As an amplifier, it takes the input signal and makes it louder. The key to building a good fuzz face is ensuring that transistors are getting the correct voltage. Led diodes have polarity, the cathode is indicated as a flat surface on the side of the diode and also it is the shorter led. This causes some of the output signal to get fed back into the input, and this feedback changes the way the distortion happens. For example, if you are using a 9V power supply, use an electrolytic capacitor with at least 18V maximum voltage rating. A transistor set up like either of the ones in the Fuzz Face is a common emitter amplifier. But, this circuit uses a … component list. Warranty Information. Pedal cloning circuits are a great way to get into design of circuits and discrete components. The Fuzz Face is an effects pedal for electric guitar, used also by some electric bass players. capacitors the body of the component will be marked to indicate the polarity of each lead. Tantalum capacitors have the value printed on them. Maybe the general concept of the capacitor & transistor? Schematic by Jim Dunlop Note: Q1 & Q2 are MPSA18 Demo sound of Jimi Hendrix Fuzz JH-2: The Jh-2 has a tendency to fold in on itself and gives the impression that unity gain is unattainable: the secret? Integrated Circuits (ICs) have their model printed on them. The 20 uF cap does something interesting. Diodes have their type number marked on them. These capacitors do not have polarity, you can assemble them in any direction. To indicate the correct orientation, one side of the transistor is flat and the other one is round. For those wondering "fuzz face" is a guitar pedal. pcb pcb fuzz face diy pcb guitar effect capacitors c1 2.2u 2.2uf 35v 105c radial electrolytic capacitor 5x11mm c2 22u 22uf 50v 105c radial electrolytic capacitor 5x11mm c3 10n 10nf 0.01uf 100v 5% polyester film box type capacitor c4 47u 47uf 25v 105c radial electrolytic capacitor 5x11mm nichicon transistors jdf2. Tantalum capacitors have the value printed on them. Then, melt 1-3 mm of solder wire on the joint and make sure it flows properly on both pad and component leg. However, for a larger input, it isn't very linear - that is, it will distort the signal more as the signal gets larger, and eventually clip. Tantalum capacitors. Normally use a Dual power supply(+/- ground). Heat the PCB pad and the component leg simultaneously with the soldering pencil. Trimpots are similar to the potentiometers. Use a small screwdriver to adjust them. Additionally, the longer leg is the positive and shorter the negative. The first-stage device is a regular Fuzz Face Q1, and I did not need the stabilizing capacitor. If the solder has not been applied correctly, you can make a bad connection (cold solder joint). Archived. jimi hendrix™ '69 psych series uni-vibe® chorus/vibrato. Non Polarised Capacitors- Non-Polarised capacitors can be mounted either way around. Fuzz Face Original Version (PNP) Components To use a PNP Fuzz Face with a normal 9V power supply, you need to include the power inverter section which is C1, C8, C9, D1 and IC1 which is generates the -9V required. 3. The trademark "Fuzz Face" has changed hands several times and there have been several reissues. Tonebender Fuzz pedals are very simple by nature and require only a few components: resistors, capacitors, potentiometers, and transistors. The resistors should be ¼ Watt metal type. Unless you know what you're doing and have a positive ground PSU, … And of course two controls: fuzz + volume! dunlop electronics. However, AC signals (including the guitar signal) will "see" the capacitor as being a short-circuit, which basically means the resistor value is lower (depending on the position of the potentiometer). NOTE: The above perfboard layout, while drawn for the Bazz Fuss v1, can be easily adapted for use with the v2 or v3 simply by using sockets for the capacitors, transistor, and diode. 2.2uF 35V 105C Radial Electrolytic Capacitor 5x11mm, 22uF 50V 105C Radial Electrolytic Capacitor 5x11mm, 10nF 0.01uF 100V 5% Polyester Film Box Type Capacitor, 50K OHM TRIMMER POTENTIOMETER CERMET 1 TURN 3362P, 40 Pin DIP SIP IC Sockets Adaptor Solder Type, 47uF 50V 105C Radial Electrolytic Capacitor 6x11mm. The soldering will release fumes that are harmful to your eyes and lungs, work always in a well-ventilated environment and avoid breathing the generated smoke. Adding the 1k resistor to Q2 has some benefits - it causes it to distort less - but it also decreases the gain, i.e. dunlop. A transistor set up like either of the ones in the Fuzz Face is a common emitter amplifier.As an amplifier, it takes the input signal and makes it louder. This capacitor is in the circuit to replicate the ‘Miller effect’; the high frequency roll-off that occurs with the Fuzz Face’s original germanium transistors. This ring is marked as a line to indicate the correct polarity on the PCB. Posted by 6 months ago. dunlop electronics ... band of gypsys™ fuzz face® mini distortion. 1# Simple Guitar fuzz box circuit. dunlop electronics. A notch half-circle or a dot indicates the correct position of the IC on the PCB. it has -0.6 V of DC "bias" to it. A large portion of the Fuzz pedals available today are re-issued and modified versions of either the Tonebender, or the Big Muff PI Fuzz pedals. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Ceramic capacitors. On the PCB, the cathode is marked as a flat side and anode as a round side. This two terminals component has polarity; a ring near the side indicates the cathode. It is possible to place the components on both PCB sides if required, just be careful to keep their correct polarity. Let’s first distinguish between the two Fuzz Face eras. Read as picofarads (pF), the first two are the 1st and 2nd digits and the third is the multiplier code. The circuit appears to be clipping the signal and adding odd order harmonics. This is all a bit of a simplification (the full explanation needs some pretty complicated math with imaginary numbers), but hopefully it helps. It's pretty complicated to get into the exact details of what it does. Warm up the soldering iron and clean it with a humid sponge before start soldering. Fuzz Face's electrolytic input capacitor. The output capacitor blocks the DC level from saturating any device following the Fuzz Face, as well as determining the lowest frequency that gets out. A guide to the best Fuzz Face pedals - a circuit that deserves to sit proudly on the fuzz pedal podium, offering a nuanced and dynamic sonic behavior at different gain levels. Thanks for the reply but do you know the specific roles the capacitors/resistors have in the process? Place the components over the footprints following the designators. A good connection should cover the joint without touching any adjacent pad. Again, an 80 to 90-ish silicon device will work for Q1 if you re-bias using a 10K pot or trimpot in place of the Darlington's Collector load. The potentiometer also provides a way of controlling the total gain of the circuit. However, for a larger input, it isn't very linear - that is, it will distort the signal more as the signal gets larger, and eventually clip. They are marked with A, B or C for logarithmic, linear and reverse logarithmic, respectively. The Fuzz Face is a distortion guitar pedal designed in London by Arbitrer Electronics Ltd in the autumn of 1966. The polarity is marked for the positive pin. This Fuzz Face Distortion is constructed to vintage specs, featuring the original Germanium PNP transistor design for a rich, creamy fuzz sound. The circuit sounds excellent, and it still needs only one scarce part. The 0.01µF capacitor that connected to the third lug of the volume pot was metallized polyester. Zen: Interesting video, just wondering, using different transistors like that, wouldnt they sound different because of different biasing requirements? In a circuit such as http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fftech1.gif how do the capacitors & transistors assist in creating the distortion of sound? Potentiometers have their resistance value marked on them. His resistor designations (R2, etc) are not the same as the designations on these projects. Electrolytic capacitors have their value printed on them. Also, in reality, the guitar signal doesn't see the capacitor as a perfect short circuit - it only does for higher frequencies. Fuzz face is really a simple circuit design, as you can already tell by the number of components of the circuit: 4 resistors, 3 capacitors and 2 transistors! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. it amplifies the signal less. It produces a characteristic high distorted sound called fuzz. $119.99. Q2 and the 330/470, 8.2k, and 1k resistors make another amplifier (see figure 2). Assemble the tantalum capacitor according to the positive polarity (+) marked on the PCB. The output volume control is an entirely ordinary volume pot. The ceramic capacitors have their value marked with three numbers. The ceramic capacitors have their value marked with three numbers. Edit: Found a good analysis: http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fftech.htm. jimi hendrix® fuzz face® distortion. Fuzz Face my gear Stories Blog Shop EVOLUTION OF THE STRATOCASTER. The following diagram is the Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face Pedal JH-2 circuit diagram. Ivor Arbiter took the round shaped enclosure idea from a microphone stand and it was the first pedal including a DPDT stomp-switch. It’s 1966, and Arbiter Electronics Ltd, captained by Ivor Arbiter - the man responsible for the ‘dropped-T’ Beatles logo and (for better or worse) unleashing karaoke onto Britain - introduces the world of music to its newest arrival, the Fuzz Face: “Fuzz Face is the new fuzz box from Arbiter giving the ultimate in controlled effects,” the sales blurb of the time enthused. The input capacitor was a 2.2µF electrolytic axial lead. I want to build a Fuzz Face inspired circuit and I keep seeing on schematics that the input capacitor is an electrolytic one, same thing for Home-Wrecker's Sili-Face. You should use a soldering pencil of 15-30W and solder wire of 1 mm diameter. About a month passed after building the Bazz Fuss, and I was using it as my main fuzz during that time. The output cap is the same deal, except with even more DC bias than that. This build started life as a stock Dunlop JHF1, total overhaul including Vintage radius on the housing, Hammered Bronze paint and tweaked the circuit with some very responsive BC108'S in a Handwired circuit! But when we look at the circuit: the 2.2 and 0.01 uF caps on the input and output are to account for different DC voltage levels - the input signal is going an AC signal centered around 0 V, but the input to the Q1 will be an AC signal centered around roughly -0.6 V - i.e. $149.99. Arbiter Electronics Ltd began making Fuzz Faces in 1966 using NKT275 PNP germanium transistors. Positive elements. jhw3. Read as picofarads (pF), the first two are the 1st and 2nd digits and the third is the multiplier code. The capacitor from the wiper lug of the fuzz pot to ground was a 20µF electrolytic with axial leads. This pedal can only be powered by one 9-volt battery (not included). If you want to build a Germanium Transistor version, get your transistor set from Small Bear Electronics LLC and use the resistor values that he sends with the transistors. jhf1. It is very common to get strange noises out of a Fuzz Face when you … Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face . The original versions of the Fuzz Face were equipped with PNP Germanium transistors. How this circuit works. They also prevent oscillation and other nasty side effects that can occur when using silicon transistors in the fuzz face circuit. The Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz is but one commercial example of this technique; the Harmonic Percolator is another. The circuit remained exactly the same as the original, they just used higher gain BC109C transistors. Transistors are three terminals components and their model is printed on them. Close. The marked maximum voltage rating never can be exceeded, make sure you are using at least double voltage rating than your power supply. A subreddit for discussion of all things electrical and computer engineering. It's a tempting project to try as a first build because of its simplicity, but the simplicity of the circuit belies a couple of land mines: For best results, some attention is needed to selecting transistors for it (yes, even if you build with silicon), and trimming the values of the bias resistors is often required. It will block a little bit of the guitar's bass frequencies as well. The Fuzz Face was released in 1966 by Dallas Electronics Ltd. and is one of the most iconic fuzz pedals ever made. As simple as that! Different transistor and capacitor setups have been used over the years. It is designed to produce a distorted sound referred to as "fuzz," originally achieved through accident such as broken electrical components or damaged speakers. The simplicity of the circuit has caused much debate and lore, but two transistors, three capacitors and a couple of resistors still sounds like magic. Description. Additionally, the longer leg is the positive and shorter the negative. This British fuzz is recognized instantly by its "Smiley Face" enclosure that was developed after Mr. Arbiter used the circular base of a microphone stand as inspiration. Silicon Fuzz Face into clean Fender amp Silicon Fuzz Face clone into a clean Fender amp simulation. The 100k resistor complicates things a lot. Finally, cut the remaining of the component leg and inspect the joint. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Similar to the Fuzz Face, the Karma Suture gets its roots from a pedal created long ago. This cap lets the guitar signal through, but allowing one side of the cap to be 0.6 V higher than the other. Earlier variants are fuller sounding, while later ones are rather bright and cutting. See in the circuit below. ffm6. UK company Arbiter Electronics released in 1966 what would be one of the most beloved guitar effects of all time, the Fuzz Face. Paul B: To my ear, the ASX12D sounded the most interesting.Apparently these are NKT275 clones. By cascading the two amplifiers into each other, the signal level gets so big that the second transistor starts distorting quite a bit. STRATOCASTER CAPACITORS. Silicon Fuzz Face into crunch Vox amp Silicon Fuzz Face clone into a crunchy Vox amp … If for some reason oscillation does occur, a quality low esr capacitor from the positive supply to ground will solve the problem everytime since it effectively places … $129.99. Their value is indicated on them. One of the most sought after reissues is the BC109C version produced by Crest Audio. fuzz face® distortion. Product Manual. Fuzz Face's electrolytic input capacitor. The polarity is also marked for the negative pin. If you have little time and are learning electronics about op-amp circuits, this is a good option. Read as picofarads (pF), the first two are the 1st and 2nd digits and the third is the multiplier code. The polyester capacitors have their value marked with three numbers. The original Fuzz Face circuit requires just a handful of components and a small circuit board. These capacitors do not have polarity, you can place them in any direction. I am a little confused right now. For a beginner, building a Fuzz Face can be a treat or a trial. The transistors form amplifiers and the capacitors pass high frequencies and block low frequencies. Video COMMENTS: Oqsy: GTs were my favorites.. Transistors charge “hate cha fees”? This circuit we use IC-741 op-amp. Resistors do not have polarity, you can place them in any direction. These capacitors do not have polarity, you can assemble them in any direction. You can either use a multimeter or the color bands to obtain their values. It's still my favorite over the other Fuzz Face's I've owned (the current blue Dunlop Hendrix model, a 90's NKT275 Dunlop and the Fulltone '69MK.II - I found the Fulltone to be kind of lacklustre actually) It's really cool to hear how it came to be built! Place the component and firmly hold the PCB. That means AC signals have higher gain more like if it was connected like Q1, but still with some of the benefits of having the 1k resistor there (I won't get into that, it's kind of complicated). The Fuzz Face and other derived circuits rely on the components inside the guitar becoming part of the circuit. Q1, the 33k resistor, and the ground connection makes a very basic amplifier - see figure 1 on the Wikipedia page linked above (it shows an NPN transistor, but the same is true for the PNP in the fuzz face). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fftech1.gif, http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fftech.htm. So this will cut off the bass a little bit (but how much depends on the pot position as well). This is why Fuzz Faces are so famous for their interaction with the guitar volume control. The Fuzz Face series: 2-Alchemy Fuzz The process that lead to my first (semi-)successful silicon Fuzz Face was a long, difficult and at times frustrating one, but working through several ideas about fuzzes and electronics in general and talking about this with my colleagues ( Thei's blogspot ) gave me a huge boost and a structural idea about why certain components work better than other. Making this cap bigger will let more low frequencies out.