No way we're going to beat last year's number of layout posts :) We might break the verified 600 before new years though :)
Since i was up for taking on the big fuzzes.. Here's another vintage fuzz with up octave overtones. The layout turned pretty neat with some symmetry in there, but it'll once again eat up your 10ยต cap supply :) Original has no polarity protection nor filter cap, so you should think about adding those yourself. The first gain stage with SK30A FET is per original, but instead the BCE pinout of the 2SC1815 used in the original, i drew the other transistors to match the pinout of your standard 2N2222 (and similar).
Anything with relatively high hFE will work fine. BC550, 2N3904 MPSA18 and so on. Reportedly, lowish hFE gain transistor would work the best here. Try any Si NPN, you might get the best result with hFEs around 200. Just mind the pinout. I also left the clipping diodes on the edge of the board so one can take them easily on a switch and have his (or hers) way with them. Maybe a three position switch with LEDs, Germaniums and a diode lift in the middle? Tone change switch can be either a toggle or a stomp, which way you prefer it. If you want, you can omit the small link and the cuts from the bottom right off the board and wire the switch lug 2 directly to balance pot's lug 3.
Oh dear lord! Awesome stuff. Gotta bookmark this.
ReplyDeleteThis my next build before the Big Cheese fuzz.
ReplyDeleteThe schematic is almost identical to the Univox Superfuzz. Have we had the superfuzz here on a verified layout?
Think I might build with with Univox superfuzz BOM.
Has anyone ever compared the two?
Works. Although i did find out simething that i can't quite understand yet. When the tone change filter is engaged, there is a significant volume drop. The reason i don't quite get it is that the filter is exactly the same as in Univox Super-Fuzz. With the filter bypassed it sounds like it should. Upping the value for 1n cures it, but takes away a lot of low frequencies. Tried on a few values, but everything makes me want to ditch the board completely. Yes it works, but... I'm having thoughts about the 1n cap being between rows that are next to each other..
ReplyDeleteAlso. Once again, i'm not too pleased with the germanium clipping texture either :) So Doron. Yes. Build the Univox. It is better.
+m
Hey, i found a few thread about this subject, with of course, different approach. i haven't tried any of the build nor fixes but i own a "bruno fuzz machine" and the original has the volume drop too.
Deletehttp://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Effects-Pedals-Multi-Effects-and/ibanez-standard-fuzz-question/td-p/2930564
http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=15379&start=20
That's pretty strange as the Univox doesn't have that :) But it seems that the layout works 1:1 with the original.
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I make my own version of this pedal and I found with using high quality electrolytics and good GE diodes (I use old stock OA90's) I have unity volume at about 1 o'clock.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too nuts about this as a guitar pedal, but it makes a mean bass pedal.
ReplyDeleteI also did the diodes on a switch, bat41 on one side, germanium on the other.
High hFe transistors are not necessarily the best for this circuit. The higher the gain, the more compressed it will sound. Also, it will tend to gate single note runs more as well. The original 2SC828R's, 2SC828Q's, or 2SC1815's were not that high gain. While 828R reissues are available, they are higher in gain than the original Matshushita model. From experience, exceeding 200 hFe will start to really compress the sound, and you start to lose any note clarity that may be left. In Superfuzz circuits, too high a gain also lends to that initial blast of hiss when hitting a big chord. Go high enough with the gain, and it becomes useless. Keep the gains between 100 and 175, and they sound pretty decent. The 2N2222 is very good for this circuit.
ReplyDeleteInsert image of a thumbs up here.
DeleteHowever, the 1815s are rated at minimum of 100 and maximum off 700. This being the reason for me assuming higer gain.
+m
That's a fair assumption, but as the range states, 100 to 700. 700 doesn't necessarily mean that it will work well. Many assume that high gain is required for BMP, yet this proves otherwise;
Deletehttp://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27146&p=256467&hilit=muff+gain#p256467
Insofar as Japanese transistor gains are concerned, I posted this a while back;
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=107901.msg981825#msg981825
Given that most Standard Fuzz, and Superfuzz circuits I've seen use 2SC828Q or 2SC828R, you can see that the gains tend to stay on the low side of 360. All in all, Japanese transistor gain letters tended to preset much tighter tolerances. When I did the Honey Special Fuzz project, the 2SC828R's in the original all measured between 190 and 220. Seeing as how the Honey was the forefather of the Superfuzz, I think they figured out that below 200 was really the magic territory for transistors. That's why 150 to 200 sounds more open than 250 or higher.
Addendum; I just checked my datasheet for the Toshiba 2SC1815, and they came in the O, Y, BL, and GR gain ranges. I've haven't come across any BL or GR range transistors in Superfuzz variant circuits, but O and Y will cover 70 to 240, which validates the typical gain of 100 stated.
DeleteYou know what they say about assuming :)
DeleteBut you are correct. I'll add a note to the post.
+m
No problem. It's a great circuit. In passing, the Japanese JFET's also had grading where the cut off current is concerned. The 2SK30's that I've seen in these circuits all seem to be in the Y range, which is in the 1.2 to 3 mA zone. Now... did the factory test for a particular magic number? Dunno, unless some gets their hands on good sounding one, and puts it through RG's test rig... (like I can see THAT happening) ;-)
DeleteThere is an error in the layout. Two of them as I noticed. I built the pedal and it sounds great like friend's Wau Fuzz he had a few years ago. Anyway... The 3K resistor going from source to ground should be 10K and the 10K going from 9V to drain of the 2SK30 should be 3K. That solved some sound artifacts and gating in the more octave pronounced switch position.
ReplyDeleteI used 100K linear pots and the last resistor going to output, 10K should be 100K as in schematic. That solved volume drop for me. It could be possibly higher value for even more output, but for now, I'm happy with the results.
Cheers!!!
Works well, dirty, superdirty! Found two errors: 1) s&d legs of fet should be other way around; 2) 10microF cap on depth2 should be reversed polarity, check the original schematics. I used 2n2222. Both 1n34 an 1n4148 works good. About the tone switch volume drop issue: I presume the signal energy is the same, on the bass/treble side there is a lot of bass range you will not hear on the smaller amps, only on big speakers. Might be the reason some people love the pedal for bass guitar
ReplyDeleteInteresting. My build "works", but one of the tone modes is all bass and MUCH quieter than the other tone mode which sounds pretty great. Another thing that is weird (weirder?) - both the Balance and the Fuzz pots seem to be functioning as just volume. I don't detect any tonal changes in either one, just volume drop.
DeleteI'm tempted to try some of these suggestions about possible errors in the layout, but here's the thing - I've read that the fuzz channel in the Standard Wau Wau fuzz is different from this Standard Fuzz with the sliders, but the only schematic I can find online is for the Wau Wau fuzz section. Even on the Wau Wau, there are a couple versions.
Hey, hope You fixed Your issues. As said almost 2 years ago, mine works great, everybody leaves the room as soon as I turn it on :). Comparing the videos online, no significant difference to my clone. So, I can confirm, schematics is ok. Cheers!
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