Nein

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Build Rating

5.00 star(s)

I was already a big fan of fairfield inspired circuits being a frequent user of the chopshop, lowtide, and desolate fuzz. I figured this wouldn't suck and I was quite correct. The desolate lacks a little low end, even though I greatly enjoy the sounds it makes with bass. This Nein fuzz doesn't have that issue so much, I have no hesitation saying that it's "good" for the bass players. It's also nicely versatile.

I have many fuzzes that I only enjoy with the fuzz dimed but the nein sounds good dialed all the way down into fairly clean territory. The fuzz control and the input control are interactive and you can conjure many textures for a pedal with no tone knob. When maxed out it's pretty huge but it's tame when comparing with the desolate. It kind of does everything the desolate doesn't. The bias control only adds to that versatility providing some gated tones too.

Easy building, found appropriate fets quickly though they all three came from different batches and happen to be soldered in different directions, one with pins, the others with resistor legs. Looks more chaotic than it is.

 

[Erik S]

Looks great!

If I didn’t already have one of these boards that description would have sold me one.

What knobs are those? For a minute I thought they had indicator dots, but now I see it’s just a reflection.

 

[crashguitar]

Nice build.

I really like this circuit, but I use it almost exclusively at low gain. It does great at the fuzz thing, but I can't get over how great it sounds as an overdrive.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Looks great!

If I didn’t already have one of these boards that description would have sold me one.

What knobs are those? For a minute I thought they had indicator dots, but now I see it’s just a reflection.

There is actually a white line for indication. However, only one is visible in the pic.

https://www.taydaelectronics.com/daka-ware-skirted-control-knob-19x13mm-shaft-6-4-mm.html

 

[ThatDude]

Nice build! I just got one of these PCBs in the mail a few days ago and your report is making me even more excited about putting it together. You mentioned finding the right Jfets for this build. What measurements are you looking for to tell if these are suited to this circuit, and what impact does this have on the pedal's sound? Thanks in advance.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

What measurements are you looking for to tell if these are suited to this circuit, and what impact does this have on the pedal's sound?

I didn't socket and audition so I can't comment on how close you have to get but the first 3 J201 I pulled out of my stash ended up being really really close to the specs on the schematic. I tested more but didn't find any that matched better. I used a DCA75.

 

[ThatDude]

I didn't socket and audition so I can't comment on how close you have to get but the first 3 J201 I pulled out of my stash ended up being really really close to the specs on the schematic. I tested more but didn't find any that matched better. I used a DCA75.
View attachment 100407

Oh jeez. I didn’t look at the build doc yet so I didn’t know there would be testing to make sure the JFETs were working within spec. I don’t have a peak tester. I might just have to hope it sounds as close to optimal as possible with whatever J201s I place in there. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[jcpst]

Thanks for the comparison with the Desolate. I’ve been wanting to read someone’s take comparing the two.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Oh jeez. I didn’t look at the build doc yet so I didn’t know there would be testing to make sure the JFETs were working within spec. I don’t have a peak tester. I might just have to hope it sounds as close to optimal as possible with whatever J201s I place in there. Thanks for the heads up.

I slapped my first desolate together with no testing devices and lucked out. Sending good vibes to your fets.

 

[crashguitar]

Oh jeez. I didn’t look at the build doc yet so I didn’t know there would be testing to make sure the JFETs were working within spec. I don’t have a peak tester. I might just have to hope it sounds as close to optimal as possible with whatever J201s I place in there. Thanks for the heads up.

I didn't test any of the J201s that I used. I am both lazy and don't have a good way to test SMD parts. Turned out fine for me. YMMV

 

[zeropluszero]

Oh jeez. I didn’t look at the build doc yet so I didn’t know there would be testing to make sure the JFETs were working within spec. I don’t have a peak tester. I might just have to hope it sounds as close to optimal as possible with whatever J201s I place in there. Thanks for the heads up.

I built one of these

And socketed the gsdsg


I then used it to match the idss on the j201s I have soldered to male-male pins.
I then matched as closely as I could for only the idss value for my Nein fuzz and I'm fairly sure it sounds right.

 

[Einzeln]

The name Nein Fuzz intrigued me. So isn't it a Fuzz?

 

[Cybercow]

The name Nein Fuzz intrigued me. So isn't it a Fuzz?

Yup. The Nein Fuzz is a 'fuzz' circuit.

 

[Fuzzonaut]

The name Nein Fuzz intrigued me. So isn't it a Fuzz?

Sounds like a phonetic reference to the original.

9

It‘s a cool pedal, fuzz or not.

 

[Fuzzonaut]

Is it a fuzz?

 

[Cybercow]

Is it a fuzz?
View attachment 100438

Nein! Nein mit der fingerpoken undt mittengrabben!

 

[Einzeln]

Es war vor allem eine rhetorische Frage. Trotzdem fuzz

 

[andare]

I also have a board. I only have a TC1 tester, I don't think it reads all those JFETS data, ill have to breadboard that tester.

I don't name pedals but I'd call mine 99 Luftballons Fuzz

 

[Cybercow]

Es war vor allem eine rhetorische Frage. Trotzdem fuzz

Es gab keine wirkliche Antwort.

 

[VanWhy]

Great build. And i can confirm this is a cool circuit. I really dig the fuzz you can get. And FWIW I also did not measure my jfets. Just plopped them in and they sound great. They were smd too.