AceTone FM-2 question

[birt]

http://members.fortunecity.com/uzzfay/fuzzmaster/fm2.html

the diodes are general prupose silicon (i found that in an older topic) but what are those transistors?
the schematic indicates C369. But i can't find any datasheets for that. the only datasheets i can find are for 2SC369 (NPN) and BC369 (PNP).

and who has build this fuzz before? any comments?

[MartyMart]

2SC369 NPN is correct , though the usual suspects will work fine, 2N5088 / 2N4401 etc
The final volume recovery tranny could be higher gain, such as MPSA18 for a little "lift" !

It's a little like a "Univox Superfuzz" quite a decent "raunchy" fuzz , with the normal/scooped tone "Ala Superfuzz"

I think that you would enjoy this, unless you've built a similar one before ?

For some more "fine tuning" perhaps make the four 10k's to the collectors 20k trimmers, to dial in your
best sound/bias

http://aronnelson.com/userfiles/univoxsuperfuzz2.mp3
Here's a superfuzz sample , at "Full bore" !  this one will be a little less "hairy" !

MM.

[birt]

i've build a fuzz face before, a fuzzrite and an uglyface. i really didn't like the fuzzrite, it sounded more like a bad distortion to me.

so the superfuzz sound sample is a bit more dirty than the FM-2?

i want to build something completely different than those fuzzes i've build before. i've been thinking about the FM2, the maestro MFZ-1, the Bass Fuzz, BeeBaa, Tone Machine... i don't really know where to start.
i want something really dirty that goes into synth territory.

[MartyMart]

The Acetone is quite close to the Univox , I think that you'll get a similar sound from it.
I "moddified" mine a bit so it does get "very distorted" !!
The sample doesn't show the lower end of the gain, which is V-nice too.
It's absolutely different from all the standard FF/Axis Face/ Foxx circuits.

If you tagged on a switchable TMO22, you could also get great "Octavia" octave tones from it
... it has a touch already but not too pronounced .

I would recommend this, or the Univox version , I run mine through another "Boss OC2" and
some chorus for serious "Moog" type synth tones

MM

[birt]

what is the "very distorted" mod? :p
and what is the TMO22?

every circuit i build gets modded anyway

[MartyMart]

I just set up the Univox for more gain and used a couple of MPSA18 transistors, you can
do something similar with the Acetone too, trimpots help ...
I also used 2x 4148's in one direction with 1x 4148 in other for assymetrical distortion

TMO22 - mouser transformer, can be used as an "octave" addition, see "Octavia" etc
small bear has them.  ( could be TMO18 .... not 100% sure )

MM

[birt]

any idea of the specs of that transformer?

[MartyMart]

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Categories.bok?category=Transformers

No , but here it is at smallbear , bottom one.

MM

[Dan N]

The FM-2 is a lovely octave fuzz. To get the best octave try adding a trim pot to the resistors to ground on the bases of the differential pair ala the big box Super-Fuzz.

http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/fm-2trim.gif

More fun can be had by being able to switch the diodes out and trying different combinations. I like silicon (original) and none best.

Read Mark Hammers recent posts on his mods to the FY-2 tone stack. Blending/bypassing etc...Those will work with this and other SF family fuzzes that use that notch snippet.

If you like fuzz, you'll like the FM-2!