how can i make a boss ds-1 behave more like a fuzz pedal?

[snow123]

hi, I have a boss ds-1 that I want to mod, and I want to make it behave more like a fuzz, is that possible? if so, how would I go about doing it?

[snow123]

also, what does D8 do?

[Mark Hammer]

Stick a booster of some kind before it.  I know it's not the ONLY thing that differentiates distortions and fuzzes, but one of the key elements of a fuzz is that the signal remains above the clipping threshold - hence it clips for a longer period - for a while.  So, providing a hotter input signal, in tandem with whatever gain the pedal provides, will accomplish that.  Now, whether the resulting tone is what you were aiming for is a whole other matter.

D8 is part of the switching circuit.

[snow123]

Stick a booster of some kind before it.  I know it's not the ONLY thing that differentiates distortions and fuzzes, but one of the key elements of a fuzz is that the signal remains above the clipping threshold - hence it clips for a longer period - for a while.  So, providing a hotter input signal, in tandem with whatever gain the pedal provides, will accomplish that.  Now, whether the resulting tone is what you were aiming for is a whole other matter.

D8 is part of the switching circuit.

ok, but what would i do to the circuit itself behave more like a fuzz?
and considering what you said about putting a booster in front of the pedal, could i do something with the transistor booster stage to get that effect?

[idy]

So here's an idea. See that 470k resistor in the feedback loop of the transistor booster stage? Put a pair of diodes in series with a cap there in parallel... make it a big muff stage. Crazy, but you asked for fuzz. Worth a try.

The muff has three parallel paths in the place.
470k R
100n-1uf cap in series with pair of diodes
470pf C

Look at a schematic. These values changed year to year. The bigger cap in series with the diodes allows bass to clip more.

But this is super easy to try. No mod to existing, just parallel components tack-soldered to that 470k.

[snow123]

update: i just replaced the 2 1n4148s with 1 1n60p and 1 green band 1n34a, and it gets FUZZY.

[snow123]

So here's an idea. See that 470k resistor in the feedback loop of the transistor booster stage? Put a pair of diodes in series with a cap there in parallel... make it a big muff stage. Crazy, but you asked for fuzz. Worth a try.

The muff has three parallel paths in the place.
470k R
100n-1uf cap in series with pair of diodes
470pf C

Look at a schematic. These values changed year to year. The bigger cap in series with the diodes allows bass to clip more.

But this is super easy to try. No mod to existing, just parallel components tack-soldered to that 470k.

ooo thats a good idea, what diodes would you suggest using?

[snow123]

im thinking leds, or 1n4148s would be good.

[snow123]

So here's an idea. See that 470k resistor in the feedback loop of the transistor booster stage? Put a pair of diodes in series with a cap there in parallel... make it a big muff stage. Crazy, but you asked for fuzz. Worth a try.

The muff has three parallel paths in the place.
470k R
100n-1uf cap in series with pair of diodes
470pf C

Look at a schematic. These values changed year to year. The bigger cap in series with the diodes allows bass to clip more.

But this is super easy to try. No mod to existing, just parallel components tack-soldered to that 470k.

just tried it with 2 leds and 1 220nf capacitor, and it removed all of the distortion.

[Vivek]

Increase the amount of bass entering the clipper

[teemuk]

I'm not sure which schematic / board revision you use as a reference but overall there's a distinct hi-pass filter introduced by the negative feedback circuit around the non-inverting opamp gain stage. The AC coupling capacitor in the "shunt" branch of the circuit (C8 in schematic I'm looking at but verify) limits low frequency gain. Try increasing it's value. e.g. from 1uF to 10 uF.

The circuit should now have more of that characteristic "fuzz" of low frequencies distorting.

I disagree on that fuzz would be an effect created by increased sustain. Distortion circuits have it a plenty and do not have "fuzzy" tone and there are also examples of clearly "fuzzy" distortion tones with very short sustain characteristics.

[snow123]

I'm not sure which schematic / board revision you use as a reference but overall there's a distinct hi-pass filter introduced by the negative feedback circuit around the non-inverting opamp gain stage. The AC coupling capacitor in the "shunt" branch of the circuit (C8 in schematic I'm looking at but verify) limits low frequency gain. Try increasing it's value. e.g. from 1uF to 10 uF.

The circuit should now have more of that characteristic "fuzz" of low frequencies distorting.

I disagree on that fuzz would be an effect created by increased sustain. Distortion circuits have it a plenty and do not have "fuzzy" tone and there are also examples of clearly "fuzzy" distortion tones with very short sustain characteristics.

My ds-1 has the M5223AL, and im using the electrosmash schematic as a reference.

[Ben N]

Increase the amount of bass entering the clipper

Exactly my thought. I would think increasing the coupling caps C1 & C3 from .047 to .1-.47 uf or so would go a long way.

That said, building a decent fuzz is not that hard. Why ruin a distortion to make a pseudo fuzz?

[Steben]

Increase the amount of bass entering the clipper

Exactly my thought. I would think increasing the coupling caps C1 & C3 to .1 to .47 uf or so would go a long way.

That said, building a decent fuzz is not that hard. Why ruin a distortion to make a pseudo fuzz?

and make them switchable

[Vivek]

Increase the amount of bass entering the clipper

Exactly my thought. I would think increasing the coupling caps C1 & C3 to .1 to .47 uf or so would go a long way.

That said, building a decent fuzz is not that hard. Why ruin a distortion to make a pseudo fuzz?

and make them switchable

Or like pre-dist Bass EQ knob of Wampler Ecstasy / Euphoria

[Steben]

Adding a BMP tone control in front will bring you from fuzz to classic Pre-high pass rock.

[iainpunk]

i would change the values of the input booster stage into a Bazz Fuss circuit, and then rely on the rest of the circuit to take it even further.

cheers

[snow123]

Increase the amount of bass entering the clipper

Exactly my thought. I would think increasing the coupling caps C1 & C3 from .047 to .1-.47 uf or so would go a long way.

That said, building a decent fuzz is not that hard. Why ruin a distortion to make a pseudo fuzz?

well i really liked the fizziness and stuff that the circuit has going on, and i thought it would work better as a fuzz that a distortion. and before you wrote that, i actually decreased c3 to 33nf, and i think that got me closer to what i want, 'cause i found the circuit to be a little too bass heavy sometimes.

[snow123]

and im pretty happy with how i have the circuit at the moment. i just think it needs a little more gain.

[snow123]

and im curious, what are the main components that effect volume? and that dont mess with anything else, as im really happy with how everything sounds rn.