Corralling a Fuzz Face

[jcuempire]

I just built a silicon fuzz face (my first ever project) and I know it's supposed to be over the top fuzz, but I noticed when I have the guitar volume at 8, it's a really nice, usable overdrive.  My question is how can I get that sound when the guitar is dimed?  How can I lower the input drive into the effect so that I get that same sound?  I admit that I don't know enough about whats going on in the circuit to work it out.  Just a question.  Thanks

[phector2004]

I've noticed the same thing... not interested in modding it to do that, but I've got a suggestion (If you've got it on breadboard, it would be much easier to test):

If you look at RG's article, The Technology of the Fuzz Face, near the bottom, theres the Fuller mod Fuzz Face. It's got a 50k pot/trimmer pot on the input. I'm guessing this is equivalent to your guitar volume pot, so tuning that can change it from Jimi to OD

Not a hard mod, just a few extra wires and a pot if you decide to implement it.

Good luck!

[jcuempire]

Thanks.  I'll check into that.  It has one trim pot in it, but it controls output.  Thanks again

[wavley]

You can do the pre-gain mod as suggested, I like that one a lot because it makes the pedal more versatile because you can have varying shades of fuzz.

If you want to stick to a two know arrangement and don't need as much fuzz you can just bias it to have less fuzz, which I believe is also in the aforementioned article by RG

[jasperoosthoek]

The problem is caused by the low input impedance of the FF. This means that more current/power is required to the input than other pedals. As soon as you turn the volume down the output impedance of the guitar goes up dramatically.
Then the output of the guitar drops compared what it would have been if it weren't loaded by the FF. So the mere fact that the FF is connected also lowers the guitars output.
This can be solved by a clean buffer which is also present in the two knob tonebender. That's basically a FF circuit with some moddified component values and an input buffer.
The extra resister ensured that the FF acts asif the guitar volume is lower so you will never get that full fuzz sound at lower volumes. A buffer will do that. Maybe add a jack ormans pickup simulator circuit to make the output of the buffer similar to the guitar at full volume.
FFs are very picky to what you connect before them.

[Mark Hammer]

is there anything between the guitar and FF...other than a cable?

[zombiwoof]

I just built a silicon fuzz face (my first ever project) and I know it's supposed to be over the top fuzz, but I noticed when I have the guitar volume at 8, it's a really nice, usable overdrive.  My question is how can I get that sound when the guitar is dimed?  How can I lower the input drive into the effect so that I get that same sound?  I admit that I don't know enough about whats going on in the circuit to work it out.  Just a question.  Thanks

Yup, and when you turn your guitar's volume down even more, the sound gets even cleaner.  That's a great feature of a well-made Fuzz Face, people refer to that as the sound "cleaning up" at lower volume.  It's much like a good overdriven tube amp, you can play rhythm with a clean/slightly overdriven sound with the volume knob turned down just a little, then for solos you crank the volume and get the full fuzz blast.  Jimi Hendrix is the best example of that, he often had the FF on through whole songs, you can hear how he plays the rhythm part of a song with a slightly overdriven tone, then when he dimes the volume knob for solos it's an intense fuzz sound.  That's why players like Fuzz Faces, and it's the way they are supposed to behave.  By doing the mods people have suggested, you can have your OD sound that you like at full volume for some songs, and change the settings and get the full FF "experience".

Al

[petemoore]

  Input gain pot mimics the guitar volume, and can become a fixed resistor used to 'set max guitar volume' [since they are connected], to bring gain down to just right without excess wool.
 Also the gain knob sets amplification gain and can be a fixed resistor.
 Since the 'personally' tweeked FF's can be set up and not adjusted much except volume and gain, with a pregain on the next effect and the guitar-gain knob for the input gain [+preset resistor] gain control and output volume could be controlled before/after just like they are now but 'elsewhere than in the FF box.
 Without the correct taper, the gain knob was way too sensative near the top range where I needed fine control, getting it set right again was much too touchy, this made me prefer simple preset gain/no knob.
 But I do pre-boost and find the gain knob useful for that, I ordered the correct 1k taper from SB.
 If I knew now what I didn't know when I couldn't get the correct taper pot, I'd put 2 fixed gain knob settings on a switch, making the high gain value bypass the switch as default value.

[jcuempire]

is there anything between the guitar and FF...other than a cable?

No.  for purposes of testing, I was running just the box.  Heck, I was thrilled that it even worked!  I was going to try a compressor in front of it to see how it affected the sound.

[jcuempire]

Yup, and when you turn your guitar's volume down even more, the sound gets even cleaner.  That's a great feature of a well-made Fuzz Face, people refer to that as the sound "cleaning up" at lower volume.  It's much like a good overdriven tube amp, you can play rhythm with a clean/slightly overdriven sound with the volume knob turned down just a little, then for solos you crank the volume and get the full fuzz blast.  Jimi Hendrix is the best example of that, he often had the FF on through whole songs, you can hear how he plays the rhythm part of a song with a slightly overdriven tone, then when he dimes the volume knob for solos it's an intense fuzz sound.  That's why players like Fuzz Faces, and it's the way they are supposed to behave.  By doing the mods people have suggested, you can have your OD sound that you like at full volume for some songs, and change the settings and get the full FF "experience".

Al

Yes, I get that - now.  I wasn't expecting the dramatic amount of cleanup, I guess.  I never had a fuzz face before - mostly distortions like MXR, Boss, DOD and they don't do that.   could you wire a stomp switch to change the different modes on the box (or a mini switch to save space)?  I had a feeling this was going to be an engrossing hobby

[jcuempire]

I can't thank you all enough for all the ideas.  I've been a member on this forum less than two hours and I have gotten a ton of great ideas.  I guess I have some modding to do.  The next project is a Rangemaster.  The parts are on order.  I also have a Tremulous Bear in the box ready to go.  Guess I'll be hitting you all up again soon.  Thanks