features for a fuzz

[iainpunk]

i want to build a few fuzz pedals to sell. i have a prototype which i love the sound of, it really works in a mix and cuts through, but its not very 'fancy' since it only has 2 controls, of which, one is the volume.

im kind of looking for features to add as to make it more sale-able.

its currently a jfet input stage, followed by a 555 timer in monostable mode, going into the volume control.
so basically a comparator fuzz with a control to limit the maximum frequency. this gives it a cool block wave / broken computer growl in the top end, an the frequency range of the growl can be changed by the 2nd control.

its simple but sounds great, but its not very 'sexy', so i was wondering i anyone had an idea to add something to it.

im tempted to add a big muff tone stack, with modified values to retain more midrange, but im not entirely sure since this would largely change the character of the sound

thanks in advance and cheers,
Iain

[Elektrojänis]

How about something a bit more conventional in parallel with your 555 fuzz and a blend control between the two. That could broaden the specrum of possible uses. All out 555 madness would be possible, but you could also mix in a bit of something that will retain more of the original notes and still have some broken computer madness in there. Plain clean blend wouldn't probably work because vety different dynamics, but mixed in conventional fuzz/distortion just might... And the combination could have it's own cool sound too.

[iainpunk]

How about something a bit more conventional in parallel with your 555 fuzz and a blend control between the two. That could broaden the specrum of possible uses. All out 555 madness would be possible, but you could also mix in a bit of something that will retain more of the original notes and still have some broken computer madness in there. Plain clean blend wouldn't probably work because vety different dynamics, but mixed in conventional fuzz/distortion just might... And the combination could have it's own cool sound too.

this
i hadn't thought of it yet, and it might bring back some clarity at the more extreme settings.
maybe something soft clipping, with enough gain to be full, but not to be squashed.

thanks for the suggestion!

cheers

[Vivek]

Would variable pre-fuzz EQ add something meaningful ?

[Vivek]

Could we add a frequency divider / multiplier to the output of the 555 ?

[Phend]

Labeling is very important, kids select the cereal because of the box, and the prize inside (if available).  Andy Warhol, the artist designed the Campbell's soup label(s).

"Small Torn Campbell's Soup Can (Pepper Pot), 1962.
  In May 2006 the painting sold for $11.8 million."

[niektb]

A variable HPF pre-fuzz is always useful I guess

[Phend]

[pinkjimiphoton]

Would variable pre-fuzz EQ add something meaningful ?

yeah, a hipass filter before the fuzz would probably make it more useable in some ways... less bass would lead to less fuzz, may help some folks. i dunno. would have to try it. its brilliant on classic fuzzes, but on something like this, crap shoot.

me? i'd try and add some kinda weird ass modulation like on an ugly face with lfo

[Elektrojänis]

thanks for the suggestion!

And while you are at it, how about two of your 555 circuits in parallel with different frequency settings? That "garbling" of the high notes might get interesting when the frequencies dont match.

I quess the blend with more standard fuzz might be better seller, but then again who knows...

[idy]

flashing or color-changing lights
smoke machine
NSFW graphics and name
dummy toggles marked "mojo" "magic" and "mayhem"
+1 on variable HP on input

[Steben]

variable f1 bandpass? Yes, fixed wah

[iainpunk]

yes, the variable input highpass is a good idea, although, its already kind of transparent in its own nature. It already reacts to pickup selection, from high sustain square wave type sounds from a neck humbucker to crunchy 'fuzz war' type tones with a bridge singlecoil, a variable HPF might enhance that indeed. the 555 timer has most of its function with the higher overtones already, and those get squared up and then skipped or divided in its weird ways to produce its signature gargling sounds, i think that lowering the amplitude of fundamental frequencies accentuates the character even more... nice

adding a clock divider might be cool, but probably not what im looking for in this fuzz, it already divides overtones and does some cool stuff with it due to its receptiveness to the higher harmonics coming in, adding a clock divider would take an already pitch fu#ked signal and changes its overtones even more towards the low end of the spectrum, a bit to similar to double up in my taste.

i think a full wave rectifier style octave up would be a more suitable frequency changing option, but id rather put that in parallel than in series with this unit. the upside of a green-ringer-ish octave is its cleanliness and the articulation it allows for.

ill be updating with my decisions later, i have to think about it for a while before i commit to an idea

cheers

edit: its now about 6 hours (and a joint) later than i wrote the above,,, I forgot to klick the 'post' button before closing my laptop

ive been thinking it over an i will go with the full wave rectifier as a parallel circuit and adding a variable HPF in front of the 555 circuit.

ill probably experiment with a filtering mixer circuit, i have some cool ideas for that as well, but it requires atleast 2 more controls, of which one is a dual gang and after some experimentation ill come to the conclusion that its not that good of a feature and go for a simple mixer, haha

ill probably start another thread when im further along with the design. when im finished, ill post a perfboard layout and schematics, and maybe even pictures of finished units

cheers, Iain

[vigilante397]

I understand the desire to add more features, but frankly the best-selling original circuit I have only has two knobs (gain and volume) and people love it because it's simple and sounds good. So take a simple, easy-to-use circuit that sounds good, put it in a good-looking enclosure, and smile all the way to the bank.

I have another unit that's basically the same circuit with a 3-band tonestack added, and it sells well, but people aren't as wildly excited about it. Simplicity has an appeal.

[iainpunk]

I understand the desire to add more features, but frankly the best-selling original circuit I have only has two knobs (gain and volume) and people love it because it's simple and sounds good. So take a simple, easy-to-use circuit that sounds good, put it in a good-looking enclosure, and smile all the way to the bank.

I have another unit that's basically the same circuit with a 3-band tonestack added, and it sells well, but people aren't as wildly excited about it. Simplicity has an appeal.

but you market towards bass players, ofcourse simplicity is key, they have a hard time understanding more than 2 controls at once... jkjk

thats a good point tho, i think ill put out a basic 3 knob version and present the 'deluxe' version on a 'made to order' basis.
the basic one would have the pre-comparator bass cut control, the ''limit'' control and a volume.
the deluxe would have a tonestack and a parallel fx loop with blend (i decided against the rectifier octave for a more usefull function)

cheers

[Phend]

Go big, think future, your effects will need to be connected to the Metaverse.

[iainpunk]

hey, i have been trying to record the 555fuzz prototype with my phone, but the build in noise reduction software makes it sound all phaser-ey and underwater... and it annoys me a lot, i can't find any app that doesn't do the ''''noise removal'''' thing, so im kinda at a loss here, ill probably dig through some drawers to find my old phone which i successfully used to record some demos in the past.

in the mean time, i decided to give the final production version 4 knobs: attack, decay, bias and volume
the atack knob is pre-bass and the decay is the 555's time control. the bias is for the comparator and volume is volume.
i was contemplating on adding a tone/filter control to tame its biting high-end, might still do that, not sure yet.

cheers

[pinkjimiphoton]

hey, i have been trying to record the 555fuzz prototype with my phone, but the build in noise reduction software makes it sound all phaser-ey and underwater... and it annoys me a lot, i can't find any app that doesn't do the ''''noise removal'''' thing, so im kinda at a loss here, ill probably dig through some drawers to find my old phone which i successfully used to record some demos in the past.

in the mean time, i decided to give the final production version 4 knobs: attack, decay, bias and volume
the atack knob is pre-bass and the decay is the 555's time control. the bias is for the comparator and volume is volume.
i was contemplating on adding a tone/filter control to tame its biting high-end, might still do that, not sure yet.

cheers

looking forward to hearing it bro!
yeah, that phasey ass noise reduction is maad annoying!

[Rob Strand]

yeah, that phasey ass noise reduction is maad annoying!

There something to be said about Noise gates with a proper hold-off period.   The detector doesn't bobble the noise-gate in the tail of the note and produce crap.

[iainpunk]

yeah, that phasey ass noise reduction is maad annoying!

There something to be said about Noise gates with a proper hold-off period.   The detector doesn't bobble the noise-gate in the tail of the note and produce crap.

nah, this is the digital build in noise reduction phone sound recorders seem to have. they sound like an underwater phaser, without reducing the nose much at all. these make it impossible to record a bright sounding guitar.

cheers