Help with true-bypass mod on reissue Fuzz Face?

[mybloodyvalentine]

Just getting started here and one of my first projects I would like to do is, which should be really easy and bring me much happiness is to rehouse a reissue Fuzz Face that I bought like 2 years ago. I love how it sounds but takes up way too much room on mt board. I figured out what enclosure and everything I am going to put it in. After several weeks of searching could not find a schematic or wiring diagram. It appears to have a Carling 316-B-PP DPDT soldered right to the board, so I am going to de-solder it and need to know what wires to jump and how the wires would hook up to a new 3PDT switch and would also like to add a DC jack. I would also like to do the same mod to a Dyna-Comp and Phase 100 with the exception of the DC jack. Will the wiring be the same off of the board as on the Face? I am sure somebody has already done this on here, I looked but couldn't find anything. Any help or suggestions would we greatly appreciated.

[joegagan]

sounds like you have a post-99 ff reissue. all fuzzfaces are true bypass.
the biggest problem with changing to a 3pdt is going to be unsoldering the existing dpdt from the board. they are soldered like an atomic bomb-proof installation on the board. i recommend a good solder wick or solder sucker and a lot of patience. get as much of the solder freed up as you can before trying to remove the switch from the board.

the dpdt is also the mounting for the pcb so you will have to devise an alternate mount for the pcb as the 3pdt will not line up with the dpdt holes in the board.

make notes as to the wiring of the switch, run wires to the corresponding lugs on the 3pdt.

general guitar gadgets has good generic diagrams on how to wire the 3pdt and power supply input, keep in mind this is a pos. ground effect.

IMO, instead of all this hassle because of the above mentioned complexities, combined with the general 'less than stellar (IMO)' sound of the post-99 circuit, i recommend wiring a brand new pcb or hand wired CB. this is easier than dealing with remounting the post-99 board, i think, plus you end up with a really good sounding
ff.

it is possible to make the post-99 circuit sound good with mods, but it is more trouble than it is worth compared to making a good traditional FF circuit board.

re; your other pedals, my comment about GGG diagrams will point you in the right direction on those also. i don't know specifics on how those pedals' switches or pcbs are wired/mounted tho.

[mybloodyvalentine]

You would be really surprised actually how good it sounds. I play it with LP classic. I have read a ton of reviews exactly just what you are saying. Then also I have read a ton, that people would say they love it. I doubt it but, could there be any differences production wise? I play it either out of a 73 Twin Reverb at my friends place when we jam and it blows away his early 70's Big Muff. I am not sure which one he has though. I also have a Matamp GTO 140 and with the FuzzFace hands down it has the most amazing tone I have ever heard. I was actually thinking for my first few projects I was actually going to get two FuzzFace boards from Tonepad and do one with silicon and the other with the germanium to see what I like better. Pretty much what you are saying. I guess rather easily I could always sell the one I like less to my friend with the Big Muff. LOL.

[joegagan]

i think that is cool, i am glad you have a great sounding one. i try to keep an open mind, there are always exceptions + it also might just be a really good match for your amp and guitar.

i would recommend building si and ge versions of fuzz face, fun to try different ones. i also recommend the easyface which has  si for q1 and ge for q2, my favorite combination - it biases very easy hence the name.

[mybloodyvalentine]

Joe,
    Thanks for all the useful info. I really appreciate it. I wasn't actually aware that the Easyface used both. I kind of assumed it was just a version with less fuzz. I guess because of the Tremface. You know what they say when you assume something. It makes an ASS out of U and ME every time. LOL. So I will definitely have to add the Easyface to my project list. Thanks again for the heads up, I didn't know that you could mix both. When you do the biasing how is it actually done? Like a tube amp with a meter with and probes and then take a reading while adjusting the trim pots so they equal out or close? Can you also maybe suggest some other beginner type projects that would be fun. I am going to also be making an A/B pedal and a Ruby amp.

[bumblebee]

people bias various ways, personally i connect a trim pot to the circuit and do it by ear, when it sounds good i measure the resistance needed and solder in a resistor.