Fuzz powered by pickups alone

[Uma Floresta]

I seem to remember seeing some schematic or project at one point of a very simple fuzz that is just powered by the signal from the pickups somehow. Does this ring any bells?

[GREEN FUZ]

Yep. There is a device called black ice or something, consisting of a couple of diodes, which is supposed to give you previously unattainable levels of rich creamy distortion, without the aid of a battery.

Myself, I`m doubtful.

[JimRayden]

Couple of Schottky diodes back to back from signal to ground. Works excellent with a humbucker, although reduces the overall signal output.

Gives a light and enjoyable little crunch with single coils, too.

------------
Jim

[GREEN FUZ]

Here you go.

http://www.stewmac.com/FreeInfo/Electronics/Misc/i-5065.html

[montezuma]

The Black Ice supposedly consists of two antiparallel Schottky diodes - there's information on the Project Guitar forums.
http://projectguitar.com/tut/madsci/blackicetweedoverdrive.JPG

Also, read here:
http://diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=56486.0

[Mark Hammer]

Note that the underlying assumption here is that when the forward voltage of a diode is low enough, no additional gain is required to bring the signal up to a level that would be clipped by that diode.  The gain provided by the typical diode-based overdrive also assumes that when the gain is high enough, a longer portion of the note's entire lifespan will be above clipping threshold and that the "effect" will not simply disappear after the first few moments.  In the case of the Black Ice, the pickup output may start out high enough to result in clipping, but in the absence of any additional active amplification, the clipping will be very short-lived unless you have hot overwound HBs and are strumming all 6-strings.  To put it another way, do not expect more than a brief bit of extra treble when playing the unwound strings high up.

Having said that, it may well be the case that the little bit of clipping the unit does provide makes for an interesting and musically valid input signal to the first pedal.  It'll probably bugger up a compressor or autowah by reducing dynamics, but it may be interesting to simply boost and feed to an amp or real overdrive.

[Taylor]

ZVex actually made a passive boost and a passive dirty octave box. They both used a specially designed transformer to do their thing. They were called "Earth Saver Boost" and "Earth Saver Octave". A Google search should find the pictures, if not I have them on my computer.

[Uma Floresta]

I thought I had subscribed to this, and figured there were no responses. Oops! Thanks for the info, everyone.

[bumblebee]

http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/store/Z-Vex-Earth-Saver-Boost-passive-gain-dist-pedal-ZVEX_200305929380.html

[Taylor]

What fine hydroponic gear.