Fuzz Face & CryBaby Wah... woes

[brett]

Besides BC109s with low gain, there's lots of mid-power transistors (e.g 5W) with about the right gain.  I like BD139s - hFE from about 100 to 200.

[RDV]

My silicon fuzz sounds kinda jangly/metallic when I turn my guitar volume down to around 5... it isn't a really bad sound, just a little unusual... has anyone else had this type of sound with a silicon fuzz?

What your Q2 collector voltage? Should be from 4.5 to 5.5v or so.

Regards

RDV

[Triffid]

Just thought I'd let you guys listen to what I am talking about... On these recordings I have my guitar volume @ 10, then roll down to 5 half way through.  I think it is easier to hear the jangle sound I was talking about on the lead clip.  

I'll check my Q2 collector voltage now... I am using BC108's with a lot more than 120 Hfe.  This doesn't quite sound like classic hendrix, but it doesn't sound bad either (to me anyway).

Thanks again

http://www.castagno.org/rythm.mp3
http://www.castagno.org/lead.mp3

[RDV]

Sounds like a good Si FF to me. They don't really clean up like a Ge, but they've got more edge.

Regards

RDV

[Triffid]

Transistor voltages....

Straight 9V Battery ... 8.99V

Q1 C: 1.35V
Q1 B: 0.61V
Q1 E: 0V

Q2 C: 3.12V
Q2 B: 1.34V
Q2 E: 0.72V

hmm... less then 4.5V @Q2 C... is that something I should fix?  I kind of like the sound I am getting now... but I'm sure it can get better.

Thanks

[RDV]

A 10k trimmer in the place the collector resistor you have there now would allow you to experiment and find where you like the sound the best.
I've been using somewhere between 5.6k & 6.8k for that resistor in mine. I'm guessing you've got about an 8.6 in there to get that low voltage.

Regards

RDV

[Triffid]

All right, I added a 10K trim in series with a 1k resistor, in place of the 8.2k resistor I had at the collector of Q2.   I set the trim so that the voltage was right at 5.  It sounds pretty good... I think the biggest difference was how it cleaned up on volume roll down.  It is a lot nicer now.  

Thanks a lot to everyone.  All this has really helped understand how to set the pots on my '69 to get closer to the original Fuzz Face sound.  I think I have a pretty good sounding silicon fuzz now.... My germanium trannys are in the mail so that will be my next project, then wah output buffer, then easy vibe, then octavia, then.... the list just keeps growing

Thanks again

[Tobias Karlsson]

I had a 40k trim pot laying around so I tried that instead of the 50K, worked like a charm.  That darn squeel is no more.  To tell you the truth, the effect was not altered too much, and if it was I think it was for the better.  Before it was a ridiculously over the top fuzz, now it is just over the top

If it had change the sound in a negative way you could have put the trim on the output of the wha instead. That way your FF would still be intact :-)

Some of the Colorsound wha's have a voltage divider, 100k/100k just before the output and that's why they work a little bit better with a FF.

Tobias Karlsson in Sweden

[Gearbuilder]

Hi Triffid,
Well ,happy to help you,i've got a little question:
where have you bought your germs?
Bruno

[Gearbuilder]

Hi Tobias,
I don't understand where there's a change beetween put a trim at the output of the wha at least of the input of the FF???
Bruno

[Triffid]

I think he just said that so that when I remove my wah from my effect loop, I don't have to sacrifice ff sound any more... I could be wrong though.

About the ge trannys... I actually found a guy in Germany (go figure) that sold me hand picked AC128's for $2 a piece.   I told him I wanted less then 200 mA of leakage, ~70Hfe, and ~120Hfe and he said "No Problem".  I hope those were the right numbers to give him.  I haven't received them yet though, it was just last week.  

Thanks again

[Triffid]

oops, I meant 200uA  (yes that is what I sent him )

[Gearbuilder]

Hi,
2$ woahh !Cheap!Do you know the brandname and would you give me the adress?
Thank in advance
Regards
Bruno

[Triffid]

He said they they were made by Tungsram.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind more business but I'll have to ask him if he minds if I post his address on a forum.

[Tobias Karlsson]

Hi Tobias,
I don't understand where there's a change beetween put a trim at the output of the wha at least of the input of the FF???
Bruno

If you don't like the sound of the input trim resistance in a FF (I don't like it) it won't be there as it's in the wha pedal and only affect the FF when the wha is stomped in.
With the wha bypassed=no resistace at the input of the FF.

Tobias

[Gearbuilder]

Hi,
Thanks a lot ,Tugsram are OK ,i think.
Ok i understand for the trim in the wha ,but for my part i prefer no customized Wha,it's an old Vox.But it's a good idea :wink:
Regards
Bruno

[Gearbuilder]

Hi
Yeahh  I've got an  :idea:
The problem is unmatched effects.I'm going to do a Matcher Box
A stompbox with a trim ,an active buffer and a loop,cool.In this way no mods in your effects !!Any ideas are welcome
Regards
Bruno[/img]

[Triffid]

I thought about that too.   I think the biggest hurdle would be for it to turn on and off with the effect(s) that needs it, unless it is completly transparent when on (which I don't know is possible).   I suppose I could only turn it on with the song where I know I will need to use both effects at the same time.  

Good luck, it sounds like a good idea.

[Gearbuilder]

Hi,
,it's a real tool,if it ok:real bypass ,if your effect squeals choose active or passive way to match it .this box could stay in place in your board.
I'm going tohave a reflexion on that this night.I'll sent to you the results!
Regards
Bruno

[Triffid]

Ok, my germanium guy said it was cool to give you guys his email.  Keep in mind that I haven't received my AC128's yet so I wouldn't say I "vouch" for him yet.  I'll let you know as soon as I do.  I think he has all sorts of trannys.  I know he has AC188's at least.

Here ya go...

Mr.W.D Herbrand <vr-supply@arcor.de>

He doesn't have a website yet (he said he was working on it).