Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
If you’re into fuzz then here’s a gem for you – a super consistent silicon fuzz monster. Here’s the schematic and vero layout. For more info here’s the freestompboxes.org forum topic (*complete with attached bitching over circuit credits and origin*): http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7767 Here’s mictester’s advice on tweaking: “Adjustment: set the 1k “Abuse” pot halfway. Play though it, … Read more
Information about the original from Frantone: This 3-knob Peachfuzz fuzztone has all the great classic sound with 50% more gain than the classic 2-knob model. It has been hot-rodded with super quiet circuitry and the addition of a rockin’ tone control. Truly the finest in lead-guitar tone and second to none in performance, the Peachfuzz … Read more
Update 10th September 2014: I had dropped this layout from the blog because there had been instances where people had been unable to get the IC, but more importantly I think there are other methods to do this now that are cheaper, much more compact and the kit comes with the required IC AND a … Read more
Graham from the D*A*M forums is a huge collector of vintage Fuzz effects and he picked up this gem: Here’s how he describes the unit over on the D*A*M forums: http://stompboxes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1083 “A TRULY OUTSTANDING FUZZ EFFECT WHY IT APPEARS TO HAVE NEVER BEEN “PROPERLY COMMERCIALLY” DEVELOPED IS TOTALLY BEYOND ME!! Maybe there were patent infringements … Read more
One of mictester’s circuits from FSB, very transparent compared to Dynacomp or Squeezer’s so definitely one to try for the compressor fans. Mictester’s description: The original idea was to replace the old fashioned way of getting compression – connecting an LDR across the volume control of your amplifier, then illuminating it with an incandescent lamp … Read more
Nightraven has taken his apart and offers some description of the tone of this strange unit: “it’s basically an overdrive pedal that borders on fuzztone with the controls dimed and having a dirty amp to start with. very underrated IMHO – i think it’s loads better than Tubescreamers and the various copies.” For a better idea … Read more
Early Pre-WEM and GermaniumWEM Pep Box Later Silicon Transistor WEM Pep Box The Pep Box is one of those old vintage effects that lives in a strange world of popular mystery – not as widely known as the Fuzz Face, Univibe or Tonebender yet still used by some of the most well known artists of … Read more
Zach’s info about the original: I designed this new distortion generator, Machine, with some different limitations. Like try playing chords through it. Hmmm. But put it in front of any string of fuzz pedals, and try to make it disappear. Machine is actually a dual frequency-tripler circuit that uses crossover distortion for the first time … Read more
ElectricTabs emulation of a Mesa Boogie Dual Recitifer Solo Head. I haven’t even attempted to keep this one down in size (width) because with 6 pots no one is going to be putting this in anything smaller than a 1590BB, so you should have plenty of room in there with this being a relatively shallow … Read more
Now fixed and verified MarkM’s tremolo based on the Schaller: Geiri’s demo of his build: