CONTEST Fuzz Face Fridays

CONTEST
It was fun figuring it out. I bought a lot of these Ge PNPs from a chap in Ukraine and so far almost all of them test right in the sweet zone for FF goodness. Only trick is the pinout - E-C-B, which isn't a big deal but does require a base level of mindfulness that I don't always maintain. I don't know how I got so lucky with the transistors, but there you go. I found some 18u caps that almost all measure 20u. I made a few tweaks with the other resistor and cap values after breadboarding for far longer than I should have. My wife, "How many changes can you possibly make to so few parts?" Me, "have you met me?"

Next step is doing a proper layout of the components, then a soldering jig ... calm hands and robust heat sinks are a BIG help. I'd like to make a small batch of these with proper enclosures. This was just a reused Klone enclosure.
I think we've probably bought the same dude in the Ukraine "Alerxer1" or something. Good guy and 100" solid seller. I've gotten a couple of Ge tranny orders from him. I've got a whole bunch of real low gain ones that I'm not exactly sure how to use. Like 15-25 hfe. Waiting for another order of some NPN's from him that's due to arrive (according to the tracking) Jan 2.......sigh....
 
So has anyone done this and know if it's a bad idea or not? I have a spare 1590bb I can reuse but just don't know if two fuzz faces on a box will play nicely together. I won't be using them both at the same time though.
I don't see why it wouldn't work from a circuit perspective. Just treat it like any other dual build with an order switcher. But yah FF's are finicky, especially about sharing power....that might be my only concern. For instance, the turret FF that @Dan0h gave me absolutely needs its own wall wart, no if and's or buts.
 
Part it out and sell it on Ebay...... :ROFLMAO: . I've got this board in my pile waiting for some appropriate transistors to put in. (Not gonna try to find NKT275's though....)
I really love it and I'd be heartbroken to sell it, although I've breadboarded fuzz faces several that sound just as good. I had something in the works that might replace the sunface but I had to shelve it like 6 months ago. I will get back to it later when my life is more conducive to working on pedals.

As you can see, I quite like fuzz faces. I'm never gonna own a vintage one, so I see the sunface as my benchmark. Plus I like analogman. They're relatively local to me, and I've known several people who work or have worked there. I like how the customer chooses the options when ordering. I bought the sunface brand new, knowing eventually he wouldn't have NKTs anymore, and that it could be sold later for good money if I so desired. When I bought it, it was like "regular pedal price" and I had a job, so no big deal
 
I think we've probably bought the same dude in the Ukraine "Alerxer1" or something. Good guy and 100" solid seller. I've gotten a couple of Ge tranny orders from him. I've got a whole bunch of real low gain ones that I'm not exactly sure how to use. Like 15-25 hfe. Waiting for another order of some NPN's from him that's due to arrive (according to the tracking) Jan 2.......sigh....
You got it! 100%

You could maybe Darlington or Sziklai those. Small Bear’s diy repository has good ideas, too!
 
I really love it and I'd be heartbroken to sell it, although I've breadboarded fuzz faces several that sound just as good. I had something in the works that might replace the sunface but I had to shelve it like 6 months ago. I will get back to it later when my life is more conducive to working on pedals.

As you can see, I quite like fuzz faces. I'm never gonna own a vintage one, so I see the sunface as my benchmark. Plus I like analogman. They're relatively local to me, and I've known several people who work or have worked there. I like how the customer chooses the options when ordering. I bought the sunface brand new, knowing eventually he wouldn't have NKTs anymore, and that it could be sold later for good money if I so desired. When I bought it, it was like "regular pedal price" and I had a job, so no big deal
Oh so those aren’t NKTs in there? What are they?
 
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I really love it and I'd be heartbroken to sell it, although I've breadboarded fuzz faces several that sound just as good. I had something in the works that might replace the sunface but I had to shelve it like 6 months ago. I will get back to it later when my life is more conducive to working on pedals.

As you can see, I quite like fuzz faces. I'm never gonna own a vintage one, so I see the sunface as my benchmark. Plus I like analogman. They're relatively local to me, and I've known several people who work or have worked there. I like how the customer chooses the options when ordering. I bought the sunface brand new, knowing eventually he wouldn't have NKTs anymore, and that it could be sold later for good money if I so desired. When I bought it, it was like "regular pedal price" and I had a job, so no big deal

Yeah definitely never sell it dude. You don't want to end up the scenario I'm in over my R7 where you regret selling it and know you won't be able to afford another one.
 
I don't see why it wouldn't work from a circuit perspective. Just treat it like any other dual build with an order switcher. But yah FF's are finicky, especially about sharing power....that might be my only concern. For instance, the turret FF that @Dan0h gave me absolutely needs its own wall wart, no if and's or buts.

Yeah we know it'll work but im concerned they won't sound as good in a box together with the extra switching. Hmm. I'm really not sure what to do.
 
Yeah definitely never sell it dude. You don't want to end up the scenario I'm in over my R7 where you regret selling it and know you won't be able to afford another one.
I definitely can't afford another one. There's no question there. Sorry about your R7. If it's any consolation, I understand why you made the decision you did, and I think you made the right choice
 
I definitely can't afford another one. There's no question there. Sorry about your R7. If it's any consolation, I understand why you made the decision you did, and I think you made the right choice

Yeah regret was probably the wrong word because it's a call I'd make every day of the week in that scenario, however, it still sucks.

I'm probably gonna grab a nice Japanese tokai to replace it when I can get the required amount of cash together. That'll get me 95% of the way there for a lot less cash.
 
Yeah regret was probably the wrong word because it's a call I'd make every day of the week in that scenario, however, it still sucks.

I'm probably gonna grab a nice Japanese tokai to replace it when I can get the required amount of cash together. That'll get me 95% of the way there for a lot less cash.
I'd be very happy with a Tokai, they even have some nitro finished ones now that really good looking. about 1/5 the cost of an R9, 1/2 the cost of a Standard and "guilt free".........😛. They're not too common here in the US. There's a seller on Reverb that's based in Tokyo and ships worldwide. It's pretty tempting. But lately I just have not been into playing my hum buckers. My PRS 594 largely sits unloved. I may wind up selling it. Feels like a lot of cashed to be tied up in a "nice to have" guitar. That and I am becoming less and less enamored with the bling aesthetics. Not that I have any problem with anyone that is into the over-the-top blingy PRS models. But I think "plain and/or beat up" just suits me better these days.
 
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