Looking for a mean, heavy fuzz for palm-muted stuff a la Boss FZ2

[Dr.Pain]

I've built a Woolly Mammoth clone and have had it for 4 months now and love it, but it doesn't really work well with palm-mutes and it is really tight/focused. I would like to build a fuzz that is looser and handles palm-mutes well. I am looking for something like the Boss FZ2. Shoot me any suggestions you may have. I would prefer for it to be on the simpler side, but try me anyways. Thanks a bunch, guys. 

[Dr.Pain]

Nobody? 

[Derringer]

built a tonebender yet?

probably not as disgustingly fuzzy as you'd like but they get plenty chunky

[JasonG]

The FZ-2 is a clone of a Univox Superfuzz. I had an FZ-2 in my rig for a few  years I thought it was the most original fuzz out there, it was freaking heavy. I had not played anything like it before. Then I got the bug to build a Superfuzz and realized they were basically  same thing. Every Superfuzz I have built has been warmer and way more responsive than the FZ-2 if you like the shrill highs you may want to try another pedal but if you just like that type of fuzz go with a Superfuzz. You can add a tone knob if you need it but I like the stock sounds.

[fuzzo]

Maybe I'm wrong but the best way to hear what a Superfuzz does, listening first Fu Manchu records. These guys use an original Univox Superfuzz.

[Derringer]

that's funny ... after I posted I thought "superfuzz gets pretty nasty and palm mutes well"

FZ-2 is a copy of the Superfuzz? Really? had no idea


I always thought Fu Manchu was all about the big muff. You sure you're not thinking of Mudhoney?


and speaking of the Superfuzz

can you help me out here?
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=77424.0

[Dr.Pain]

Fu Manchu uses the Superfuzz?! That's awesome, I've been listening to Fu Manchu for a longass time and love their older albums with the fuzz a lot.
Does anyone have a layout for the Superfuzz? It looks like it's a bigger circuit and I'm not sure I could perf it. Any similar, simpler fuzzes?
Thanks a bunch for the responses, guys! I really appreciate it.

[Scruffie]

Well I think the meanest heaviest fuzz I know of is probably anything by Devi ever effects theres schematics out there (kindly provided by devi) and there simple enough to perf.

[Dr.Pain]

Really? As much as I dislike Devi Ever's pedals, I would like to see these schems. Off to research...
Keep 'em coming, guys. 

[Derringer]

FZ-2 in action 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_nJRzCpBE


sounds sick man ... a cool juxtaposition

I do hear the SF similarity ...

[fuzzo]

that's funny ... after I posted I thought "superfuzz gets pretty nasty and palm mutes well"

FZ-2 is a copy of the Superfuzz? Really? had no idea


I always thought Fu Manchu was all about the big muff. You sure you're not thinking of Mudhoney?


and speaking of the Superfuzz

can you help me out here?
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=77424.0

Sure, not (Who knows what they used during recording ? ) but they use that pedal for live performance I think. You can see a pic of plugged Univox on Gear galley on Fu manchu website. And for me the sound of "Evil's eyes" or early song is really close to what I heard about univox (I haven't built one yet, But I may do one).
About Big muff and Fu manchu, for me that doesn't sound like a big muff, the sound of Fu manchu is more fuzzy than what big muff produce (that is, for me, a big fat distortion, not really a "fuzz")

Anyway, the FZ2 schematic doesn't look like the Superfuzz.

I bieleve one guitarist from "Electric Wizard" (doom metal) plays with a BOSS FZ2.

[Dr.Pain]

Yep, Electric Wizard definetly used the FZ2 on Dopethrone and that album's guitar tone destroys.
Still open to suggestions. 

[Derringer]

Sure, not (Who knows what they used during recording ? ) but they use that pedal for live performance I think. You can see a pic of plugged Univox on Gear galley on Fu manchu website. And for me the sound of "Evil's eyes" or early song is really close to what I heard about univox (I haven't built one yet, But I may do one).
About Big muff and Fu manchu, for me that doesn't sound like a big muff, the sound of Fu manchu is more fuzzy than what big muff produce (that is, for me, a big fat distortion, not really a "fuzz")

Anyway, the FZ2 schematic doesn't look like the Superfuzz.

I bieleve one guitarist from "Electric Wizard" (doom metal) plays with a BOSS FZ2.

Yeah, I had a hard time believing it was a direct clone.
can you direct me to an FZ-2 schem? I couldn't find it in the usual places (schem heaven, free info society)

I don't listen to a lot of Fu, but I'm familiar. If that's not a muff they use ... then what is it? They can't be using a SF all the time because you don't hear much octave in their tunes. I love the tone on Mongoose, even the live version ... not a muff?

[JasonG]

I thought Fu Manchu used a " Crown" brand fuzz on there early stuff.
    Ok if it's not a clone the tone modes are similar. The best Superfuzz clip I have heard is The who's " a quick one" on the rock and roll circus movie.

[fuzzo]

I don't know if the singer used the Univox on all records, but for me :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU11ZWAlcyE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7DKurc35qI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIAjx0Wyreo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge1-15fmEDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vffriKpgMGQ&feature=related

that doesn't sound like a muff at all

too fuzzy to be a Muff pedal. But who knows, there are so many version of Big muff, but I don't think so.

Where comes from the myth that say all stoner/doom bands use a big muff ?


Boss FZ2 (I don't know if it is good)


Actually, yes it's a clone of superfuzz.

See the part after Q5, that look absolutely like a Superfuzz with the typical position of Q13/Q14.

[Derringer]

heh .. see it still sounds like a muff to my beat ears ... I honestly don't know

No one every told me they used muffs ... I just thought that it sure sounded like one. And when I built mine, I used some Fu tunes as a point of reference ... so go figure! hah!

Thanks for the schem

and yeah, if anyone knows for sure, or thinks they know for sure, whatever pedal it is Fu uses, I'd be curious because I love their tone. I'll check out that "crown" brand too ... thanks Jason

[fuzzo]

heh .. see it still sounds like a muff to my beat ears ... I honestly don't know

Who knows, maybe it's a big muff. With all varation big muff EHX produced, you've choise .

the Fu manchu  bassplayer has a pedal boutique compagnie, Creepy fingers, maybe this famous tone comes from one of his pedals.

I'm listening Evil eye and that really doesn't sound like a big muff , I say it again !!!

(Maybe we can send  a message to the fu manchu website to know all the truth)

Back to the FZ2, If I don't say mistakes it consits of an Superfuzz circuit with a boost stage at the end with a baxendall. Boost mode takes the sound after Q5 (before Fuzz section). Fuzz1 has a filter section before gain stage (maybe like one used in Superfuzz). Mod3 hasen't filter section and comes into a gain stage. All mods go to the baxendall (simple 2 bands EQ) 

That seems to be a cool pedal.

I think it will be easy to do something like that, or even cooler than FZ2. The Jacques mercer box uses a little bit the same idea (Fuzz face with baxendall)

good night guys !

[Derringer]

Evil eye ... you're right, that one does sound like a SF ... but I DEFY you to get a SF to sound like that with a wah  ... (atleast not either of my wahs)

Yeah, the octave creating and amplifying section of the FZ2 definitely looks very similar to the SF ... is the tone section of the FZ2 active though? I didn't look real close but figured since it had some opamps in there, it must be active (showing my lack of knowledge here ... enlighten me)

What's the Flip Flop 9V circuit?

[fuzzo]

Yeah the baxendall (high and low controls) is active (not like a simple high pass filter or tonestack amp).Basically it's a EQ that boosts or cuts the frequencies like an Equalizer pedal does (see the R.G. Keen page about EQ).

The flip flop is here for switching (is almost the same in all boss pedals. It uses input and output buffer to work)

Also, you can add a pot instead of switch tone of Superfuzz, Zvex did that in his Zvex octane3. With that you can add the baxendall if you want.

[Derringer]

I thought about playing with some sort of extra tone control in the SF ... and a passive Baxandall was something I was considering because it's so damn useful. But simply putting a 10K pot between the 0.1uf cap and ground in the T-notch filter is all the tone adjust I think the SF (my SF at least) needs.

I've got a FET based drive/distortion circuit in mind though that I'm pretty sure I'll use a BAX for. It still needs to float around a bit in the reptilian part of my mind for a while though before it all goes to the b.board and a schem.