Best Cheapest Fuzz available?

[darron]

Thanks guys...

I am wondering now if I want to use only a battery... should I go for the model at fuzz central or the battery will die quickly because of the led... or on the other hand, if I use the DC, coupled with my BOSS TU-2 daisy chain, will it cause RF or hum or else?  geez.... this is complicated lol!!

the battery will drain just as much as in any of your other pedals... limit the LED's current with a resistors (which you'd have to do to top it from frying). people recommend a 1.5k, but i'd buy a really bright LED and limit it with around a 56k.

fuzz face runs fine off a power supply, but it's a MUST that it be regulated otherwise it will sound broken! it'd throw in the massive capacitor anyway one this project, even if you are making positive ground, or using npn's. what's powering the TU-2?

[solarplexus]

It's a regular Danelectro Adapter 9,6v.  I always use those cause they're cheaper to buy and doesn't hum (well at least I never had bad experiences with 'em).  Would that work fine?  I have 7 dc outputs from the Boss daisychain and feed 6/7 pedals which almost modded Boss pedals except my BSIAB II and a Dunlop Wah.  Would that work?? Do  I have to put the FF in any specific order?  Right now I go from :

guit -> Boss TU-2 -> Boss BF-2 -> BSIAB II -> Wah -> Boost -> Amp -> FX Loop

FX Loop send -> Costum Loooper -> Boss PS-5 -> Arion Sch-z -> Boss TR-2 -> Boss Ph-1r -> Boss DD-3 -> FX Loop return.

[darron]

It's a regular Danelectro Adapter 9,6v.  I always use those cause they're cheaper to buy and doesn't hum (well at least I never had bad experiences with 'em).  Would that work fine?  I have 7 dc outputs from the Boss daisychain and feed 6/7 pedals which almost modded Boss pedals except my BSIAB II and a Dunlop Wah.  Would that work?? Do  I have to put the FF in any specific order?  Right now I go from :

guit -> Boss TU-2 -> Boss BF-2 -> BSIAB II -> Wah -> Boost -> Amp -> FX Loop

FX Loop send -> Costum Loooper -> Boss PS-5 -> Arion Sch-z -> Boss TR-2 -> Boss Ph-1r -> Boss DD-3 -> FX Loop return.

i googled that power supply. i couldn't find any mentioning of it being regulated, but it's always advertised as "zero hum" so it sounds like it will be good.

to answer your second question, the fuzz face sort of has to go right up the front of your chain, sadly. it's input impedance works best when it's the first thing before the pickups. you could try to play around though, maybe you'll find comfortable tones in other places.

[solarplexus]

Ok... so... if I put the FF before my Boss TU-2, that would be best right ??  Cause I wouldn't mind doing that.

[petemoore]

  Using a battery only is what I do for FF's. They can work good on PS's I hear, but I noticed that with many other pedals daisy chained the FF is a bit noisier than with a battery YMMV.
  No DC jack certainly simplifies PS wiring, and the FF circuit itself is ~low current draw. DC Jack/optional battery wiring could be made as easily added later..

[darron]

Ok... so... if I put the FF before my Boss TU-2, that would be best right ??  Cause I wouldn't mind doing that.

yes. try it the other way though. the buffer in the tu-2 might make it sound poo though.

[brett]

Hi
the FF can drive almost anything without affecting the tone.  The TU-2 won't worry it.  It's the input impedance of the FF that's low.
For someone who is after a fuzz that sounds good with lots of pickups and amps, the Si axisface is very good.  The brighter tone is an advantage over Ge FFs.
Although its a more complicated build, the RM axis fuzz is good, too.  It is worth noting that Jimi H himself gave Germanium fuzzes away and used the silicon axis fuzz for quite a long time before his premature death.
cheers

[zjokka]

It is worth noting that Jimi H himself gave Germanium fuzzes away and used the silicon axis fuzz for quite a long time before his premature death.
cheers

Also worth noting that SRV who did use germanium FFs though only for recordings, kept one in the freezer while using the other coming fresh out of that same freezer. You might want to hire a roadie... 

zj

[Meanderthal]

 Aw, crap, I was wrong! The octavia is used on Purple Haze, not Foxey lady... oops! Brain worms I guess. You guys re on the right track!

[petemoore]

  Finnickey Frakkin' Fuzz Faces...
  EZ Face, the name sounds too easy to be great, IMO but it can be. Having the SI transistor do the biasing certainly helps make it easier to hold a bias on a FF circuit compared to two GEs'.
  Axis Fuzz...Great place to start with the FF plan.
  Axis Face for different vibe
  70's Fuzz for synthy drive tones
  there are countless faces from each of the various face subcategories.
  Those Ge Faces seemed to keep 'wearing out'...really fine for a day, then wonder what.
  Not sure if I'm contrary in using an NPN Ge FF mostly,
  But the Rocket is placed for takeoff in that StompBoard position. It has a mix of SI and GE in it. Tone control 'fine trimmed to cover a smaller tone range than Standard Rocket.

[tcobretti]

Aw, crap, I was wrong! The octavia is used on Purple Haze, not Foxey lady... oops! Brain worms I guess. You guys re on the right track!

Yeah, I was pretty sure the FF was on Foxey, and I guess I never thought about it, but Purple Haze does sound kinda like an Octavia.

To me, Foxey Lady is the classic Hendrix FF sound.  If I fire up my FF, than I play Foxey Lady.  It's like a personal rule.