Three-Transistor Germanium Fuzzrite (2024)

[Ginsly]

Looks like someone persuaded original Fuzzrite designer Ed Sanner (87 years old!) to make a handful of Ge versions this year, but with a third transistor:

"This is a tribute to the Fuzzrite designed by Ed Sanner. This one features vintage "germanium transistors" and Ed decided to add a third transistor to this pedal for more impoved sustain and feedback that you can control. The results are insane. You can get Hendrix tones and infinate sustain as well as soundscapes you can melt into with the addition of the third transistor. Or back it off for the classic Fuzzrite Fuzz tone. These Fuzzrite's are each hand built one at time by Ed Sanner the designer. Every solder joint in every pedal was by Ed Sanner himself."

I was planning on messing around with the Ge Fuzzrite at some point, and I like the idea of the third transistor. I know there are a lot of good detectives here, just wondering if anyone has any idea how he might have incorporated the third stage? Not sure if any clones feature this in any capacity. I know the Catalinbread Merkin has a third transistor, but it's an Si circuit.

There's a video of a known Youtuber playing it rolleyes, but... I didn't want to link to it.

 

[VanWhy]

Interesting. Catalinbread does have a Ge version of their Fuzzrite but I can't find if it's using 3 transistors or not. Seems like they are using 2 to keep it like the original, but have not verified.

 

[Ginsly]

Interesting. Catalinbread does have a Ge version of their Fuzzrite but I can't find if it's using 3 transistors or not. Seems like they are using 2 to keep it like the original, but have not verified.

It looks like Aion based their Ge version on the Catalinbread, and both look to be two-transistor: https://aionfx.com/app/files/docs/orpheus_ge_documentation.pdf

 

[Coda]

The OG had 2 Ge and is excellent. I can only imagine the 3rd transistor is a boost just before the volume pot…

 

[jwin615]

The OG had 2 Ge and is excellent. I can only imagine the 3rd transistor is a boost just before the volume pot…

Ge LPB1 and done!
Or, build a Ge Darlington LPB1 and keep your phase in check.
Ik,ik, phase *shouldn't* matter in a fuzz, but it does if your blending and not diming the fuzz(who does that?).

 

[Ginsly]

@Coda and @jwin615 wouldn’t a boost circuit at the end just raise the volume and not necessarily add sustain/character? I’m genuinely asking!

 

[Coda]

@Coda and @jwin615 wouldn’t a boost circuit at the end just raise the volume and not necessarily add sustain/character? I’m genuinely asking!

Depends on the boost. Of course, with no tone control, it is also possible that the extra Ge is at the inout, like a MKii TB…

 

[jwin615]

@Coda and @jwin615 wouldn’t a boost circuit at the end just raise the volume and not necessarily add sustain/character? I’m genuinely asking!

I would think it would be on the frontend

 

[Ginsly]

Depends on the boost. Of course, with no tone control, it is also possible that the extra Ge is at the inout, like a MKii TB…

I would think it would be on the frontend

This would be my best guess, but I know diddly squat about how to do that. I was thinking about doing a Ge Fuzzrite on stripboard, and it would be very cool to add another Ge gain stage in front. Any pointers?

 

[PedalBuilder]

I would think it would be on the frontend

Could be a two transistor Darlington-type configuration for Q1, like the Tone Bender Mk. III.

 

[Feral Feline]

Whether on the front or back of the original circuit, I would definitely want Q3 to be a DARLINGTON.

Or Sziklai pair, if that keeps phase. I couldn't find anything about whether a Sziklai inverts phase, and for that matter nothing about Darlingtons' phase as it relates to passing signal.

 

[Ginsly]

I've gotten much better at breadboarding, but I'm not sure I'm at the stage where I'd know how to create a Darlington Ge pair at the front end of that Catalinbread layout! If that is indeed what Sanner did with this new one... I'm really, really curious - it sounds pretty good.

Who's gonna crack tha code??

 

[Ginsly]

This is all I got! Couple shot from the video.

 

[Coda]

Well? Has it been traced?…

 

[gonzo]

Always thought the originals were barely at unity gain. Love the almost crappy 60s fuzz harshness of the one I built. I was thinking of adding a boost to the end of mine for a while. Curious if they put a boost in front to add sustain or saturation. Because sustain isn't an adjective I'd use for the originals.

 

[Ginsly]

Well? Has it been traced?…

Very unlikely. There were only about 30 made and collectors snapped em up…

Curious if they put a boost in front to add sustain or saturation

Me too! Seems like the more likely scenario..?

 

[DeadAirMD]

Is there a link to the a website related to this pedal? I did some rudimentary searching and came up with nothing. Also did a search for anyone who has created a vero 3 transistor mosrite and also came up with nothing. Is it only a YouTube video?

 

[Ginsly]

Is there a link to the a website related to this pedal? I did some rudimentary searching and came up with nothing. Also did a search for anyone who has created a vero 3 transistor mosrite and also came up with nothing. Is it only a YouTube video?

https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/37277/

Not much out there about it. Seems like it was almost word-of-mouth, and you had to email Bob Shade of Hallmark Guitars to get one (?). Evidently he's worked with Ed Sanner on other limit-release pedals, but not THIS limited. About 30 made, looks like.