2-Transistor FZ-1a/Zonk/TBI, we don't need no stinkin' Q1 buffer..

[frankclarke]

Must do a better soundclip, not distorted enough, but still..
http://www.guitar-pedals-effects.com/Toneblender.html

Twiddling the knobs on open G:
http://www.guitar-pedals-effects.com/bias.mp3

[Dragonfly]

Nice Zep soundclip !

There are TONS of these type circuits that the buffer can be removed...IIRC, the Sam Ash Fuzz, Jen Fuzz, etc, etc can all go "bufferless"...

[frankclarke]

Fanx! I was going to convert the buffer to a gain stage with a volume pot after Q1.  I might still so that, but it would be overkill. The Ace Tone Fuzz Master is an FZ-1a with no input buffer, but it doesn't have a fuzz control either. The "pull down the bias to ground" is pretty awful, unless you adjust it to get a slight edge on the sound. The Vox Tonebender Fuzzface thing would have been so much easier to sell. I just noticed the Orpheum fuzz is pretty close to the Toneblender schem above, but with with fixed bias.

[tcobretti]

That is very cool.  It's funny when you see something simple that hasn't occurred to you before.

Thanks!