Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
A nice easy one – the Lovepedal Church of Tone 50 (COT50). Despite the hype, it’s just an Electra Distortion with some small mods (just the addition of the bias pot really). It will not magically make your amp sound like a 1960’s Marshall Plexi as some claim, but it’s worth a try if you are looking for a … Read more
Schematic, trace and info avaiable at FSB. Note that there is a cap value missing across pin 11 and 12 at the PT2399. There is a 10nF cap across pin 9 and 10 so a close value to that should work. Also, lug pot numberings isn’t marked on iether of the schematics so lug numbering … Read more
Commonly referred to as the poor man’s Super Fuzz – the Kay Fuzz Tone Model F-1. The Union Tube & Transistor Bumble Buzz is based on this (they’re almost the same really). Key differences are the lack of Fuzz control (the expander control), and it’s missing a gain recovery stage at the end, so it’s not … Read more
One more for the vintage Japanese Fuzz collection The Ace Tone FM-2 Fuzz Master – a variation on the venerable Super Fuzz. It’s a little different as the “Expander” control is missing (bypassed), which is the same as running it full-tilt all the time. It also uses silicon diodes instead of germanium and has a strange … Read more
Long story short, YATS. It’s a nice sounding TS variant. From the source: Plumes is a unique, all-analog approach to a classic tube-like overdrive circuit offering 3 different clipping voices, loads of headroom and almost three-dimensional clarity that will push your amp over the edge. The reimagined tone control is finely tuned to sculpt low … Read more
The Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise – bias voltages unknown for the JFETS (so you may need to tweak them). I had to tweak a bit for the Barbershop before it was right, maybe the same here. Mind you, this is a bit of signal-destroying fuzz monster, so it may not matter as much. I have checked … Read more
This is the fuzz section from a big old Italian phaser – the Montarbo PB-2. It’s extremely close to the Montarbo Sinphoton – a few different value resistors here and there, and a different tone section. Apart from that, same same. MONTARBO PB-2 FUZZ – POINT TO POINT LAYOUT MONTARBO PB-2 FUZZ SECTION SCHEMATIC
