatilty, is you end up with something the size of a dictionary, just to cover what has to be adjusted what way, to produce what sound! Then you throw your pickup, tone and volume selection off your guitar into the mix, and things get out of control in a hurry. Yea, you've just created the "Global Transfuzzicator", but now, you have to try to operate it. OK... let's look at Chapter 4, subparagraph b6, on setting up a boosted clean tone with an up octave fuzz break up..... :shock:  :?

[80k]

Hmm, I'm assuming you are using the schem at //www.homewrecker.com if so definately build the cap blend input of the deluxe bazz fuss. I didn't find the dirt contol that useful though, YMMV.

man!  i clicked on that link when i was at work... not work-safe!

might want to fix that url to www.home-wrecker.com
(homewrecker is a porn site)

[Narcosynthesis]

i was thinking more of using switches than pots for things like caps, basically switch to choose between two caps (or both) and the only knob being the volume

as for using it, with what i was intending it wouldnt be too complicated, as everythign would be layed out fairly logically, two covered switches at either side for the 'bigger' effects, like switching a transistor (if possible) and diodes, then the switches for things like caps at the top
and to be honest, i will probably jus tend up finding one setting and sticking to it if it works out, i am really building it for the fun of getting everything sorted out and working

for building on breadboard, i have a small board at home, which i was probably going to test out a few things on first before building, but i wouldnt consider using it in a stompbox, it would be too easy for components t get bumped out of hte sockets or into each other (short circuit) from the pedal getting bashed about, so i would prefer to have everything soldered up properly

how susceptable to oscillation and the like would the circuit be? its a very simple base circuit so i wouldnt have thought it would be too bad

David

[Torchy]

Can you spell "Skyripper"

Get Joe Gagan's schem and look at the techniques he used

[Mark Hammer]

David,

How susceptible to oscillation would it be?  Realistically, probably not very.  I had the initial impression that you were aiming for something more, uh, "customizable" than your last posting conveys.  My concern was that in order to create the flexibility, you were going to end up with too many unshielded wires criss-crossing dangerously close to where they ought not to be.  It sounds like you are planning something less problematic than what I was imagining, though.  So, carry on.  Just make sure you think through the control layout before you start drilling and soldering, that's all.  

Another thing to consider is creative use of dipswitches.  They can help to reduce stray wires and certainly reduce costs, relative to toggles and often even pots.  Keep in mind that three well-chosen resistors or capacitors, used in combination with a dipswitch, can yield about as many value variations as a person might realistically want.

[Narcosynthesis]

the plan is pretty much the bazz fuss circuit, and where the input and output caps are, the diode is, and hopefully the transistor i would use switches to let me choose between altarnative parts, so i would have three diodes wired up, and use the switches to choose which ones are 'active'

anyone got any recommendations for diodes or transistors i could use? i am looking for a range of different ones that would give me some cool and different sounds (but all pretty useful)
from home wrecker i was thinking of using 1N914's and an led, possibly multiples of these too. any other diodes i could use? i know there are hundred of different types and varietys of diodes
and what transistors would be useful, the schem uses a MPSA13, what about a ge transistor of some sort?

David

[Arn C.]

Besides the different types of diodes, you can also use different color LED's....

Peace!
Arn C.

[Narcosynthesis]

Besides the different types of diodes, you can also use different color LED's....

Peace!
Arn C.

wouldnt leds all be roughly the same sound? at least compred to using a 1N914 or an led?

David

[aron]

This is not a direct answer to your question, but check out this site and the GM arts distortion pedal.

http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/ampovdrv.htm

[Narcosynthesis]

thats a pretty cool link

i will try breadboarding everything and using different combinations of diodes in varying amounts, are there any set combinations i should try? some in series/parallel or parallel but turned round (likeused in some of the circuits in the link for asymetrical clipping)
i am not sure how the diodes used in the circuits in that link wil lcross over, as they are for op amp circuits, not transistors

i was playing about in uni yesterday with some diodes and a signal generator/oscilloscope, watching how using a couple different diodes clipped either the top or bottom half of the signal (depending on orientation) and the differing amounts different diodes clipped it, pretty cool to see (though probably really obvious if you know much electronics) thinking along those lines, adding a diode across the hot and ground lines anywhere in the signal would clip it a bit and add distortion, but i guess that would drop the volume too

David

[Mark Hammer]

You are also recommended to read the article/tech-note on "warping" over at Jack Orman's site - www.muzique.com

It is another excellent resource on innovative ways to use diodes and think about clipping.