Wednesday, 24 October 2012

MXR M-173 Classic 108 Fuzz

Only ever heard good things about this one, so it had to be added to the collection.  Not very good timing though as Vince has just bought one! :o)  I have done the main fuzz and buffer circuit separately so those who just want to build the fuzz can do so.  If you do want to include the buffer put it in a true bypass loop with a toggle before the fuzz circuit so you can bypass the buffer if you want to.

Guitarists of all styles will dig the familiar late-Sixties/ early-Seventies crunch delivered by the new MXR Classic 108 Fuzz. We've taken the guts of our BC-108 loaded Fuzz Face, placed them in a more pedal-board friendly shape, and added the modern conveniences of a battery door, optional AC operation, and true bypass with LED. The Buffer switch eliminates the audible oscillation caused when some wah-wahs are placed in front of a Fuzz Face. The Classic 108 Fuzz comes in a heavy-duty Phase 100-sized box with a sweet hammertone turquoise finish.







And here is the buffer for people who want to build the whole thing.



Posted by at 20:07
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49 comments:

  1. Anonymous24 October 2012 at 21:49

    Haha! I would swear profusely here! ... I'll still make one though mate as it's a pretty small build and I can a/b it with mine and if it stacks up well, I'll just sell on the original. I'd definitely recommend one though..fantastic fuzz...both knobs cranked and it's bliss..

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    1. IvIark24 October 2012 at 21:50

      Well I did tell you I was going to do it! :o)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous24 October 2012 at 21:58

      It's cool.. I didn't mind buying it as the buffer is really good in it too... Is there a close alternative to the 5r1? near on impossible to find here

      Delete
    3. IvIark24 October 2012 at 22:07

      Use the lowest value you've got. It's one of the anti oscillation measures we were talking about the other day and I've done it with 47R or 100R (can't remember which) in the past.

      Delete
  2. IvIark24 October 2012 at 21:49

    I've got lots of different types that can fit in a variety of spans including vertical and horizonal, but these are the ones I have in the greatest quantities:

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290716067907
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330816589594

    The first ones in particular are good for smaller spaces like with this layout, but they both have the required 5mm pitch distances.

    Alps RH06's are really great too. They too have 5mm pitch distances, but the outer legs are about an inch long so you can use them for any span. Very useful for resistor replacements to bias without having to do a special layout to accomodate trimmers.

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  3. IvIark24 October 2012 at 21:50

    Oh and yes the trimmers are in the original.

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  4. Unknown25 October 2012 at 02:41

    Will BC108b work for this?

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    1. IvIark25 October 2012 at 08:13

      Yes they're just in a lower gain range. Socket and experiment to get your favourite pair.

      Delete
  5. Piltdown Man25 October 2012 at 04:17

    I haven't messed with buffers before. Will the Klon one you posted (http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2011/04/klon-buffer.html) do the job? And just connect the boards via a switch? Thanks

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    1. IvIark25 October 2012 at 08:39

      To be honest I just don't know. Like in a normal chain the Fuzz Face may not react well to a buffer in front of it, so it's a case of try it and see. That's why I haven't just included a buffer of my choice in the layout, because it just may not work properly. When Vince has received his we may coerce a few high res gut shots out of him and hopefully be able to come up with the buffer from that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous25 October 2012 at 09:56

      That won't be a problem...When it arrives, I'll snap some pics.

      Delete
    3. IvIark25 October 2012 at 09:56

      Top man

      Delete
    4. Anonymous28 October 2012 at 09:41

      I've not forgotten the pics mate, I've had to send off for a new battery for my camera...I'll get them done ASAP.

      Delete
    5. IvIark28 October 2012 at 10:22

      Cheers matey

      Delete
  6. Doron Barness25 October 2012 at 20:12

    What A great sounding Fuzz. Really gets that Gilmour "Time" Solo tone.
    Does anybody get that strange behavior that the fuzz sounds kinda weak throughout the clock on the fuzz knob and then when you reach the max the fuzz really gets sharp and penetrates your guts?

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    1. IvIark25 October 2012 at 21:30

      Did you build it from this or have you got an original?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous25 October 2012 at 21:59

      If you're talking about the original then yes, the fuzz control does act that way... I keep it cranked and use the guitar volume. Thats the geat thing about this one, cleans up brilliantly.

      Thats where the buffer is useful, It gives the fuzz a bright kick on lower settings.

      I'm waiting on some 680r's then I'll definitely make one, purely out of curiosity ;0)

      Delete
    3. Doron Barness26 October 2012 at 00:58

      Thanks for the comments,

      Well I built a similar one which does not include trim pots but a 33k for TP1, 100k for TP2 and a pot for TP3 for biasing Q2. I used BC108C and I did NOT use the buffer section. The output pot was also lower.

      I did use a 50k pot for the input to get lower input but that's not a buffer. What parts are the buffer?
      the 6n8 cap and the 47k res? What is the function of this 47k?

      Thanks

      Delete
    4. IvIark26 October 2012 at 01:20

      The 47K is in series with TP2 and sets a minimum value. So with that trimmer you can alter the value from 47K to 147K, for what is usually a 100K resistor and so it offers a nice range of tweaking.

      The only thing I'm dubious about is that the feedback resistor in the classic Fuzz Face is at the transistor side of the 2u2 cap, and so would come from the base of Q1 rather than directly from the input wire row. That is definitely how it is shown on the schematic, but whether it's an error I'm not sure because the guy who did the scheme never answered the question when asked. If it doesn't work though that's the first thing I'd look at, 47K and 47p coming from Q1 base rather than the connections shown.

      Delete
    5. Doron Barness26 October 2012 at 07:44

      Any chance of posting the schematic of this one?
      The more I look at it the more differences I find from the good ol' Silicon Fuzz Face like the Axis Face by Bryant or the GGG Silicon Fuzz Face. Maybe it's closer to the SunFace?
      I am drawing a schematic according to the layout but if anyone beats me to it....please share link...
      Thanks

      Delete
    6. IvIark26 October 2012 at 08:06

      http://freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2842

      Delete
    7. Doron Barness26 October 2012 at 08:07

      OK....got the schematic from the Freestompboxes forum.
      Except for a few value changes, the main difference from a regular Fuzz Face is the way the feedback resistor between Q1 and Q2 is placed. As you said Mark, On the MXR it's before the input cap where as in the original designs it's after the input cap.
      Definitely makes me wonder and probably behaves somewhat differently.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous27 October 2012 at 12:48

    I've had no joy with this mate. I used a 10r in place of the 5r1 and used BC108C's (tried many). Funny thing is, is it that something is working. If i press the back of the board I get a fuzz signal now and then.. I've also tweaked all trimpots in all positions. I've reflowed all joints etc so I really don't know. could be my build. Hopefully someone will have better luck with it.

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    1. IvIark27 October 2012 at 13:05

      Before you ditch it, I'm still unsure about the connection shown for the feedback resistor(s) in the schematic. Remove the 47K and 47p and solder their bottom leads into the second from bottom row between the 6n8 and link. See if you can cram both into the same hole with their top leads going to the same places (Q2 emitter for the 47p and top lug of TP2 for the 47K).

      That is how a conventional Fuzz Face would connect so it would be interesting to see what happens.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous27 October 2012 at 13:22

      Ok, I'll try that later mate and post back ;)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous27 October 2012 at 14:11

      I've done that and I get the same results. If i place my finger over the 2u2 cap, shorting it around there, I get 'fuzz' not great sounding but there is something happening. It looks like others are attempting it so hopefully someone will get back with success. I'm once bitten twice shy, especially when it comes to Fuzz faces ;)

      Delete
    4. IvIark27 October 2012 at 14:41

      I just noticed that the trimmer graphic could be interpreted as being in virtually any orientation (I'll have to alter that). You have both got the wipers for all the trimmers to the right haven't you?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous27 October 2012 at 15:03

      Yes, all trimmers are pointing to the right.

      Delete
  8. IvIark27 October 2012 at 14:57

    What high and low voltages are you getting at the top of the two 10K resistors when you rotate each associated trimmer?

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  9. IvIark27 October 2012 at 15:01

    OK you replaced one with a link, but you know what I mean! :o)

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  10. IvIark27 October 2012 at 15:42

    What voltage are you getting at both sides of the 100R?

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  11. IvIark27 October 2012 at 15:53

    Something has to be wrong with the trimmers then. In the fully counterclockwise rotation of TP1, it effectively attaches the top of the 10K directly to the supply rail and so you should be getting close to 9.27V. In the clockwise rotation it puts 20K of resistance in the way and so you would expect less. Same issue with TP3 but at slightly lower voltages because of the 680R resistor. The higher voltage will be in the clockwise position for TP3 though. So TP1 fully CCW and TP3 fully clockwise should be giving you close to thefull supply voltage at the top of the respectiev 10K resistors.

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  12. IvIark27 October 2012 at 17:01

    Your voltages in your previous post look good, the 0.77 to 1.12 at the other end of the 10K looks too much of a drop to me. Have you tried any other transistors, just in case that is pulling it down?

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  13. mirosol6 November 2012 at 20:09

    Yup. Check the FSB-thread, commit a fix and tag it :)

    Ravian: Desolder the bottom lead of 47K resistor and wire it to the Q1 base instead of the input.

    This makes a nice blue-face alternative. I used B500K pot for the volume and subbed the 5R1 with 7R5. If i was to rebuild this, i would go with C1K for fuzz pot. For transistors, i went with BC108B for Q1 and BC108C for Q2.

    I always shout out that "Do not take bias control outside the box!" - but this time that could be something to think about. Seems that you can't break it with those three trimmers :) Might have something to do with them being relatively high gain silicons..

    Anyway. Once fixed, it's a nice fuzz.
    +m

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  14. Unknown15 December 2012 at 11:43

    hi i want some information about trimmers biasing q1,q2 and feedback what are the voltages i must have?

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  15. Strato Mastro12 January 2013 at 22:44

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. Ross24 February 2013 at 17:08

    Fuzz Faces are tricky beasts, but I can say I got this one working. It's still a bit gated (I didn't match the transistors), but it's not bad at all. It remains articulate on chords, which I like, and sort of gets the Eric Johnson violin tone up the neck. However, I still prefer the Meathead. Transistors were my favorite mid-gainers (BC550B).

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    1. Ross27 February 2013 at 11:50

      I forgot to mention the mods: I call it the "I'm way too lazy to get trimpots" mod.
      The 47K resistor gets upped to 120K, and the top lead gets moved down a row so it connects the emitter to base

      The 10K bias resistor gets upped to 22K, and the top lead gets moved up a row to +9V.
      The only trimpot I used in the build was the 10K to bias Q2, and that's really important.

      Delete
  17. Thomas dF6 April 2013 at 16:26

    Hi thanks for your amazing work!

    Does your vero permits to build the buffered version of this fuzz?

    Thomas

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    1. mirosol5 June 2013 at 06:07

      You could take any buffer from the library and use the dual effect outboard wiring guide. Just take the buffer stompswitch and replace it with a toggle. You could also omit the LED from that switch.
      +m

      Delete
  18. Matt5 June 2013 at 03:39

    Is there any information on how to properly bias? Or is is best to do it by ear?

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    1. mirosol5 June 2013 at 06:05

      Tune it by ear. With Si BJTs (bipolar junction transistors) i've found that to be the best course of action. They will work with almost any setting, but affect the texture of the fuzz - While JFETs and Ge BJTs usually need just the right bias voltage to work properly.
      +m

      Delete
  19. Unknown22 February 2015 at 11:47

    I revisited this and built it again, The fuzz section sounds good, the buffer seems to introduce a fair amount of hiss, it does what it is supposed to though, taking a wah pedal better but with the wah and buffer on it is extremely hissy, I can't remember it being like that on my original. I did have them in separate test boxes though so that may have contributed to it. I also tried running it through the Klon buffer instead and it sounded terrible, like it was badly biased so I don't think it's an 'any buffer will do, type of design...

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  20. Unknown5 May 2016 at 15:49

    Hi! Is there a transistor I could use in the buffer instead of the MPSA14? Tayda does not have them and I can't seem to find any in my area. Any ideas?

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  21. Bruno Viana10 April 2018 at 21:43

    Hi, Need I change some position component in the stripboards? Are there any fixes yet to be made? Thanks

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  22. ClassicFuzz23 May 2020 at 19:42

    Although this has been verified already, I also would like to do that as well. It works perfectly and its fun to play with. Thanks for your effort! :-)

    One personal recommendation: Matched transistors help very much. I bought a lot of BC108C and B108B, measerung them and tried several. Eventually I ended up with a pair of BC108C.

    What I like the most: This effects works very well with volume pot of my guitar.

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  23. ManicStrat21127 April 2021 at 22:15

    When boxing this up is the buffer supposed to go before, or after the fuzz circuit?

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  24. SW19 April 2022 at 16:55

    I'm late to the party: Surely the 10K leading to Q2 collector is an error. Normally a fuzz with a 1K fuzz pot would have around 8.2K going to Q2 Collector. I recon someone misread the code on the resistor and its actually meant to be a 1K, then the trim for Q2 would bias about half way through its travel (I'm guessing at around 5K to get 5V or so given relatively standard settings for the other trims - starting at a total of 33K for Q1 and a 100K feedback resistor)

    ReplyDelete

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