Fuzz Face Components - The Transistor

[cacarver]

I am currently working on my first build - a Fuzz Face clone. During my research and planning of materials I seem to consistantly find that the transistor is the single most component that has bearing on the sound. I wanted to bounce this off forum members. Is this really true?

I have been researching the differences between Silicon vs. Germanium and listening to audio clips. The silicon route seems cheaper and sounds decent in my opinion. The germanium sometimes has marginal or no difference. The two types of transistors I have narrowed it down to are probably a BC108 Silicon or the AC128 Germanium.

I am seeking a bright, fizzy sound with high gain. Which of these would you recommend?

Thank you -

[tubelectron]

Hi,

1 - if it is not already the case, search on the web for R.G. Keen 's article "The Technology Of The Fuzz Face" : no doubt you'll find it more than fully instructive !

2 -

I am seeking a bright, fizzy sound with high gain. Which of these would you recommend?

Silicon Q's indeed... I would chose the 2N5088, or better the MPSA18 which would gave more gain and fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Here's my 2N5088 personal fizzzzzzzzzy version :



if you remove the * capacitors, you will have a kind of radio-fuzz mixed with even more fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

A+!

[petemoore]

  They're fairly easy to start, harder to finish if you wanna try every possibility first.
   That's why building two and 'racing' them proved useful to me.
   I found it was easy to be impressed with very high gain FF [especially if the FF or TB-type [just add boost to front of FF], but in practice found that less necessary. But it really does depend on what or if anything else is contributing to the distortion.
   

[LucifersTrip]

If this is your first build, I'd definitely go with the silicon version...especially since you want a brighter sound, and they're much easier for a beginner to get to sound good. You won't have to deal with ge leakage....

....don't be a sucker and believe that the transistor called for in the schematic or the one hyped by tons of people is the best....just try everything until YOU like the sound the best. That's all that counts.

Silicons are very cheap, so you can really try a load of different combos of gains & types till you love it.  That's the fun of DIY.

You may want to try tubelectron's since he has good taste, but for a 1st one I would probably build the stock original
http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/fuzzface/fuzzfacepnpschematic.gif

The article he recommended is definitely worth reading:
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/fuzzface/fffram.htm

Remember, try all the different transistors you want, but most importantly try to get Q2's collector to around 4.5v


and I had to mention...there is a big difference between the si & ge sound...you'll find out if you continue building and play through both...

good luck

[cacarver]

Thank you all for the quick replies. That geofx article has been a great resource. I am starting to think my first build will unlock a new hobby for myself that I will spawn the birth of many future projects. At this point I am so excited I can't order the parts fast enough. Other than the enclosure these guys are fairly inexpensive to build.

[R.G.]

Other than the enclosure these guys are fairly inexpensive to build.

You'll also want to read "Effects Economics 101" in the "Guitar Effects FAQ" at geofex. Note the date.

[Brymus]

Definetly a Si version for high gain brite fizz.
RG's page a HUGE help in building a FF !!
I would also add, be sure to try Joe Gagens Easy Face input cap blend.
It really helps control the flub and brightness of the circuit.

[joegagan]

11 years later, i still love sili q1 and ge q2.

[superferrite]

Joe's right.  I've got your Easyface first on my pedalboard right now! (thanks, btw)

[cacarver]

I ordered a few different sets of silicone transistors so I will probably build a couple pedals out of all this and compare. I had to order each resistor and cap individually. I wish Diystompboxes could put a kit of capacitors and resistors together for sale for newbies getting started so we dont have to just go down the list every time I order. It's like putting a grocery list together.

[LucifersTrip]

I ordered a few different sets of silicone transistors so I will probably build a couple pedals out of all this and compare. I had to order each resistor and cap individually. I wish Diystompboxes could put a kit of capacitors and resistors together for sale for newbies getting started so we dont have to just go down the list every time I order. It's like putting a grocery list together.

numerous sites sell variety packs of transistors & caps, but I'd just buy 10 of each for the full range...they're a penny each, so you can go crazy.
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/servlet/the-Resistors-cln-1-fdsh-4W-Carbon-Film-Resistors/Categories

47, 100, 220, 470, 750, 1k, 2.2k, 3k, 4.7k, 10k, 47k, 100k, 220k, 330k, 470k, 750k, 1m, 2m, 3m, etc...

http://www.taydaelectronics.com/servlet/the-Capacitors-cln-Ceramic-Disc-Capacitors/Categories
.001uf - 100uf will take care of most....and get some 50 - 200 pf (these are not listed on the FF schematic, but it is very common to put em across Q1 BC to tame noise/oscillation/fizz and make it smoother like a ge

...and if you need something not there, just combine a couple in series or parallel

here's a couple useful links:

parallel R/series C calculator:
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Technical/Electronics/parallel-resistor-calculator.htm

uF - nF - pF Conversion Chart
http://www.justradios.com/uFnFpF.html

[tubelectron]

cacarver,

Here you got from LucifersTrip the "DIY starter stompbox builder survivor kit" list...

There is numerous distortion, overdrive and booster effects with only 1 or 2 transistor and a few components which works amazingly well, despite their simplicity !

So good start, now !

[cacarver]

Thank you, thank you! You guys have proven to be very helpful.

[Eric H]

11 years later, i still love sili q1 and ge q2.

Dang, and that can only mean we're 11 years older too 

[EATyourGuitar]

while there is a difference in sound between germ or silicon, you also have huge differences in all the modded fuzz face circuits vs the original. and you can even have big differences in gains between two silicons of a different type. so I would say that for the cheap and easy, you can start bread boarding all sorts of circuits on the cheap to see what you like before you box it up. you were pretty right about how this is that start of a new hobby. I can already tell you enjoy it. you'll be hooked pretty soon.