Beginner Boost + Fuzz Face = @#@%@^!!@@%!

[Triffid]

I was messing around with my first project ever, the beginner npn boost from this forum of course.  I tried putting it in front of my '69 and things got real hairy.  If the volume was up at all on my boost the sound would cut in and out at a regular interval when I played.  So I tried using my diy silicon fuzz face instead of the '69 and it got even worse.  If I just turned my boost on I would get a repetative flash of sound.  Now I know my silicon fuzz face has way more gain then my '69, I wonder if that has to do with the funky business.  So it seems to me that there is something inheretly incompatible between the ff curcuit and my boost... that or the combination is just creating too much gain for my amp to handle (don't know if that makes sense).

Anyway... any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[smoguzbenjamin]

Does the boost work on its own? Because I suspect a misbiased transistor is what's causing the problem...

[Kleber AG]

Ouch... I have exactly the same problem, If I try to put any booster before my fuzzes (easyface, hotsilicon, YAFF,) it starts to make the same as you described "cut in and out".

Even without a booster, if I grab my EMG equiped guitar it starts to do the same, but a little more subtle...

I really would like to find out "Why" it's doing this kind of problem....

Regards
Kleber AG

[smoguzbenjamin]

Maybe you're overpowering your fuzz-faces. As far as I know the fuzzface is a picky pedal to get working, so. I've never built one but I've read a lot of things about the drawbacks of this little fuzzbox

[Triffid]

Yes, my boost actually sounds pretty good by itself or with my amp's distortion.  It is just my Ff's :evil:

[smoguzbenjamin]

And your fuzzface? I assume that works by itself. Whatabout if you turn the boost down? Does it work better then?

[Triffid]

Yes, both fuzzes (my '69 and my DIY SI) work just fine without the boost.  With my '69, if I turn the boost all the way down it stops chopping.  With my DIY SI it doesn't matter what I do... it always chops.  I assumed this was due to the enormous gain difference between the 2 pedals... but that could be wrong

[smoguzbenjamin]

Might be impedance mismatching but that's kinda far-sought.

:lol: I have no clue :lol:

[Gus]

Try a 10k resistor in series with the input of the FF.  It sounds like the same problem a Wha has with a FF after it.

[Kleber AG]

Thanks for the sugestion Gus,
but I had already tried that 10K input but it only reduced the problem, as I said even with "only" my EMG equiped guitar it chopps, then if I turn the guitar vol a "little" lower to maybe 90% of it's rotation the problem disapears, but I lost so much FUZZ  
BTW: I'm talking about the hot_silicon and also other fuzzes...
Neck pickup is worse...

What helps is if I try lower input caps.
But I can't use the 2.2uF cap that I really like for the added lows  :cry:

Any more sugestions? Please!

Regards
Kleber AG

[smoguzbenjamin]

Well if the 10k prtially solves it, maybe a 20k will completely solve your problem

[Triffid]

Both my '69 and my DIY SI ff have  50k pot in series before the input cap... even with the 50K maxed I still get the same effect.   I am really stumped here... I can't find anything to stop this that won't completly change the ff sound

Thanks for everyones help though

[Kleber AG]

Uuhhh... ? Anyone?  :wink:
Thanks Peter

Kleber AG

[brett]

Checked the batteries?  - a wild guess.

[Kleber AG]

Yep, I use both, sometimes battery, sometimes DC adapter............
Also I tried Joe Gagan Idea of the pre gain control but that just solved the problem when I'd lost almost all the fuzz...

I think it's related to "Blocking Distortion"
Check it out:
http://www.aikenamps.com/BlockingDistortion.html

But... the problem is, the fuzz face is one of just a few circuits that sounds good with great low frequencies, I really like it because I can have a strong tone full of bass if I want.

I just can't use the guitar I have with EMG pickups that is my main guitar for gigs  :roll:

[RDV]

The FF wants to be first. That's all there is to it. No matter what you do, it wants to come first. Try the boost after the fuzz. That will kick for solos. Go to //www.analogman.com and click on the sunface or fuzzface link & he explains it pretty well. Got to say though, a Germanium Rangemaster clone sounds great in front of a FF IMNSHO.

Regards

RDV

[Oliver]

Hi,

i think the Signal, you drive into the Fuzz Face it too strong.
The Booster delivers enough to push a Tubeampfrontend into
saturation.
I know the Problem - driving a FF all the way up into an Amp, that
is overdriven already. the Frontend begings to oscillate and sounds
muddy.

Try to turn back the OutputLevel of the Booster. The signal seems to
be to big in front of Your Fuzz.

bye
Oliver