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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: raulduke on August 09, 2012, 02:38:02 PM

Title: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: raulduke on August 09, 2012, 02:38:02 PM
This is my take on the Eric Johnson Fuzz Face which seems to be doing the rounds at the mo.

I used an axial PCB layout for that 'mojo' factor   ;)

I don't have any BC183's at the moment (got some on order), so I threw some BC108's in there with a good hfe range for a Fuzz Face.

Q2 is biased really low (I biased mine at about 3.75V), which is part of what gives the circuit its 'tone' I guess.

It sounds really cool... cooler than I thought it would to be honest.

Nice and 'chewy' and 'furry' would be how I would describe it   :D

I actually prefer it to my Ge Fuzz Face, which is odd, although it doesn't clean up as well as my Ge face.

Anyway, hope you like the pics!
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/stevo83/334eac00.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/stevo83/a7a0ca63.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa381/stevo83/1c9938c1.jpg)
Title: Re: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: night-B on August 09, 2012, 04:12:07 PM
Nice pics, layout, enclosure and wiring. I love it and wanna give it a try too  ;)
Title: Re: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: culturejam on August 09, 2012, 04:44:03 PM
Looks good, man.

I find that wide open, low-gain silicon can sound pretty much just like germanium. But you may be on to something with the "cleanup" comment.

Maybe silicon trannies have a higher input impedance than germanium?

Raul, maybe you could try a lower-value resistor for R1 (which I assume is there as a pull down)? Like maybe 330K? Or maybe try a 1M pot and dial it down until it loads the pickups the "right" way?
Title: Re: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: raulduke on August 09, 2012, 04:52:29 PM
Cheers Guys!

I've attached the schem I used for my PCB for reference (although the EJ Fuzz schem can be found all over the place).

Also, I used a 22pf cap at C5 on the schem as I was getting a tiny bit of squeel with the trannies I used at max gain (and everybody knows a Fuzz Face gotta work at max gain  ;) ). I also didn't stick religiously to the EJ resistor values with mine; I used the closest values I had to hand.

CJ; I'll try out those tips and see how it pans out, R1 is indeed a pulldown so I can easily stick a pot there and see what happens. The fuzz face is such a cool circuit to play around with. Slight variations can make a big difference. Thanks for the ideas!

This circuit could easily be built up on one of Madbeans Mangler PCB's as well.

Its worth a pop for sure!
Title: Re: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: nzCdog on August 10, 2012, 03:15:12 AM
nice job! looks great and EJ ff tone = win!
Title: Re: Furball (EJ Fuzz Face)
Post by: bigmufffuzzwizz on August 30, 2012, 11:41:58 PM
Great job! Your doing so many layouts, I really admire that!