Tycobrahe Octavia/Correct Voltages But Misbiased???

[analog kid]

I built a PNP Tycobrahe Octavia right to the Layout at Fuzzcentral. The only thing that I strayed on at all was the Transformer which I used the TU011. Shouldn't be a prob as everyone who says they used it have no problems, except I DID have to bend the middle leg of the secondary side of the transf to keep it out of the way.(correct?)
My question /problem is that even though my voltages come out almost SPOT ON to those suggested within the GGG Build Instructions:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&wrap=toct_inst
Im not familiar with the sound this pedal SHOULD give but I would expect a stronger Octave with the Fuzz turned down and a very round saturated fuzz.  I am getting the pronounced Octave at low "Intensity" settings but the sound of the fuzz itself is Very buzzy and almost gated if you play lightly enough. I mean there is pretty much a light shroud of hiss and high frequency content hanging over the signal at any and all settings.
All in all it just doesn't sound good at all.
Any ideas on what could cause , though the transistor vltgs seem to be correct.?? I tried a 250k pot in place of the 220k resistor at Q1s collector /Q2 base in attempt to further adjust the bias  to no avail!
Q1 is MPSA18 Q2 and Q3 are 2N6519

[MartyMart]

Hi analog, well i had pretty much the same results with mine.
I had built Dragonfly's veroboard version of the "Fuzz" section, which was
a little different and I just didn't like the "sound" of the Fuzz at all.
I later modified it to be exactly like the Fuzz Central original and added the transformer for the "octave"
I must have spent 4 hours trying different combinations of trannies and
re-biasing all the time, I also played with some cap values, but always
seemed to have a slightly "splatty" and "gated" effect.
NOT IMPRESSED !!
Many perople have said, build your favourite sounding "Fuzz" and just
add the transformer, to an Axis face or Fuzz Face etc .....

I think the best way of trying to get it "right" is to think of Q2/Q3 as a
"fuzz face" pair ... set that up just as you would in that circuit, with all
the extra bias help that's possible !

Better results came from :
SOU ( simple octave up )
Neo-Octavia


Marty.

[moisho]

I have just the same feeling... I expected a gret round fuzz with a big and present octave effect and I'm very disappointed with the result...
We should keep on trying

[petemoore]

I really like the T.O.
 Mine used some GE transistors.[onr Si].
 Kinda needs a Fuzz after it for thick sound, then it does a really nice nasaly Octave.
 I lIKe the 'unpredictableness",,.it becomes more predictable as I change my style a bit getting used to it.

[RicF]

I layed out the Tyco on a breadboard and I almost liked it. I had better luck using silicon diodes, it smoothed out the octave a bit, but I never really liked the fuzz sound of it so I decided not to turn it into a pedal. Maybe I'll try a Roger Mayer or Neo next. I've heard mention of the SOU but haven't noticed that one yet on the net, where's it hail from?

[MartyMart]

I layed out the Tyco on a breadboard and I almost liked it. I had better luck using silicon diodes, it smoothed out the octave a bit, but I never really liked the fuzz sound of it so I decided not to turn it into a pedal. Maybe I'll try a Roger Mayer or Neo next. I've heard mention of the SOU but haven't noticed that one yet on the net, where's it hail from?

It's a Gus Smalley circuit, I think I found it in "schematics" above, but a
search will get you there.
It's very simple and sounds fantastic !!

Marty.

[analog kid]

Well glad to hear that it's not just MY build of this thing! I'm glad also that I didn't spring for both Type transformers to build   two of them.
It just seems to have a light nasaly hiss blended in with the effected signal at all settings and worse at the lower fuzz setting. At full on the fuzz really is a thick "silicon" fuzz but something just isn't right and I thought it was a problem in the crkt. BUT AS I SAID , all my voltages for this thing are DEAD ON (GGG build instr.)
So If I DID want to spend the time to improve this thing what 's the consensus for what to change ?  The diodes, to silicon or mixed .... Or maybe the trannies changed to Ge's, except for the MPSA18 or just trying several from the same batch of the 2N6519's ? All assuming that the Octave section OR the Fuzz is contributing to the bad sound rather than both!

LASTLY , aside from the simple Octave Up suggested, is the FOXX Tone Machine a much better sounding Fuzz/Octave ? I'd hate to waste the time on another to end up with something like this again

[petemoore]

I'm using a Dual Mu amp or FF after mine.
 I started by messing around endlessly with transistors, hard to tell unless I had yours 'n mine 'here' to see if they work similarly.
 I added some high end rolloff, also an input bias/gain mod [pot at the input], and high end rolloff.
 Don't know if it matters I tested a batch 'n matched the diodes.

[analog kid]

When you say that you're using a "Muamp or FF" after yours , you're not talking about splicing to it wiithin the crkt are you.? You mean that you don't use the Octavia ' by itsself' through a clean or overdriven amp but instead placed before another  FF crkt and /or boost? dumb question I know but just wondering.
As far as the diodes I've never heard of matching them(even Germaniums, which does make some sense) I just grabbed any I had but when TSing it seems I tested and found one  with  .250v and the other above a half volt. Would matched mean within a tenth of a volt or so?
Also what's the standard way to do a lowpass filter/high cut filter ? a small cap between Output and ground? :?

[petemoore]

Sputtery gatey and splatty is cool, but for more drive to the octave sound placing it before [or even after] a Fuzz works great with the Tycho I have.
 A booster may be of service, I dont know, but the clipping/boost stage works well with/for the Tycho IME. I dont use it 'alone' much, even though it's cool with the gain ATWup, neck pickup just off full.

[analog kid]

I looked at this thread again pete and it makes me wonder. You give me the impression that this {PROBLEM}  is the was this , the RM and the Tyco, is SUPPOSED to sound!? I hope not and surely i've not been banging my head against this thing for no reason. but how just how DO your OCTAVIA's behave??
I'd think you should be able to clean the volume up on the guitar to any audible level and still hear signal w/o it getting splatty and gated. ?  I play this harder even then and it comes through a bit stronger. but for the most part it only sounds "NORMAL " with the Gain up a good bit and the volume knob on the guitar up 3/4 or so . Is this effect supposed to get "misbiased" sounding when you lightly pluck against the strings or cut the volume a bit??  I'd like to know
THING IS. BOTH the Octavias I just built DO THIS!! Seems like to big a coincedence. but why would anyone want an effect that behaves that way?
  ALSO , I wish there were somewhere to get reference voltages for the Roger Mayer Octavia!  The Tyco is on GGG build notes but can't find the RM anywhere. Would someone post them?