Silicon Fuzz Recommendations

[sonnyboy27]

So I'm looking to build a couple of fuzz pedals but I don't want to make a fuzz face, big muff, or bazzfuss. I really don't want to have to play around with germanium or specific hfe values and such. Anyone got any recommendations for a good silicon fuzz that uses common transistors but doesn't have all the hassle?

I was originally thinking of doing the DBA Supersonic Fuzz Gun but it looks like it's finicky with transistors.

[JackSkellington]

I didn't build it but I had all of these in my archive
I saw my list and choose the ones that reminded me was nice or interesting. Some of them don't use just transistors, but it shouldn't use germaniums.

X-Fuzz's Deadastronaut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaBkdysrX_A
Space Patrol Fuzz's Deadastronaut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyMOOY_60vA
Devi Ever Hyperion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4R4YMOp8Xw
Emanating Fist Black Acid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DZ_iRFecjE
Bearfoot FX Pink Purple Fuzz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XHWWmc9g70
Jordan Bosstone (or KMA Fuzzy Bear) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igYsgMoSjTs
Wooly Mammoth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwD5w4HDl1A
Boss FZ-2 (or FZ-3) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW7Is1jIAe0
Roger Mayer Spitfire Fuzz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISHykknmFFc

[zombie_rock123]

To add to Skeletons list theres the FY2, Scarab, Lunar Module, silicon tonebender (madbeans got a great board for it), Monolith. Depends what kinda fuzz sound youre after really. Etchers Paradise has a couple of these, likewise JMK has the FY2, Lectric FX had a great one called the Pitfighter (uses an IC too), 1776 has the Buzzsaw.

[alanp]

JMK's Companion Fuzz. Think The Black Keys, not Jimi Hendrix.

[somnif]

I'm fond of the Univox/Sam Ash/ShinEi SuperFuzz. Works best if you match 2 of the transistors responsible for the octave, but 2n3904s are dirt cheap so its not a big deal to buy a dozen.

I also (and I am a bit weird in this regard) really like my Zvex-ish Fuzz Factory-style thing with silicon transistors. I also enjoy it with a 10$ set of germaniums I got on ebay, but the silicon version has its own flare that works well for some styles.

(And both of these boards have good layouts over at Aion, and plenty of stripboard layouts floating around too.)

[oip]

second votes for: lunar module, hyperion, silicon fuzz factory.  all fantastic and all quite different from one another. 

for ease vs monstrousness the hyperion is hard to top.

[dan.schumaker]

I have a Companion Fuzz with mods that is a lot of fun (I call it the Accomplice Jr).  Its in this build report

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=27434.msg265684#msg265684

Here is the build doc if you are interested

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BbeG79P5k60zlT6Y1jF7VI63faz-rYo4

[bamslam69]

I just finished a clone of Emanating Fist Black Acid a couple of nights ago.
Very simple build, and amazing results!

Unfortunately the vid file is too large, but it sounds like the link up top.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[alanp]

Kermit with an afro nice!

[bamslam69]

 It made for an easy artwork.
My cheap dremel does the job.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[LaceSensor]

lovetone big cheese

silicon fuzz face with op amp buffers and BMP tone stack

[Aentons]

What about the VFE Triplet?

None of the 3 effects are a fuzz, but the sound that comes out of the pedal sure does sound like wicked fuzziness

[mcasemo]

Fender Blender, Ampeg Scrambler, Superfuzz