Recommend me a (Si) Velcro Fuzz Build

[thehallofshields]

To keep me from breaking the bank and buying the EQD Dirt Transmitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqiPJ2BeDk.
I've done my homework on bias controls but I can't decide on a build. To my ears, the Dirt-Transmitter sounds a bit darker than a standard FF and Tonebender. I know it could be due to the mix of Si and Ge, but I want to stick with Si transistors for this one.

I'm sure there are plenty of similar threads, so I won't be insulted if someone just drops a link.
Thanks.

[sgmezei]

I would check out building a fuzzfactory type pedal. a wide range of velcro ripping tones.
Madbean has a project for this at madbeanpedals
Taylor at musicpcb has velcro monster fuzz as well.

[alex_spaceman]

Have a play around with the Fuzzrite/Companion/Orpheum/Ritefuzz circuits. All dirty, velcroey and rather tweakable and pretty similar fuzzes, have fun mixing and matching as well as adding and modding (different people have adopted different ways of controlling the gain, a bias control can be added, as well as a BMP tone stack... list could go on). It shouldn't be too hard for you to come up with something you'll like, and the process should be good, dirty fun, too. There's a few threads here about each of those circuits, some about more than one. I found lots of ideas and suggestions which make for some great breadboarding fun and, above all, can lead to great fuzz tones.

The aforementioned Fuzz Factory could be a good choice, too, as well as the Ultralord, a Dirty Sanchez on steroids. Look up for the thread here on the forum, good read and looks lie the circuit is one worth building (I'll have to try it soon myself).

[thehallofshields]

I'd totally go for a fuzz factory, but people seem to be disappointed with their Si builds on many levels. I might just put sockets in and hope to find some affordable Ge Transistors.

[digi2t]

Parallel Universe II, or the Silicon version of the Skyripper. The PU II is LM386 based, and when using the Starve knob, you can dial in a pretty good velcro-y fuzz. The Skyripper is a much bigger, more complicated build. But, it has the advantage of the Ripper function, with the effects loop, and the silicon version works pretty well.

Sound clip of the silicon Skyripper is here, with velcro fuzz starting at 1:50; http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?q=hi&songID=10427001

Parallel Universe II is similar, the LM386 gives you a more metal-like distortion/fuzz, but similar velcro/zipper sounds are obtainable as well.

Vero for the Silicon Skyripper is available in the gallery. If you need the PU II vero, it's available here as well, just do a search for it.

Cheers,
Dino

[LaceSensor]

I found the Fuzz Factory with silicon transistors to sound really cool actually, not really that big a difference to Ac128s.
Worth playing with the input and output caps to make it less bright.

[azrael]

I'd like to see the PU II! Gonna have to look around..


I would like to submit the Devi Ever US Fuzz. Quite Velcro-y.

[Ripdivot]

does anyone have a dirt transmitter we can reverse?

[azrael]

Oh, in the vein of the Fuzz Factory, The Mellowtone Wolf Computer is cool.

[seedlings]

Build a regular old fuzz face and put a 10K pot for bias Q2 in place of the 8k2.  Maybe use a real big input cap, like 22uf or larger- better yet, a blend pot between a small and large value.  A 4th knob can either be a 50 or 100K pot variable resistor in front of the input cap(s).  And/or use a 47K feedback resistor and a 100K pot in series.  Put all those knobbies on the top to play with.

Breadboard it first just in case 

CHAD

[thehallofshields]

You guys rock. I've been given so many good suggestions making a decision has now been made much more difficult!

I was initially suspicious that the Dirt-Transmitter was a Fuzz-Face with some larger caps and a bias control. Recommend the Axis Face Silicon Build?
Building a Fuzz Factory with some larger caps sounds like a great option too. I'd really like to play with the Gate and Comp controls but probably not the oscillation.

I'll have to look more into Skyripper, Ultralord, Devi etc. I'm not sure exactly what to expect out those boxes. God, I'm probably gonna end up building 2-3 to try these out. Luckily my recent Muff build is working great and I'll have that to play with while I order transistors and such.

Thanks and please keep the suggestions coming!

[alex_spaceman]

Thanks and please keep the suggestions coming!

Forgot to mention either or both sides of the Devi Ever Shoegazer (aka the Torn's Peaker and the Soda Meiser) are worth a look into. Simple builds, too.

[azrael]

More on the Wolf Computer, it's basically an Si Fuzz Factory.

[thehallofshields]

...as well as a BMP tone stack...

I'd like to read-up on that. Is it possible to do with a single dpdt?

[thehallofshields]

Reporting Back:

I added a Bias control to Q3 of my Big Muff Pi build (tonefactory triangle layout) and it's a lot of fun. However, the Muff is clearly not a match for the gated-fuzz sound:
(1) The mid-scoop is too heavy; the crumbling decay sounds much better when I boost the lower-mids.
(2) The loss of volume is too severe when dialing back the sustain or tone controls.
(3) It 'cleans-up' much worse and requires hard playing to achieve good crumbling. -The gating increased the dynamic range too much.

I'm really glad I did this; it gives me a much better idea of what I'm trying to achieve.

[chromesphere]

Hey thehallofsheilds,
I know you said SI, but I would personally go for a GE fuzz factory.  I used ge transistors from small bear, all american, 15 bucks i think, you could try cheaper ones (i recall they were as low as 10 for a per).  It does some crazy velcro sounds, and is a HUGELY versatile fuzz to boot.  Heres a video of my fuzz factoy.  I demo some of the crazier fuzz tones later on in the clip (about half way).  Its super easy to build too!
Good luck mate!
Paul

[thehallofshields]

Alright. I know this topic is sort of expired, but I finally found time this summer to work on this project.

So far, I've breadboarded an Axis Face Silicon, and a Colorsound 1-Knob Fuzz, and have played around with the biasing of each.

Problem: I can't get the same result! The Si Transistors gradually attenuate before beginning to gate and get sputtery. I can get some pretty interesting textures, but only at a couple key points of a 10k pot, most of the sweep just results in a volume reduction.

One observation that I've made that I don't fully understand: the mis-biasing of Q2 seems more dependent on the gain of Q1 than anything else.

I'm going to start playing with Ge to see if I can understand why their mis-biased behavior is more pleasant, but maybe someone could help me get some insight into the matter.

[mistahead]

I have no idea where to dig it out of the internet, but there are leakage simulator circuits for the Si Fuzz guys to try to deal with some of what you are trying to fix... I think...

[thehallofshields]

Thanks, I think I was expecting that. I wonder if there are any tricks to getting those sputtery misbiased sounds. I haven't seen any variations on the bias control; so far everything has just been a pot in place of the Resistor at the Collector of Q2.

I'll keep trying tweaks, but again, I keep getting a huge volume drop before the gating gets significant.

[petey twofinger]

if anyone has anything on that wold computer i would love to get my hands on a schemo / or a vero would be great . i have looked around and tried cobbling together stuff from whats out there a few times and the results were really pathetic . i really have my heart set on one of those things from the demos and what i have read but i just can not find the info ... what is out there , well it sounded awful .