X FUZZ

[Elijah-Baley]

[...]

Here's my corrected layout:

Finally I'm building this.
I have some question. I probably gonna use a 125B box, so none switches.
But, for an eventually next time I would to know what those switch do.
I got this:
- First switch to choose the input cap 4.7nF or 10nF;
- Second switch to choose the coupling cap 470nF or 1uF;
- Third switch to choose the clipping sections, Yellow Led or Red Led;
- Fourth Switch to choose the output stage. To do what?

Thank you!

[anotherjim]

One of the output options adds an alternative buffer circuit after the tone control. The 2N5088 is the original type (like the last stage of a Big Muff), the JFET one is a Mu-amp type. The original would be the "clearest" sounding I would think, while the Mu-amp should add some of it's own thing.
The board layout you have doesn't have the Mu-amp option, so you don't have a use for that last switch anyway. The layout should hard-wire the original buffer in for you.

[Elijah-Baley]

Thank you, anotherjim!
The original layout is ok.

[Elijah-Baley]

Finished the X-Fuzz on protoboard layout. Now I have to start the debugging.
I got very low volume and just a compressed sound with a bad slight distortion.
The leds don't light up. Hard to say if the pots work well, maybe yes. And the transistors voltages are weird:

Q1
C: 2.42
B: 0.62
E: 0.00

Q2
C: 0.01
B: 0.56
E: 0.00

Q3
C: 8.19
B: 4.06
E: 3.48

Q4
C: 5.67
B: 1.25-0.90 (oscillating)
E: 0.30-0.70 (oscillating)

First time on protoboard. It is a bit difficult!

[anotherjim]

Q2 connector might not be connecting where it should.
Output oscillating might be feedback from Q4 to Q3 because Q2 isn't connection.
On proto boards, make sure the bus strips for power & ground are actually connected. They are often in isolated sections.  They needed linking if you need more than one section.

[Elijah-Baley]

Thanks a lot, anotherjim.
I checked the circuit a a couple of times, and today I found a missing connection between R4 and C6. I gonna fix it tomorrow. Wish me good luck.

[Elijah-Baley]

Done. Not it works! I was expecting a bit of more gain. I'm going to search the old demo in this topic.
Does someone have some demo of this 5-pot version, or at least one close enough to that proto board layout? Thanks.

[Elijah-Baley]

I loved the deadastronaut's videos and finally I built the X-Fuzz, that one with 5 pots, but I don't get that gainy, doomy, extreme and sinthy fuzz of the videos. It is versatile, but it is a pretty regular fuzz.

The cap between first and second stage is 1uF (C4 in the proto board layout), should I change it with a 470nf to get that sick synthy sounds? Is really that cap the key?

Thanks!

[Chrisfromiowa]

[...]

Here's my corrected layout:

Finally I'm building this.
I have some question. I probably gonna use a 125B box, so none switches.
But, for an eventually next time I would to know what those switch do.
I got this:
- First switch to choose the input cap 4.7nF or 10nF;
- Second switch to choose the coupling cap 470nF or 1uF;
- Third switch to choose the clipping sections, Yellow Led or Red Led;
- Fourth Switch to choose the output stage. To do what?

Thank you!

Something very strange is happening with the image host, I see the proper image of the perfboard and the schematic, but I've tried to download the image of the perfboard and get a 3rd party hosting image, but what I see is the perfboard image. Very strange so I want to make sure that in the near future that people can see the perfboard. Regards Chris

[Esppse]

Hello, I've just built the Vero on tagboardeffects. Unfortunately it sounds nothing like the demo, it sounds like an overdrive, no fuzz texture. I've been reading this thread, above there is a 4 transistor version, are they supposed to be totally different sounding? I'm trying to chase the tone from the video demo.

Thanks

[Domin]

I made one from this layout and all i have is just some clean sound, dontknow what could be wrong...

[deadastronaut]

thats not my layout....check you leds are in opposite directions..

the 1uf should be a non polar........not electro.

[Domin]

Hmmm but even if its not your layout, it should work I think...and can you send schematic to first verzion of X Fuzz?

[deadastronaut]

yeah was just saying its not my layout, so im not held responsible for it not working.....

here you go.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybl9lvdz7ljcque/xfuzz.jpg?dl=0

[Domin]

Thanks! Im comparing layout and schematic and they look same...I put same resistors and I have 9,4V battery and on both collectors I have 9,2V and no sound comming from it

[deadastronaut]

are your leds lighting up?...when playing?

[Domin]

No, they arent, if you want I can send you photo of PCB

[bluebunny]

If both your collectors are pretty much the same as your power rail, then there's nowhere for your signal to "wiggle".  So I'm surprised you hear anything at all!  Can you show us some pictures of what you've built?

Edit: simul-post!  Pictures: yes please.  Both sides.

[deadastronaut]

^ yup.... pics please...

[Domin]

Maybe I really made mistake somewhere, I dont know But same problem I had with SMD version of DAM Meathead, I had 9V on Q2 collector too, but when I made THT version it was ok...