Easy Face Volume

[bagudan]

HI. Just built Joe Gagans Easy Face http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ff5_sc_easy.pdf
It sounds like a fuzz face, but with very versatile controls. I Like it a lot. But it seems that there is less fuzz and volume (just above unity gain, so it´s ok i guess?), compared to my regular Fuzz Face. is this why it´s called "easy face", or is it supposed to be as fuzzy and loud as another FF?
Thanks
Kasper

[petemoore]

  It's a FF circuit made with hybrid transistors [Ge/Si], this allows stable bias...every bit a FF circuit, can be high gain.
  I check the voltages to see if it's ~like a Fuzzface circuit.
  Just above unity doesn't describe typical FF, should be a good bit of boost, or a lot.
  Depends on the Hfe [and leakage of Germanium device used] of the transistors, the actual value of the gain pot etc., I forget what the 'top' transistor value is, but that could be upped in value for increased output, first I would work with getting the existing values verified as correct, it should provide substantial boost.

[bagudan]

I´ll try some other transistors for q2 then. The one , in the cirquit now, has a hfe about a 100, wich is quite low, right?
An ordinary 2n3906 for q1 is ok, right? Or should this also be hfe-measured to a certain value?

[petemoore]

  Whatever PNP bipolar [2n3906 or...] works in that Pos Gnd. circuit.
  and should bias, which is good to test for besides what it sounds like, especially if the output isn't quite a lot stronger than bypass.
  100hfe is good value for Q1 [FF can be set, IME, to accomodate quite a range, something like between 60 and 150 hfe transistors...], and something a little higher Hfe for Q2 should be find, Si's are nice, cheep, reliable, tend to be relatively higher gain that the Ge's, don't leak, and therefore make great subjects to test a circuit with, did you socket the transistor postitions ?
  The transistor pin voltage measurements should be noted, don't assume it is biased, especially if volume output is issue.

[chi_boy]

HI. Just built Joe Gagans Easy Face http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ff5_sc_easy.pdf
It sounds like a fuzz face, but with very versatile controls. I Like it a lot. But it seems that there is less fuzz and volume (just above unity gain, so it´s ok i guess?), compared to my regular Fuzz Face. is this why it´s called "easy face", or is it supposed to be as fuzzy and loud as another FF?
Thanks
Kasper

I just finished one today.  And already gave it away to a friend too.  :-(

This one had a lot of volume and fuzz when maxed out.  Definitely much greater than unity.  Sounds like you have a little troubleshooting to do.

I bought my Ge tranny from SmallBear and the thing worked great.  The guys I was playing with couldn't stop talking about how good it sounded.  All the credit goes to GGG and SmallBear, of course.  I just followed the directions and painted the pretty box.

Cheers,
George

[bagudan]

thanks for the replies... and yeah, i socketed the transistors, so i´ll try some si´s in the q2 position, and see if it helps out. Maybe get a ge with higher hfe or something, but first si;)

[biggy boy]

I'm playing with two different fuzzes right now and found that playing with the bias voltages makes a difference with the amount of fuzz and the volume.
Have you checked your bias voltages on the tranisitors?
I'm learning about biassing and have spent hours playing with it, SO much to learn

Good info here on fuzz face transistor biasing:

http://www.geofex.com/fxdebug/bias_prob.htm
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/fuzzface/fffram.htm

[bagudan]

Hmm. i´ve been checking componenents, and trying different transistors. Nothing helps?
My voltages are:
Q1
C: -0,0 v
B: -0,5 v
E: -3,5 v

Q2
C: -4,54 v (this is supposed to be good, right?)
B: -3,57 v
E: 3,43

I didn´t have a 3,3uf for C1, so i used a 1 uf and a 2,2 uf in parallel (thi9s woul´dn´t be a huge issue, right?)

[biggy boy]

I'm new to this stuff, but I beleave you should have at least .5 volts on Q1s  collector.
Are you sure you have the transistor in the right direction for Q1?

I was playing around with my fuzz again to day I pluged it into a GusBoost and it sounds great, lots of volume with the boost.

[bagudan]

Argh!!!! apparently you´re not nearly as new to this stuff as i am.... q1 has been upside down this whole time. Don´t know what went wrong there, I actually checked transistors twice??? Now I´v got plenty boost and fuzz. Thanks alot, and shame on me...

[biggy boy]

Cool

Glad to hear you got it going!
It's kind of good when stuff doesn't work the first time, it makes you have to mess around trying to get it going.
In the process you learn stuff how the circuit works.

[bagudan]

So true...
It sure does sound good! Actually I like this better than my ge-fuzz.face clone. the blend feature is nice as well

[petemoore]

  Q1E goes to ground
  Q1C goes to Q2B...
  But I'm not certain these readings are written correctly.
  connect Black DMM lead to ground, use red DMM to probe Q1E, you should get ground/ground [and 0.0V when emitter is grounded]
 

[bagudan]

I think the readings were funny looking, because the transistor q1, was upside down...