Empress fuzz

thf · February 11, 2012, 06:26:03 PM

Hey guys, I just found one really interesting fuzz while browsing the youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSNFSNhnGiM&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.empresseffects.com/fuzz.html

I fell in love with its sound and options but the brand is not that well known i suppose so its not possible to find a scheme or something on the internet.
So my question is, do you guys know any similar fuzz effect? Something that is actually possible to clone? I want something as close to this as possible. Thanks for recomendations

LucifersTrip · February 12, 2012, 08:12:13 AM

sounds like a modern, slick fuzz built with multiple IC's...

thf · February 12, 2012, 09:16:17 AM

Any particular one?

CynicalMan · February 12, 2012, 10:07:19 AM

Empress seems pretty original, I doubt that they cloned anything in particular. There aren't many fuzz designs full of SMD op amps.

DougH · February 12, 2012, 10:10:02 AM

Quote from: LucifersTrip on February 12, 2012, 08:12:13 AM
sounds like a modern, slick fuzz built with multiple IC's...

Might be based on an IC version Big Muff.

LucifersTrip · February 12, 2012, 03:48:39 PM

I did a few searches...someone noted it was the fuzz section of the multidrive...good luck..

Bill Mountain · August 16, 2012, 09:47:00 AM

I know this is an old post but I wanted to give it a little bump. I play bass and I picked up an Empress Multidrive to try out. So far the fuzz section is my favorite. If I don't end up using the other distortions I may go a similar route as the OP and try to build just the fuzz.

If the other distortions prove useful then I'm fine with the Multidrive because I'd never be able to fit so much in a tiny package.

They claim it is a classic fuzz sound so my first assumption was a Muff variant but it sounds much more pleasing than most muffs I've played. The eq section seems like a active Bax eq from the discription so it shouldn't be too much trouble to replicate.

I'm terrible at reverse engineering so maybe I could record some clips and get peoples opinions on what would sound close.

Mark Hammer · August 16, 2012, 09:58:49 AM

I'm buddies with Steve Bragg, one of the principle people behind Empress - an Ottawa-based company, like Fairfield, Retro-Sonic, and Goudie FX. They really do try to come up with products that are new, as opposed to tweaking a component here and there in a known circuit, muttering "Cool!", and stuffing it in a 1590B. That's not a slag at anyone who does. Rather, it is unlikely that what's in the Empress Fuzz is highly derivative, simply because that's not how they design. I'm sure the principles underlying it are well-known, and the circuit cloneable with through-hole parts, but unlikely to be a familiar topology to many here.

Somebody was over to the house a few months back with one of those fuzzes on his board, but I never took the time to listen; too many other pedals to hear and fix. He liked it a lot, though.

Bill Mountain · August 16, 2012, 10:04:27 AM

Quote from: Mark Hammer on August 16, 2012, 09:58:49 AM
I'm buddies with Steve Bragg, one of the principle people behind Empress - an Ottawa-based company, like Fairfield, Retro-Sonic, and Goudie FX. They really do try to come up with products that are new, as opposed to tweaking a component here and there in a known circuit, muttering "Cool!", and stuffing it in a 1590B. That's not a slag at anyone who does. Rather, it is unlikely that what's in the Empress Fuzz is highly derivative, simply because that's not how they design. I'm sure the principles underlying it are well-known, and the circuit cloneable with through-hole parts, but unlikely to be a familiar topology to many here.

Somebody was over to the house a few months back with one of those fuzzes on his board, but I never took the time to listen; too many other pedals to hear and fix. He liked it a lot, though.

Mark, I totally agree. I really like what Empress is doing. I've been trying to turn off the geek part of my brain for a while and get back to just playing bass. I have a good band now and they couldn't give a crap out all my DIY stuff. I respect Empress's new approach and I want to support originality but I have a hard time spending $300 on a pedal. My DIY side is screaming at me.

I gotta ask. How do you know when you'd rather buy than build?

I could also just get the stand alone fuzz pedal but I really like the mid control on the Multidrive. Is selectable mids worth an extra $130? It also doesn't use batteries which I didn't realize when I bought it. I have plenty of power supplies but I prefer batteries for quick jams and such. I may have to finally invest in or build a battery powered pedal board.

Mark Hammer · August 16, 2012, 10:29:16 AM

Keep your eyes peeled for older Boss ROD-10s. They are a sort of precursor to the Multidrive, having 5 different discrete overdrive/distortion circuits, all fed through a master 3-band EQ. They can sometimes be bought inexpensively. I got mine for $25. The ROD-10 does not permit one to blend the different circuits, the way the Multidrive does. But that doesn't mean you couldn't MAKE one do that; particularly since, unlike the Multidrive, the ROD-10 is through-hole, and more amenable to mods. You can also find the schematic online.

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Empress fuzz