Wednesday 12 December 2012

Hot Silicon

A few of you were looking for good fuzz circuits....

Gus Smalley modded the circuit from Aron. Aron modded it from tonebender. Both made enhancements and mods along the way. Or so the internet tells me. Anyway. It's supposed to be a silicon adaptation of the classic. It says 2N5089 on the schematic, but i would suggest trying out something a bit lower gain - like 2N2222 or BC109B.
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Built this last night, just to avoid any issues with it :) Works - and it's definitely not a bad fuzz. I used MPSA18s on my test build, and those work well too. Those were lying around on my desk so i just sticked them in. Didn't socket them so i can't easily try on any lower gain ones in there. But you should. Point in 2N5089s must be within the noise levels. Still. I like this one. It's not a Fuzz Face, it's not BMP, and it doesn't feel that much like the tonebender either.
Tone control may feel a bit odd, but that's to be expected. After all, it is a four transistor tonebender mod.

Just recorded a small clip with the finished box:



27 comments:

  1. Hi Miro

    Are SW1 and SW2 connected to a SPST switch ?

    James

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    Replies
    1. Yup. Forgot to mention that... SPST on-off or lugs 1 and 2 of SPDT on-on.
      +m

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  2. sweet miro! will def try this out in my search for the ultimate fuzz, first thing first im doing the skreddy lunar! this will have to wait until next week, and thanks for verifying it haha =]
    -jimmie

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  3. Nice one Miro, I built this a few months ago from a different layout, I used BC109's and it sounded really good. Well worth building.

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    1. I do think so too. It's nothing too special, but nice alternative for those basic FFs, BMPs and Tonebenders.
      +m

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  4. Hey Miro can you just verify the resistor that looks like it says 1000, it comes from the emitter and goes to ground, and is in between positioned in between 10k and 150k. I am assuming its 100ohms but I just wanted to check.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. That is definitely a100 ohm

      Delete
    2. @miro; Would it be possible to use 100R or even 100E (Einheiten) instead of 100Ω ? Will the software you use allow for this?

      Delete
    3. Saddly the v3 DIYLC has only M, K and Ω as value indicators. Those cannot be changed as the software is.
      +m

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    4. Although.. I've made some changes to my template and those should help to make my layouts easier to read. I don't want to change the ones i've already done..
      +m

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  5. Hey guys,
    I also built this one a few months ago. It is a very good sounding fuzz a it's not a bad MK II Silicon clone Either. It's very dependent on the tranny selection. I ended up using 2N3904 for Q1, 2N2369 for Q2 and Q3 and 2N2222A at Q4 for the TONE stage.

    http://fuzzquest.blogspot.co.il/2012/11/bending-your-tone-for-page.html

    Can anyone recommend on a better Silicon mkII clone? mkI is still one of the best sounding fuzz pedals ever. I wish it had a good silicon adaptation.

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    Replies
    1. I am going to buy those type of transistors like you have.
      2N5089's now and it sizzles LOL big time and low gain transistors should tame that beast!

      Delete
  6. I made one of these and you just don't know how good they are until you gig one... I love it, thing roars and sounds like a real usable tonebender type thing that is STABLE - band loves it and I turned some heads when I hit this baby!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here.
      With the low gain trannys it's very much like a ToneBender mkII and sounds great in a band setup. I sent one to a friend in Europe and same response over there "Turned heads on stage".

      Delete
  7. Hi All
    some of these transistors come in metal cans ( TO-18 )and or plastic type ( TO92 )....can i use either ?

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    1. You probably mean 2N2222. It is the same transistor with either packaking. So just mind the pinout and you're fine.
      +m

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  8. Thanks Mirosol, yeah and 2369 seem to come in both ( albeit with an A designation ) and they seem a tad expensive from ebay

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    1. I personally wouldn't go with 2N2369s here, because they may be a bit too low for it. Those are just perfect for many applications - and them being obsolete in metal cans - i'm quite happy that i recently grabbed big bag of those...

      Use sockets and try out a few sets. I think this circuit is perfect for trying out different transistors to find out what you like the most.
      +m

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  9. Just made this with the 5089's all round...perfect for all the old school punk tunes my band do..all the pistols ramoans stuff sound just right...such a shame im the bass player nowa days cuz id have love soloing with this little gem...many thanks

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  10. http://mirosol.kapsi.fi/varasto/boxes/HotSilicon.jpg

    Nice. Not shocking, but nice.
    +m

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  11. Just finished it, but I can't test it too much. Some wiring issues and cutting out.

    Sounds damn good with the random mps18/n25089s I threw in there, and even better when I stuck a Germ in Q1 for a minute. I'm hoping to gig it in a couple of weeks if I can get the kinks out, and then we'll see wots wot.

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    1. Finished and tweaked. Q1 n25088, Q2 metal can 2n2222a, Q3 mpsa18, Q4 new 2n2222. Has just a hair of splat due to Q2, cleans up pretty well, and roars like a dying crocodile.
      Build one if you have a minute!

      Delete
  12. http://fuzzquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/silicon-tone-bender-mkii-revisited.html

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. Just built and boxed. Pretty good Fuzz. Using 5089s in socket so will try a few more when i can stop playing. I have some very rare russian KT315Gs and Bs but there pins are really wide. I will give it a go and may post further with results if successful.

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  15. Built this in '13 (see above) and played and recorded with it. Today I A/Bd it with the MKI I recently finished and aside from some of the gating artifacts, I could cop almost the same tone.
    Another win for Smalley!

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