FUZZ REVIVAL !!! (Fuzzrite build report)

Dragonfly · April 28, 2008, 01:35:03 PM

So... Instead of a "traditional" build report, I'll let the sound sample do the "talking". After all, the SOUND is what it's all about, right ?

SOUND SAMPLE !!!

What is it, you ask

Well....

It's simple...

Its a bone stock Fuzzrite, direct from the FUZZ CENTRAL LAYOUT !

Well, not 100% "bone stock"...I used a 250k pot for the "FUZZ" pot. Transistor gains are +/-150hfe. I used carbon comps and ceramic caps for my build. To my ears it sounds "better" for this circuit than the ones I've built with metal film resistors and film caps....but that's just my opinion.

Also, if you want the same "basic" tone, but a bit fuller, more sustain, etc...switch the 470k collector resistors to somewhere between 10k and 100k.

If you're a fan of filthy fuzz, build it...you won't be disappointed.

And, here are some pictures !

sengo · April 28, 2008, 03:38:27 PM

That sounds really nice Dragonfly,

I think I'm going to have to build a silicon Fuzzrite now, what transistors did you use?

Nick

Dragonfly · April 28, 2008, 05:17:18 PM

anything in the 100-150hfe range will sound good

ambulancevoice · April 28, 2008, 05:19:24 PM

shit thats a good fuzz
nice and grinding

8mileshigh · April 28, 2008, 05:26:44 PM

Sounds GREAT Andy ! I've built four of them so far & I may just build another with the 470K collectors. The 10K really smoothes out the fuzz and adds sustain which is not a bad thing but it loses some of the true Fuzzrite identity.

Chris

ambulancevoice · April 28, 2008, 05:28:33 PM

Quote from: 8mileshigh on April 28, 2008, 05:26:44 PM
Sounds GREAT Andy ! I've built four of them so far & I may just build another with the 470K collectors. The 10K really smoothes out the fuzz and adds sustain which is not a bad thing but it loses some of the true Fuzzrite identity.

Chris

make it switchable?

Dragonfly · April 28, 2008, 05:33:11 PM

Quote from: 8mileshigh on April 28, 2008, 05:26:44 PM
Sounds GREAT Andy ! I've built four of them so far & I may just build another with the 470K collectors. The 10K really smoothes out the fuzz and adds sustain which is not a bad thing but it loses some of the true Fuzzrite identity.

Chris

i agree.

i like the 10k for general purpose, but the 470k has that extra raspiness thats really nice for some things.

Dragonfly · April 28, 2008, 05:40:53 PM

Quote from: ambulancevoice on April 28, 2008, 05:28:33 PM
Quote from: 8mileshigh on April 28, 2008, 05:26:44 PM
Sounds GREAT Andy ! I've built four of them so far & I may just build another with the 470K collectors. The 10K really smoothes out the fuzz and adds sustain which is not a bad thing but it loses some of the true Fuzzrite identity.

Chris

make it switchable?

easy enough to do...

or you could use a 10k resistor and a 500k lin pot in series for each collector...you could bias each transistor stage differently...of course 500k is a big pot, but heck, it should work fine

superferrite · April 28, 2008, 05:58:27 PM

The Fuzzrite is pretty much my whole reason for being on this forum. Sounds amazing once again, Andy.

Dragonfly · April 28, 2008, 06:13:29 PM

Quote from: superferrite on April 28, 2008, 05:58:27 PM
The Fuzzrite is pretty much my whole reason for being on this forum. Sounds amazing once again, Andy.

heck...credit Mosrite and then Phillip (Fuzz Central) for a nice layout ! I didn't do anything but build it....

8mileshigh · April 28, 2008, 10:27:00 PM

I just pieced my Fuzzrite back together, it looks a bit better with some hardware put back on the enclosure. Pardon the pathetic photo, it's late and the Canadian's loss tonight has me fit to be tied. I can't endure it much longer.

Chris

kurtlives · April 28, 2008, 10:42:59 PM

^That looks great.

I hope Price can bounce back.

nico13 · April 30, 2008, 01:49:29 AM

Quote from: Dragonfly on April 28, 2008, 01:35:03 PM
So... Instead of a "traditional" build report, I'll let the sound sample do the "talking". After all, the SOUND is what it's all about, right ?

SOUND SAMPLE !!!

What is it, you ask

Well....

It's simple...

Its a bone stock Fuzzrite, direct from the FUZZ CENTRAL LAYOUT !

Well, not 100% "bone stock"...I used a 250k pot for the "FUZZ" pot. Transistor gains are +/-150hfe. I used carbon comps and ceramic caps for my build. To my ears it sounds "better" for this circuit than the ones I've built with metal film resistors and film caps....but that's just my opinion.

Also, if you want the same "basic" tone, but a bit fuller, more sustain, etc...switch the 470k collector resistors to somewhere between 10k and 100k.

If you're a fan of filthy fuzz, build it...you won't be disappointed.

And, here are some pictures !

Thanks for this thread Dragonfly.

It's a relly nice build and I'm very happy to have a soundclip to listen to because I'm also on the way to build a stock silicon Fuzzrite.

How did you wire the switch and jacks: as a standard true bypass or as the weird wiring you can find in a real fuzzrite?

Dragonfly · April 30, 2008, 02:34:08 AM

true bypass...its easier...

nico13 · April 30, 2008, 07:33:50 AM

Quote from: Dragonfly on April 30, 2008, 02:34:08 AM
true bypass...its easier...

I agree with you!

Nevertheless I will try to wire my fuzzrite the same way as on the originals with the tantalum capacitor (does anybody know its value?) soldered on the switch.

kvb · April 30, 2008, 08:48:07 AM

I breadboarded a Fuzzrite last night, using 2N2222As. It did not like having 150K collector R. There was a strange clicking that made me wonder if there was some sort of oscillation happening. I tried the 470K resistors and the clicking stopped.

I have a question about the function of a properly working Fuzzrite. Is the Fuzz knob supposed to be blending a clean signal with the fuzz side? With the pot turned toward the clean side there is a loss of volume (out of phase), but you can still hear the Fuzz. Turned 100% toward the fuzz side and the volume increases and the fuzz gets more zing.

Seems like the idea of blending fuzz and clean, at equal volumes, in a simple circuit could be improved.

ambulancevoice · April 30, 2008, 09:26:33 AM

Quote from: kvb on April 30, 2008, 08:48:07 AM
I breadboarded a Fuzzrite last night, using 2N2222As. It did not like having 150K collector R. There was a strange clicking that made me wonder if there was some sort of oscillation happening. I tried the 470K resistors and the clicking stopped.

I have a question about the function of a properly working Fuzzrite. Is the Fuzz knob supposed to be blending a clean signal with the fuzz side? With the pot turned toward the clean side there is a loss of volume (out of phase), but you can still hear the Fuzz. Turned 100% toward the fuzz side and the volume increases and the fuzz gets more zing.

Seems like the idea of blending fuzz and clean, at equal volumes, in a simple circuit could be improved.

actually, the fuzz knob acts a more of a blend between the two transistor stages (both the same and in series) at max the signal is taken pretty much from the output of the second stage (with is both stages together, therefore more fuzz) and min the signal is taken from the first stage (just one stage, the first, therefore less fuzz)

sengo · April 30, 2008, 12:27:19 PM

QuoteInsert Quote
Quote from: kvb on Today at 07:48:07 AM
I breadboarded a Fuzzrite last night, using 2N2222As. It did not like having 150K collector R. There was a strange clicking that made me wonder if there was some sort of oscillation happening. I tried the 470K resistors and the clicking stopped.

I have a question about the function of a properly working Fuzzrite. Is the Fuzz knob supposed to be blending a clean signal with the fuzz side? With the pot turned toward the clean side there is a loss of volume (out of phase), but you can still hear the Fuzz. Turned 100% toward the fuzz side and the volume increases and the fuzz gets more zing.

Seems like the idea of blending fuzz and clean, at equal volumes, in a simple circuit could be improved.

actually, the fuzz knob acts a more of a blend between the two transistor stages (both the same and in series) at max the signal is taken pretty much from the output of the second stage (with is both stages together, therefore more fuzz) and min the signal is taken from the first stage (just one stage, the first, therefore less fuzz)

Also, the fuzz control is really crazy on the Fuzzrite. the signal never gets very clean, instead it gets very kazoo like... very odd sounding.

Nick

tiges_ tendres · April 30, 2008, 02:06:08 PM

Quote from: 8mileshigh on April 28, 2008, 10:27:00 PM
I just pieced my Fuzzrite back together, it looks a bit better with some hardware put back on the enclosure. Pardon the pathetic photo, it's late and the Canadian's loss tonight has me fit to be tied. I can't endure it much longer.

Chris

Try being a sharks fan right now!

Awesome fuzz by the way!

sengo · May 01, 2008, 07:56:50 PM

I found TZ82 transistors for sale online. Expensive, but I'm tempted to buy a few to make as authentic a Fuzzrite as I can for my personal use

Where do you find those old caps Andy? You have inspired me to build one as close to vintage as possible, I'm thinking about using eyelet board as well.

http://store.americanmicrosemiconductor.com/tz82.html?gclid=CJGDxL2-hpMCFR6hiQodvi5mSw

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FUZZ REVIVAL !!! (Fuzzrite build report)