Here's a collection of vero (stripboard) and tagboard guitar and bass effect layouts that we have put together covering many classic and popular effects in growing numbers. Many of these have been posted on freestompboxes.org, so check that site out for great discussions on building your own effect pedals. Enjoy the builds and please also visit us on Facebook and Twitter
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Sunday, 21 March 2010
A few veros
OK so I don't want to use tagboard all the time so here's a few vero layouts I've done recently. I like axial caps so most have been done with those in mind.
Great site mate. I have built the Fuzz face NPN above, and apart from a high pitch hissy squeal at full gain it sounds good. But when I roll the tone right off on the guitar it actually gets brighter!!and thicker with more fuzz and no squeal, is this normal? Cheers
Yes the full gain oscillation can happen sometimes with silicon Fuzz Faces. If you want to tame it, you can try a few things:
1 - Put a 100uF filter cap between 9V and ground rails.
2 - Put a 47pF cap between the base and collector of Q1.
3 - Put a 100 ohm resistor in between the 22uF cap and ground.
If you do those you should get rid of the squeals.
If you turn the tone of your guitar down then it will be taming the signal which would account for it removing the oscillation. In terms of it actually getting brighter?! Well you've got me there! :o) Admittedly though I haven't messed much with my guitar tone controls with a Fuzz Face, so I'm probably not the best person to comment.
Ok. Step 1 & 2 is a major improvment Thankyou. Not sure what you mean for step 3 ?? I disconnected neg(-) end of 22uf cap to attach the resistor, then back to ground and got no signal, so that's not what you meant I'm guessing?
Yes exactly. Disconnect the negative lead of the 22uF, and solder it on one of the free rows above it. The third row from bottom is totally free so you could put it there, but wherever best fits with the components you're using and just put in an extra track cut if you need to. For instance if you use the fourth from bottom row put a cut in to the right hand side of Q2 emitter. Then solder a 100 ohm resistor between that row and ground.
Actually I've just had a look at how I did it last time, and instead of that I left the 22uF where it is, took out the link and put the 100 ohm resistor from Q1 emitter to ground.
Just built this one sounds great. Thanks for uploading this link. With BC183s this thing nails the black hole sun sound. Thanks for adding the mods to get rid of the pesky oscillation. I had one question though, is the first component labeled 100 on the left the 100uf capacitor?
That's it, Changes the tone some, but it's quiet, THANKS very much mate. I'll work out how to put a picture on here at some stage, have built a few of your layouts. Thanks for your time, much appreciated.
Great, glad it sorted the noise. Yes it will sound slightly different but that's the price you pay for silence unfortunately. What transistors are you using? I've always got more oscillation using BC108's which are quite high gain, but if you use something lower gain like a 2N3903 then you may get away without any anti-oscillation measures and they still sound great.
Well the BC108Cs could be really high gain because I think the spread is from 400 to 800hFE, so it's still worth trying the 2N3904s just to see what you think. They aren't as low gain as the 3903s but it could still make a difference. I always seem to find the BCs sound harsher to me.
I just built a PNP fuzz face myself, using the fuller '69 mods (started as a '70 silicon but didn't like it enough to box it up) and yeah with certain transistors there can be a lot of....sound effects. I did notice too that the caps to reduce it did affect the tone.
I can verify that the guitar does indeed brighten up when you roll back the volume on your axe. I actually am just blown away at how this circuit cleans up and reacts to guitar volume--I love it! Seems like most guitars get dark anyway when you turn them down, or, a pedal like the DS-1 or Big Muff you'd probably never want to roll back your volume because of muddiness. The Fuzz Face is exactly opposite of this!! I can see why Jimi was all about this..it sort of becomes part of your amp. Same thing with Jimmy Page and a good marshall, les paul, and Tonebender MK II. I'm converted, or, at least, can appreciate the old school effects for what they offer. I kind of have fun messing with and testing germanium transistors and all that. Silicon is great for lots of things, but, in my opinion, can not be equal to germanium in a circuit like the Fuzz Face or Tonebender. There's just that sound you can't get with sili. The fat squonky pick attack or however you might attempt to describe it. Good stuff.
I am attempting this Fuzz Face NPN build, and as it's one of the first I've tried that isn't a kit, I am a little confused as to how to the multiple grounds work, as well as how the jacks and DPDT jack would be wired up. I've consulted other sites (gaussmarkov and beavisaudio), but I'm a bit confused as I'm not using a 3PDT jack... any information about the grounds or jacks that you could help with would be most appreciated.
On the NPN fuzz face, Is the right leg if the trimmer connected? It looks like it isn't? I'm determined to make a successful fuzz face and am ruling out all doubts lol
I left it off because once the cut is placed for separation between the two bottom lugs, it doesn't matter whether you solder it or not. This is just used as a variable resistor and only the two marked lugs have to be connected.
Ahh ok, I was hoping it could of been the reason for my last one squealing badly.. I'm also thinking that transistors could play a part as I've noticed BC108's come in B and C's with different gains ranges...
Unwanted oscillation is common in silicon Fuzz Faces. Try a couple of things, first detach the 9V wire and put a low value resistor like 100ohm in series with it. Put a low value cap (somewhere between 47p and 470p) between the base and collector of both transistors. Give that a try and let me know how you get on, I've more things you can try if those don't work! :o)
Cool, nice one. I'll be building one up tomorrow so I'll get back to you... I was browsing eBay and was on the verge of buying one but I just couldn't do it.. I HAVE to build it ;)
Haha.. A moment of weakness mate.. glad I didn't though as I've just finished it with no issues at all.. Used 108's, sounds really nice. I wanted this as I hear it reacts well with the guitars volume, which it does. I tried the coloursound one knob, sounds ok but doesn't clean up at all....
Well, I'll go stock up on some axial mojo parts and build another as I just used standard parts for this.
Do you have a link to where I can source the big trimmer used in this? I can't find them and had to use a small one and stretch the legs..works but just looks a little messy
Actually on further testing it sounds bad..initially it sounded good but now I'm hearing crackling etc while playing, tried tons of transistors and biasing with the same results. I don't know what it is with these but mine seem to come out bad. Maybe it's just the way they're meant to be but to my ears, something never sounds right with them. I think I will re invest in an MXR classic 108... I remember that being a great fuzz face.
I think it's a biggy mate.. It houses about 8 transistors which I think some of which are for the buffer switch. I've played with this one some more and it does sound really good, it just seems to crackle when played lightly or when notes fade out. I'm sure the MXR did this at lower gain settings too, just not as bad so it may just be the nature of the beast. But I really like the way it cleans up with the guitar volume.
Ivlark you great man thx for all work!!! I make the COT yesterday and it is very nice, loud!!! just when i set knob up to 2 oclock it get more treble tone....i want you get vero of $295,00 Berkos Third Stone Fuzz ;-)
Ivlark!!! Can you help me plsssssssss?? with your knowledge you will solve my problem. I have a great pedal Sweet Sound Mojo Vibe and now it get a problem. The speed pot change alone without my command...what can i do?? If you need see it i get pics or vids and send to you...my email is massdoll@gmail.com Thank you!!
OK, newbie ALERT ! I've got hold of all the parts for the NPN FF but i'm a bit stumped with regards to the transistors and pinout. Now, i'm asuming that one of them is a BC108 with the pinout of CBE but what is the other one.
I did assume that both transistors were BC108's but 'cos the pinouts are different it can't be a BC108.
Sorry for such a basic question but've got so into building these.....these little gems that I just want to get right. Many thanx in advance
The pinouts I used for this was based on the ones I had good results with a DAM Meathead, but the metal can BC108's have a triangular arranged pins, so you can accommodate any pinout you like using them by just separating the top and bottom pins required for the layout, and rotating it so the required middle pin sits in between them and can be mounted without any pins touching
Sorry IvIark, slight little problem. I'm more than 99% sure i've got this right apart from a tiny-weeny little mod. I used an 8.2k resistor in place of the 10k trim pot purely cos I didn't have one. Should this make any difference ? I've also put a LED in as well.
Now, what i'm getting is the usual true by-pass but when I hit the switch (LED lights) and i'm getting pretty much the same sound as with it turned off. The volume is fine (up and down) but there is no fuzz whatsoever. I've also got the Grounds going to the output jack and the Battery Neg going to the input jack. Is that about right ?
Sorry for all this and I know its pretty much a basic build but theres something i'm just getting plain wrong.
2k2 doesnt work for pnp fuzz face.... Also i have volume drop :( tried 2k resistor in place of 470r and raise. Bit but its still low.. Any recomendation?
Built the FUZZ FACE Silicon NPN, put a couple of Philips BC109 in sounds awesome, in fact I prefer this FUZZ better than my ANALOGMAN SUNFACE BC108. I used a 100pf Ceramic to deal with the oscillation sounds a dream now really pleased .
Hey guys I just built the Fuzz Face with bias control that lvlmark posted and for some reason it doesnt work. I can bearly hear the fuzz and the bias pot and fuzz pot dont seem to work. I get a really gated fuzz sound for some reason and it cuts out constantly and bearly picks up anything, help? I use BC108s
Great site mate. I have built the Fuzz face NPN above, and apart from a
ReplyDeletehigh pitch hissy squeal at full gain it sounds good. But when I roll the tone right off on the guitar it actually gets brighter!!and thicker with more fuzz and no squeal, is this normal? Cheers
Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes the full gain oscillation can happen sometimes with silicon Fuzz Faces. If you want to tame it, you can try a few things:
1 - Put a 100uF filter cap between 9V and ground rails.
2 - Put a 47pF cap between the base and collector of Q1.
3 - Put a 100 ohm resistor in between the 22uF cap and ground.
If you do those you should get rid of the squeals.
If you turn the tone of your guitar down then it will be taming the signal which would account for it removing the oscillation. In terms of it actually getting brighter?! Well you've got me there! :o) Admittedly though I haven't messed much with my guitar tone controls with a Fuzz Face, so I'm probably not the best person to comment.
Ok. Step 1 & 2 is a major improvment Thankyou. Not sure what you mean for step 3 ?? I disconnected neg(-) end of 22uf cap to attach the resistor, then back to ground and got no signal, so that's not what you meant I'm guessing?
ReplyDeleteYes exactly. Disconnect the negative lead of the 22uF, and solder it on one of the free rows above it. The third row from bottom is totally free so you could put it there, but wherever best fits with the components you're using and just put in an extra track cut if you need to. For instance if you use the fourth from bottom row put a cut in to the right hand side of Q2 emitter. Then solder a 100 ohm resistor between that row and ground.
ReplyDeleteActually I've just had a look at how I did it last time, and instead of that I left the 22uF where it is, took out the link and put the 100 ohm resistor from Q1 emitter to ground.
ReplyDeleteThis was my last build with a bias pot instead of a trimmer:
ReplyDeletehttp://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j6/IvIark_2006/Layouts/Vero/FuzzFaceNPN-smallwithbiasandantioscillationmeasures.png
Just built this one sounds great. Thanks for uploading this link. With BC183s this thing nails the black hole sun sound. Thanks for adding the mods to get rid of the pesky oscillation. I had one question though, is the first component labeled 100 on the left the 100uf capacitor?
DeleteThat's it, Changes the tone some, but
ReplyDeleteit's quiet, THANKS very much mate. I'll work out how to put a picture on here at some stage, have built a few of your layouts. Thanks for your time, much appreciated.
Oh, I did it already!
ReplyDeleteGreat, glad it sorted the noise. Yes it will sound slightly different but that's the price you pay for silence unfortunately. What transistors are you using? I've always got more oscillation using BC108's which are quite high gain, but if you use something lower gain like a 2N3903 then you may get away without any anti-oscillation measures and they still sound great.
ReplyDeleteYes BC108C's. I dont have 2n3903's at
ReplyDeletepresent, I have 2n3904
Well the BC108Cs could be really high gain because I think the spread is from 400 to 800hFE, so it's still worth trying the 2N3904s just to see what you think. They aren't as low gain as the 3903s but it could still make a difference. I always seem to find the BCs sound harsher to me.
ReplyDeleteI just built a PNP fuzz face myself, using the fuller '69 mods (started as a '70 silicon but didn't like it enough to box it up) and yeah with certain transistors there can be a lot of....sound effects. I did notice too that the caps to reduce it did affect the tone.
ReplyDeleteI can verify that the guitar does indeed brighten up when you roll back the volume on your axe. I actually am just blown away at how this circuit cleans up and reacts to guitar volume--I love it! Seems like most guitars get dark anyway when you turn them down, or, a pedal like the DS-1 or Big Muff you'd probably never want to roll back your volume because of muddiness. The Fuzz Face is exactly opposite of this!! I can see why Jimi was all about this..it sort of becomes part of your amp. Same thing with Jimmy Page and a good marshall, les paul, and Tonebender MK II. I'm converted, or, at least, can appreciate the old school effects for what they offer. I kind of have fun messing with and testing germanium transistors and all that. Silicon is great for lots of things, but, in my opinion, can not be equal to germanium in a circuit like the Fuzz Face or Tonebender. There's just that sound you can't get with sili. The fat squonky pick attack or however you might attempt to describe it. Good stuff.
I am attempting this Fuzz Face NPN build, and as it's one of the first I've tried that isn't a kit, I am a little confused as to how to the multiple grounds work, as well as how the jacks and DPDT jack would be wired up. I've consulted other sites (gaussmarkov and beavisaudio), but I'm a bit confused as I'm not using a 3PDT jack... any information about the grounds or jacks that you could help with would be most appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
On the NPN fuzz face, Is the right leg if the trimmer connected? It looks like it isn't? I'm determined to make a successful fuzz face and am ruling out all doubts lol
ReplyDeleteI left it off because once the cut is placed for separation between the two bottom lugs, it doesn't matter whether you solder it or not. This is just used as a variable resistor and only the two marked lugs have to be connected.
DeleteAhh ok, I was hoping it could of been the reason for my last one squealing badly.. I'm also thinking that transistors could play a part as I've noticed BC108's come in B and C's with different gains ranges...
DeleteUnwanted oscillation is common in silicon Fuzz Faces. Try a couple of things, first detach the 9V wire and put a low value resistor like 100ohm in series with it. Put a low value cap (somewhere between 47p and 470p) between the base and collector of both transistors. Give that a try and let me know how you get on, I've more things you can try if those don't work! :o)
DeleteCool, nice one. I'll be building one up tomorrow so I'll get back to you... I was browsing eBay and was on the verge of buying one but I just couldn't do it.. I HAVE to build it ;)
DeleteJeez mate, you don't buy something like this ever!! :o)
DeleteHaha.. A moment of weakness mate.. glad I didn't though as I've just finished it with no issues at all.. Used 108's, sounds really nice. I wanted this as I hear it reacts well with the guitars volume, which it does. I tried the coloursound one knob, sounds ok but doesn't clean up at all....
DeleteWell, I'll go stock up on some axial mojo parts and build another as I just used standard parts for this.
Do you have a link to where I can source the big trimmer used in this? I can't find them and had to use a small one and stretch the legs..works but just looks a little messy
Cheers mate.
Actually on further testing it sounds bad..initially it sounded good but now I'm hearing crackling etc while playing, tried tons of transistors and biasing with the same results. I don't know what it is with these but mine seem to come out bad. Maybe it's just the way they're meant to be but to my ears, something never sounds right with them. I think I will re invest in an MXR classic 108... I remember that being a great fuzz face.
DeleteI''ll have a look and see if I can find the schematic mate. Don't bespendingany money now! :o)
DeleteI think it's a biggy mate.. It houses about 8 transistors which I think some of which are for the buffer switch. I've played with this one some more and it does sound really good, it just seems to crackle when played lightly or when notes fade out. I'm sure the MXR did this at lower gain settings too, just not as bad so it may just be the nature of the beast. But I really like the way it cleans up with the guitar volume.
DeleteI'm thinking it's a little too big lol
Deletehttp://freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2842
That's not too big mate, I've done lots bigger than that. Leave it with me.
DeleteI suppose I just took one look at all the transistors and 3 trimmers and ran! ;o)
DeleteIvlark you great man thx for all work!!! I make the COT yesterday and it is very nice, loud!!! just when i set knob up to 2 oclock it get more treble tone....i want you get vero of $295,00 Berkos Third Stone Fuzz ;-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like yet another expensive Fuzz Face with £5 of parts in it, if I can get to see a gut shot I'll be sure to knock up a layout
Deletehehhehe you are the champion!!! Thank you ;-)
DeleteIvlark!!! Can you help me plsssssssss?? with your knowledge you will solve my problem.
ReplyDeleteI have a great pedal Sweet Sound Mojo Vibe and now it get a problem. The speed pot change alone without my command...what can i do?? If you need see it i get pics or vids and send to you...my email is massdoll@gmail.com
Thank you!!
:-(
DeleteOK, newbie ALERT ! I've got hold of all the parts for the NPN FF but i'm a bit stumped with regards to the transistors and pinout. Now, i'm asuming that one of them is a BC108 with the pinout of CBE but what is the other one.
ReplyDeleteI did assume that both transistors were BC108's but 'cos the pinouts are different it can't be a BC108.
Sorry for such a basic question but've got so into building these.....these little gems that I just want to get right. Many thanx in advance
Dean
The pinouts I used for this was based on the ones I had good results with a DAM Meathead, but the metal can BC108's have a triangular arranged pins, so you can accommodate any pinout you like using them by just separating the top and bottom pins required for the layout, and rotating it so the required middle pin sits in between them and can be mounted without any pins touching
DeleteAha, now I've got it. :-) Thanx very much. I kind of guessed a smuch but just wasn't to sure. Thanx again man.
DeleteDean
Sorry IvIark, slight little problem. I'm more than 99% sure i've got this right apart from a tiny-weeny little mod. I used an 8.2k resistor in place of the 10k trim pot purely cos I didn't have one. Should this make any difference ? I've also put a LED in as well.
ReplyDeleteNow, what i'm getting is the usual true by-pass but when I hit the switch (LED lights) and i'm getting pretty much the same sound as with it turned off. The volume is fine (up and down) but there is no fuzz whatsoever. I've also got the Grounds going to the output jack and the Battery Neg going to the input jack. Is that about right ?
Sorry for all this and I know its pretty much a basic build but theres something i'm just getting plain wrong.
Many thanx in advance
Dean
2k2 doesnt work for pnp fuzz face.... Also i have volume drop :( tried 2k resistor in place of 470r and raise. Bit but its still low.. Any recomendation?
ReplyDelete2k2 potensiometer instead of 1k i mean
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely some mistake in your build. Did you notice the pinout of Q1?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBuilt the FUZZ FACE Silicon NPN, put a couple of Philips BC109 in sounds awesome, in fact I prefer this FUZZ better than my ANALOGMAN SUNFACE BC108. I used a 100pf Ceramic to deal with the oscillation sounds a dream now really pleased .
ReplyDeleteHey guys I just built the Fuzz Face with bias control that lvlmark posted and for some reason it doesnt work. I can bearly hear the fuzz and the bias pot and fuzz pot dont seem to work. I get a really gated fuzz sound for some reason and it cuts out constantly and bearly picks up anything, help? I use BC108s
ReplyDeletePics may help. Post some hi res in the forum section and we'll get a look.
DeleteI can't load the images of the vero's. Anyone else got this problem too?
ReplyDeleteSame problem here!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a few broken links to google's images... Mark will probably check it once he sees this...
Delete+m
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete