I'm going to build a Fuzz Face pedal! (First build)

[Woopa]

Can someone tell me which leg is which on the BC108C!

[Woopa]

Moded the layout so it works better for CBE-trannies. Can someone check if i did it right?

[petemoore]

Can someone tell me which leg is which on the BC108C!
  Not really as well as the data sheet can.
  But I had some 108's around here.
  looking down on the tophat, there's a tab that sticks out like a price sticker on a tophat brim that designates the Emitter, collector is at the other side, base in the middle.
  Emitter / base /collector, emitter pin is next to the tab.

[newfish]

Am i the only one really looking forwards to a 'build success!' report?

First pedals are really exciting - and a Fuzz Face will kick serious booty if you set it to 'stun'.

Best of luck with this!

[Woopa]

Can someone tell me which leg is which on the BC108C!
 Not really as well as the data sheet can.
 But I had some 108's around here.
 looking down on the tophat, there's a tab that sticks out like a price sticker on a tophat brim that designates the Emitter, collector is at the other side, base in the middle.
 Emitter / base /collector, emitter pin is next to the tab.

Thanks for the info!

Am i the only one really looking forwards to a 'build success!' report?

First pedals are really exciting - and a Fuzz Face will kick serious booty if you set it to 'stun'.

Best of luck with this!

Thanks! I just need a new tip(for the solder iron), perfboard and a "helping hand"! The clock is 15:09 now here and i think i will be done today!

[Electric Warrior]

Moded the layout so it works better for CBE-trannies. Can someone check if i did it right?

looks alright to me.
you could also base it on the germanium layout:



you'd only need to change the polarities of the battery and the electrolytics.

[Woopa]

Damn it's tricky. The board is finished but the rest is a pain in the ass. Ha ha.

[oliphaunt]

Be patient.  The offboard wiring part isn't as sexy as putting the board together, but just as critical. 

If you haven't tried it, I highly reccomend wiring a 100K audio pot as a volume control on the input to the Fuzz Face.  I find the fuzz control tends to get sputtery and nasty unless it is basically wide open.  The extre pot at the input allows you replicate using your guitar's volume to control the fuzz, so you can dial in a lower gain fuzz without changing your guitar's volume.

[Woopa]

Something is wrong. When i look at the wireing and the layout everyting is right. But when i try it out it's bypassed all the time... Help please!

[newfish]

Hi,

Daft question, but what happens if you solder your in/out sockets directly to the pedal (without the bypass switch at all)?

I realise it's not an ideal 'stomp box' situation (as there's nowt to stomp on), but in terms of testing your FF is working it's a useful short-term test.

Do you have any sort of test gear to hand (multimeter is invaluable in situations like this - a cheap Meter will serve you well far into the future)?

If you do have a meter, check what's happening with the switch on / off with what's actually reaching the effect board - i.e. with the switch in the 'on' position, you should get zero resistance (or very close) when measuring between the 'tip' of the input socket and the 2.5uF input cap (if my reading of the layout is correct).

Hang in there - even experienced builders don't always get it working the first time.

[Woopa]

The i need help to know which cable that is in and out.

[newfish]

Could you please confirm the orientation of the 2.5uF Cap?

To me, it looks backwards - preventing signal from reaching the board.

I always thought that they worked from '+' to '-'.  The layout above shows the signal connected to the '-' end.

[yeeshkul]

Ge: + toward the input
Si: - towards the input

[Woopa]

I rewired everything and put it inside the box. I was really pleased with the wiring, looked really good. But it seems that it it a on board problem.  Because when Fuzz and level is on max there is just a very weak clean signal. Bypassed it sounds like any other pedal bypassed...

Any tips?

[Woopa]

Bump...

[Woopa]

@#$% it. I give up. Thought i put the transistor legs wrong but no i didn't so i put them back the right way. And now there are no weak signal. 50$ i the trashcan... Jippe @#$%'in jay.

[Woopa]

Could one of the components be broken?

Can someone telle me how to use a multimeter to search broken parts?

[yeeshkul]

Make an audio-probe - that will sort out your troubles for sure. Search for it here in the forum, it is a must-have stuff to debug audio circuits..

[Woopa]

I will do that.

I went it trough with the multimeter to. I put the black one on the battery minus and the red one on the legs on every component.

Code Select Expand

Pots:
1k:
1-8,20
2-7,68
3-8,63
500k:
1-8,63
2-8,63
3-8,63

Resistors:
100k:
8,63
8,63
33k:
9,04
9,07
330:
9,08
8,99
8,2k:
8,98
8,96

Caps:
0,01uF:
7,62
8,98
2,5uF:
8,62
8,63
20uF:
8,63
8,63

Transistors:
1:
C-9,05
B-8,63
E-8,63
Shell-9,05
2:
C-8,98
B-8,63
E-8,63
Shell-8,98




[Joe Hart]

Don't give up! The transistor readings don't sound right, though. I don't know enough to properly diagnose it (but many people here will be able to help you!). But don't give up!! When you do get it working, it's so worth it!!!!
-Joe Hart