- Build Rating
So, I’ve been working on trying to make a 1590A based pedalboard that is something I can grab and go that covers almost all bases. Enter the need for a fuzz.
This is an EasyFace from Joe Gagan with two Ge transistors rather than Si/Ge. Q1 is an MP35 with about 50-70 he and Q2 is an MP38 with 70-90 Hfe. Of all the ones I purchased, these were the best. One MP38 won’t bias and the other MP35 oscillates like crazy. Anyways…
The controls are: top left, contour - pans from .1uF to 1uF film caps; top right - regain, which can dial it back nicely from fuzz to overdrive; center - Q2 bias - goes from gated to fuzz to really gritty loud overdrive past the 4.5-5V range. No fuzz control: it’s maxed out with a 1K/25uF bypass cap. Honestly the bias knob changes the feel more.
How does it sound? Pretty awesome. Probably not as hot as most fuzzy faces or as gnarly, but it borders on that fuzz/distortion line nicely?
Insides? Rats nest trying to cram it all in there, and it’s a one off on perf. I had to replace the switch after v1 of this pedal on perf I tossed, only to find the switch was bad, not my layout.
It’s a simple fuzz face with a couple cool knobs before Q1 that I think make it a really versatile fuzz. The bias knob is super cool and really changes the character. 4.755, but only due to the idiot that built it.
This is an EasyFace from Joe Gagan with two Ge transistors rather than Si/Ge. Q1 is an MP35 with about 50-70 he and Q2 is an MP38 with 70-90 Hfe. Of all the ones I purchased, these were the best. One MP38 won’t bias and the other MP35 oscillates like crazy. Anyways…
The controls are: top left, contour - pans from .1uF to 1uF film caps; top right - regain, which can dial it back nicely from fuzz to overdrive; center - Q2 bias - goes from gated to fuzz to really gritty loud overdrive past the 4.5-5V range. No fuzz control: it’s maxed out with a 1K/25uF bypass cap. Honestly the bias knob changes the feel more.
How does it sound? Pretty awesome. Probably not as hot as most fuzzy faces or as gnarly, but it borders on that fuzz/distortion line nicely?
Insides? Rats nest trying to cram it all in there, and it’s a one off on perf. I had to replace the switch after v1 of this pedal on perf I tossed, only to find the switch was bad, not my layout.
It’s a simple fuzz face with a couple cool knobs before Q1 that I think make it a really versatile fuzz. The bias knob is super cool and really changes the character. 4.755, but only due to the idiot that built it.
