Howdy, stompers,
I fancy a superfuzz-type pedal and I'm wondering what kind of sonic differences I can expect between the 6 transistor Univox and the 4 transistor Kay. The lazy man in me wants to do the Kay, but I don't particularly want to end up with a poorer-sounding version due to my laziness.
Thoughts?
-Fuzzmonger
ps, I'm gonna through the Ibanez Standard Fuzz into the debate just to be difficult - seems to sit somewhere between the two but I'm slightly phobic of that FET on the front and its inherent biasing fiddliness.
you can see the big differences are the lack of expander and a boost stage...you can't lose with the super fuzz especially since you have original voltages from a good one!
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=64068.0
Hey, if the Kay is good enough for Daniel Lanois, it's good enough for you. :icon_wink:
An Expander (aka a gain control) won't be hard to add but, regarding the missing gain stage, can the Kay still achieve (and hopefully WAY surpass) unity?
-Fuzzmonger
I add the Gain control and the make up gain section to the Kay.
the kay and univox tho similar are VASTLY different tonally. the superfuzz is, well, an over-the top SUPER FUZZ...
the kay is more like a crappy fuzztone. cool, but not in the ball park. like the difference between a fetzer valve and, oh, a plexi.
the kay is more like a crappy fuzztone. cool, but not in the ball parkYeah but still. Like the guy or not, gotta admit that the fuzz is cool.
Really depends on your setup as well.
Slight tangent - the Kay Trem is similar - special type of sound that is niche but attractive...
Quote from: John Lyons on July 29, 2013, 10:41:23 PM
the kay is more like a crappy fuzztone. cool, but not in the ball park
Yeah but still. Like the guy or not, gotta admit that the fuzz is cool.
Really depends on your setup as well.
i used to own one... for real, this is HEAVILY processed... they don't sound all that good on their own!!! ;)
As a total Kay freak/collector of Kay stuff, I can't say enough great things about the Kay Fuzztone... but the thing I like most about it is the treadle control personally...
But in terms of what you are asking, of all three, my builds of the Ibanez Standard Fuzz have been my favorite. They nail that kind of thing way better than the Super Fuzz or the Kay.