ZODIAC FUZZ + ENVELOPE FILTER

[deadastronaut]

Ok seeing as its nearly xmas..and i know your always hungry for something a bit different..you greedy little piggies......

i didn't fancy just building a tiny 2 tranny fuzz into a box, there's just too much room in there to fill up, and i'm greedy too.....

so i added an envelope filter too...

this all started as the 'fuzz faeces'' where i really liked the brassy-synthy off bias sound. (steve hillage-esque)

heres the schematic for the ZODIAC FUZZ,

basically its a heavily breadboarded/ modded + stripped down  Q-tripper and a tweaked fuzz face (faeces)...(this version anyway..) i have another version on the go at the mo which uses a modified phuncgnosis (tim escobedo)
but has the proper up/down sweep now. (whch uses readily available common parts)...schemo soon ok. ..ive breadboarded almost every bloody EF out there..some good, some not so...

heres the (out of sync, thanks youtube ) vid/sound of it..

i highly recommend breadboarding this, and it must use 2sk30a fets...at least on Q2 anyway..i tried others to no avail...the intensity/release could probably do with a tweak if anyone has any ideas on this i'd be grateful and i'll instantly try it
as its still on breadboard at the mo...

if you get clever with the switching you could have fuzz/fuzz envelope/ envelope.. ...you could have this as 2 footswitches too. (ideal really)

anyway...try it out, you won't regret it....i'm not really a fuzz fan, but i really like this, the pre-gain allows subtlety to full on, and the bias gives a brassy-synthy tone, (watch the volume when on brassy tone..turn it down)

i did remedy the volume difference btween fuzz-brassy, with diodes after the 100nf, but then it messed with the brassy sound too....so i left those out.

i got rid of the 1k fuzz control as it did sweet F A imo... ..and the pre-gain is way better...

i put a 10nf on the fuzz input as the recommended 2.2uf was way to soft imo...no definition etc...on the original idea i switched between the 2.2uf/10nf...so you might want to consider that in your build...up to you really.

just a note: thanks to larry aka rutagaba bob for egging me on to get this moving..

as always mod suggestions always welcome as i haven't a clue what i'm doing...but i enjoy tinkering..






ZODIAC FUZZ II soon....enjoy+merry xmas.

[deadastronaut]

and here is the ZODIAC II + envelope filter.

this is based on the modded phuncgnosis+ fuzz faeces.  its the exact same fuzz, but this time the  envelope filter uses very common parts.





now get your breadboard out and rip the ass out of it...

[Perrow]

Hey, I think I have everything for V2 (everything but time, will try to build an amp before x-mas). Looks interesting, haven't listened to the demo yet but I will.

[~arph]

impressive!  could use a little delay and reverb on the vid though.. it's a bit dry now. 

[bluebunny]

Cool.

- and -

Cool II. 

I wonder what I might be building after Christmas? ...

[midwayfair]

Very nice, Rob! Fuzz does sound especially good with a little bit of filter on it. Nice clean an ultimately simple circuit in both, too.

[rutabaga bob]

Excellent, Mr. Henry!   

[deadastronaut]

impressive!  could use a little delay and reverb on the vid though.. it's a bit dry now. 

hmmm yeah i'll have to add a little more..   (i had the delay on my mixer (sub) up...i  didnt monitor it like that...and couldn't be arsed to redo it all..


cheers guys, have fun...

like i say though, the intensity/release could do with a tinker on the  Z 1.... 's

[midwayfair]

like i say though, the intensity/release could do with a tinker on the  Z 1.... 's

What do you want to change about it?

[deadastronaut]

^ well it does work fine as it is, but it could do with a better response for short/long release time imo...

ive tried various remedies but i end up with pretty much the same result...i'll have a bit more of a tinker around C8/R12..and the pot value too..cheers jon.


oh yes i forgot to say: mod for Z 1  ..where it says 'filter out point'', put a spdt there ..might need a resistor on the out switch for unity though ok..

but then you'l have  fuzz/fuzz envelope/ envelope...3 in 1.  

edit: just tried the filter out no fuzz..no need for a resistor, unity is fine..just whack a switch on there...sorted.

heres a quick filter only clip...definately worth adding that switch..
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7464107/zodiac%20v1%20clean%20filter%20test1.mp3

[Devius]

As I watched your video, the sky above my place ripped open and a dragon made of pure electricity spewed forth.
Epic sound dude, epic.

[haveyouseenhim]

As I watched your video, the sky above my place ripped open and a dragon made of pure electricity spewed forth.
Epic sound dude, epic.

Good, so it wasn't just me

[Jdansti]

Awesome stuff!  Thanks for posting this!  Bookmarked for future build.

[deadastronaut]

As I watched your video, the sky above my place ripped open and a dragon made of pure electricity spewed forth.
Epic sound dude, epic.

   \m/     \m/


i just made a layout for the Z1, (1590b fit)  with the switching for fuzz/fuzz+envelope/envelope..

i'll check it over tomorrow and if it looks good i'll post it up ok...i'm off to bed now...knackered!..  nite nite..

[haveyouseenhim]

As I watched your video, the sky above my place ripped open and a dragon made of pure electricity spewed forth.
Epic sound dude, epic.

   \m/     \m/


i just made a layout for the Z1, (1590b fit)  with the switching for fuzz/fuzz+envelope/envelope..

i'll check it over tomorrow and if it looks good i'll post it up ok...i'm off to bed now...knackered!..  nite nite..

Can't wait

[deadastronaut]

ok, here ya go,  ive looked it over and looks ok to me...  (1590b size)

ZODIAC FUZZ I:

layout pdf
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7464107/ZODIACFUZZV1.pdf

pcb pdf

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7464107/ZODIACFUZZPCB1.pdf

the BOM list  on Z I just wouldn't appear for some strange reason. .but  ive added the ic/Q's on text ok, ....i won't have time to verify it till after xmas, so if you give it a go give us a report.

...


ZODIAC FUZZ II files :  an easier , more common components version. as above i haven't time to verify till afterxmas ok....if you do please report.

ZII PDF
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7464107/ZODIACFUZZII.pdf

ZII PCB PDF
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7464107/ZODIACFUZZ%20II%20PCB.pdf

have fun. cheers rob.

[nocentelli]

Thanks for this, great clips, great playing and great sound. At one point I inadvertantly had the original youtube vid AND the dropbox filter-only mp3 playing simultaneously, resulting in some seriously psychedelic spacejazz madness - Wonderful.

[deadastronaut]

   keep smoking that green man....

[deadastronaut]

due to a request from a blind dude i made the schematic's bigger...

[DDD]

Very nice!
Respect!