Build Report --- Boutique Fuzz

[Kelby]

After building my first pedal a couple weeks ago (an NPN Boost per Aron's great pictorial in the Beginner's forum), I decided to try a fuzz.  I built the Boutique Fuzz off the General Guitar Gadgets site (which I understand is the Fulltone 69 circuit; someone please correct me if I am wrong).  It sounds fantastic!

I bought the $11 pre-printed PCB from GGG, and bought all parts (including Ge transistors) from Small Bear.  I'm probably into this $50, including switch and enclosure.  I spent about 2 hours one evening soldering up the circuit board, 2 hours tonight wiring up the pots/jacks/switches, and another 45 minutes trouble-shooting (I had two bad solder joints).  Being very much a novice, I was very happy with how quickly and easily it all went together.  (I'm sure anyone with experience could have cranked this out much faster.)  I was even more thrilled with how good it sounded.

I really appreciate all the support Aron and the other folks in this community provide.  I have minimal electronics background, but you guys make it possible for even an idiot like me to make some very cool toys.  

Any other newbies out there thinking about a second or third project, I highly recommend this one.

Cheers,
Kelby.

[gorohon]

That was my first pedal build.  It was well worth the time and money.  I like messing with the bias pots--very flexible.  My only problem was that I built it into an undersized enclosure, roughly 4"x2.5"x1.3".  I'll give it a bigger home someday.

[dosmun]

Which version did you build?  I am trying to get the PNP Negative ground version to work but no luck so far.

[gorohon]

I built the PNP negative ground version.  Since it was my first build, I too had problems.  My problems were things shorting to ground, broken wires, and overall layout of the compenents.  I wish I could say I was drunk when I built it, but I don't drink.

It's ugly, but it works.  Looking back,I think that I would have rather built a tonebender variation, more my flavor.  But, this still is a very fine fuzz.

[petemoore]

Then convert to a Pos Ground FF...only a few parts at most.

[petemoore]

PNP/ Pos Gnd.

[Kelby]

I built the PNP positive ground version as well; no problems other than two bad solder joints.

[petemoore]

I think most all who've tried the Pos Gnd PnP FF have had good results with the NEG Gnd PNP FF.
 Has anyone had any luck at all with a working POS Gnd PNP FF?

[bwanasonic]

I think most all who've tried the Pos Gnd PnP FF have had good results with the NEG Gnd PNP FF.
 Has anyone had any luck at all with a working POS Gnd PNP FF?

I think you mean the other way around right? I certainly had no luck with PNP/NEG GND. Weird oscillations. I went old school with PNP/POS GND and no DC jack.

Kerry M

[fretbuzz2003]

I built the PNP Negative ground version and it works. Reading all these posts on how it doesn't seem to work for most people has me wondering if it might sound better with the positive ground version.   :?

[petemoore]

Ez to get these four confuzed...
 FF's are not too tuff, pretty easy to do, and can be messed with to infinitum, I think unless you want to figure out for some reason how the PNP neg Gnd. FF works [I don't understand why someone would actually need one as I just heeded the advice and laments of those who've tried power supplies that werent filtered etc to be almost exactly like batteries...which in itself looked like more trouble to build than a FF.
 They don't use that much power, and can be made easily small, so that allowing room for a battery isn't too hard.
 Finicky, sensative, extremely widely variable sounding, the FF deserves the battery ritual !!!

[Paul Marossy]

I built the PNP neg. gnd. version. I designed my own PCB for it based on the schematic at GGG, worked great the first time I tested it.

I must say it's a good sounding one, and it's on my pedalboard right now, actually. I kind of like it with a Ge/Si combo, and it actually didn't sound too bad with two Si transistors. I currently have two Ge transistors in it. It sounds quite good, worth the effort.

[Travis]

I've built several PNP neg ground circuits, including a couple of FF's and tonebenders.  For me, the trick has always been to build it pos ground first, and switch to negative ground only after it works perfectly.  

When I have attempted to build a straight negative ground circuit, I've encountered the problems that everyone else describes.

[gdmart]

Im starting the b fuzz face and want to add sockets and trimm pots to tweak things later where on most boards do you want sockets and trim pots.I realize this is a newbe question but please advise   thanks for a great site guys

[petemoore]

1.   Q2 collector gets a trimpot
 2.   input cap gets socket
 3.   Bypass cap [22uf stated] gets socket
 4.   output cap gets socket
 5.   Gain pot starts high [say 2k] and gets worked down [putting resistor across the outside lugs] to somewhere between 2k and ~1k...this ones so cheep/easy...and lets you know where too much gain 'is' resistance wise for that pots value.
 If you've never played alot with FF, breadboard...or...just perf socket everything, or put a 1 meg pot where the 100k feedback resistor would be...it's worth the 10 bux IMO to find 'your FF, then you can make one just like it for ten, keep the socket tester FF board to 'find 'your other' [say different amp/guitar] FF...they're so variable, you can get wayy different sounding FF's, I like having at least a few, and have done countless re-tunes, tried different types...the fun never ends till you tell yourself it does...use the gain pot every time you swap Q's, try different cap tunings with higher/lower gain transistors...soon you'll find the parts you get the most out of messing with.
 The input cap rolls off bass, this one is big differ with even small value swaps.
 the output cap, couples to the next stage be it amp or other box.
 
 Check out all the Fuzz articles at ROG, and also the many Faces of Fuzz article.
 And be sure not to forget to try the gain knob, and your guitar volume knob, especially with Q swaps, I like to use the guitar knob alot with a FF, tweeking for the inbetweens is more than half of it for me.

[gdmart]

Any of you all used a 3pdt switch  with the dc jack led and battery on this fuzz box? Any one have the layout still>I sure could use one   thanks

[Fret Wire]

This is the PNP/Neg ground version. Most Ge fuzz's and rangemasters don't really sound the same with power supplies. Can be noiser too. Batteries work best, and last quite awhile.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/v2/diagrams/fuzzface_lo_pn3.gif

[Paul Marossy]

My Boutique Fuzz Face sounds pretty good with a power supply. It is regulated, so it puts out exactly 9V. But, you can't get the dying battery tone without tweaking some stuff...

[gdmart]

I need the wiring layout for this exact pcb board.the GGG botuique- fuzz face using a 3pdt fuller switch.with dc jack led and battery. its the pnp positive ground layout.
Im not good at transfering from other diagrahms.does anyone have such a layout complete? Ive seen similiar ones on the GGG site but not the exact one.Im a connect the dots kind of electronics nut,translated ---newbe    thanks