Maestro fuzztone fz-1 diy --- really low volume

[Guilhermec]

Hi

I'm building a clone of the Maestro fuzztone fz-1 and, although the circuit works, i need to crank the amp to be able to hear a little bit of sound...

I used this circuit http://www.freestompboxes.org/wiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?w=&h=&cache=cache&media=fz1correct_schem.jpg
and made only small changes to component values due to lack of the proper ones.

I'm using AC125s and they appear to be working properly
Checked my board over and over and no mistakes found.

Does anybody know a solution to this or why this can be happening?

[LucifersTrip]

I get unity at ~ 50% on my FZ-1A's.  Unfortunately, I only have my notes handy for those, but the voltages should follow a similar pattern to the FZ-1 since they're almost identical

http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/schematics/fz1a.gif

The biggest difference is the smaller resistor on Q2C

Post your voltages as per the debug thread and someone may be able to help...and post the hfe's and leakages of the transistors.
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=29816.0

[Guilhermec]

Unfortunately I won't be able to post the voltages and other informations regarding the circuit till the next weekend ...
Was only hopping to see if the original circuit was correct or something.

thanks for the alternative circuit and i'll be posting the rest soon

[LucifersTrip]

Unfortunately I won't be able to post the voltages and other informations regarding the circuit till the next weekend ...
Was only hopping to see if the original circuit was correct or something.

thanks for the alternative circuit and i'll be posting the rest soon

remember, the 1A is powered by just 1.5V. I love those!

anyway, I forgot to ask...do you actually have a good tone with the low volume or do you only get a farty, gated sound when you bash the strings?

[Guilhermec]

I kinda get a nice tone out of it, i guess, because the volume is really low ...

anyway here go my values for the transistors (they seem kinda weird to me, but what do I know :s):


Q1
C = 3.21
B = 0.62
E = 0.8

Q2
C= 2.88
B= 0.95
E= 0

Q3
C= 3.09
B= 0.02
E= 0

My bateries, in serie, have a voltage of 3.22V

[Guilhermec]

Made a small mistake :

Q2
B = 0.095

[LucifersTrip]

I kinda get a nice tone out of it, i guess, because the volume is really low ...

then, start looking for problems off board...jack wiring, etc...

Q2
C= 2.88
B= 0.095
E= 0

you should get a range for C here.  as the fuzz pot is increased, Q2C should drop. for the FZ1A, mine drops as low as .3-.4V. There is a smaller resistor (1.5K) on the FZ1 collector which will make Q2C voltage higher, tho...but I doubt max should be 2.88

Q3
C= 3.09
B= 0.02
E= 0

Q3C seems a bit too close to 3.22, which means not leaky enough = not fuzzing enough.  For the FZ1A, I get .8 - 1.1V, usually. try tweaking the two 10K's, starting with the one on the base....but definitely try different leakages.

[Guilhermec]

then, start looking for problems off board...jack wiring, etc...

Q2
C= 2.88
B= 0.095
E= 0

you should get a range for C here.  as the fuzz pot is increased, Q2C should drop. for the FZ1A, mine drops as low as .3-.4V. There is a smaller resistor (1.5K) on the FZ1 collector which will make Q2C voltage higher, tho...but I doubt max should be 2.88

Q3
C= 3.09
B= 0.02
E= 0

Q3C seems a bit too close to 3.22, which means not leaky enough = not fuzzing enough.  For the FZ1A, I get .8 - 1.1V, usually. try tweaking the two 10K's, starting with the one on the base....but definitely try different leakages.
[/quote]

Thank you for your reply, definetly will try it out and let you know if it works later!