Basic Audio Messenger Fuzz

[Bricksnbeatles]

it’s a clone of the 1.5v fuzz unit built into Mark Farner’s guitar in Grand Funk Railroad. *not* the same circuit as the Heathkit TA-28 fuzz. Creepy Fingers did a version too, but it was limited to 2 units so the Basic Audio version is probably easier to find. I’m not huge into Grand Fun, and I’m not a fan of Mark Farner, but it’s a really great sounding circuit.

here’s a demo that demonstrates the sound pretty well, but unfortunately instead of showing the pedal and the control settings, it’s just a montage of pictures of Mark Farner

Anyone, here are my top name suggestions:
-Grand Fuzz
-E Pluribus Fuzz (If you need context)
-Fuzz Farmer (bc Farner sounds like Farmer lol)
-Fuzz Conducter
-Locomotive Fuzz

 

[HamishR]

Fuzzunk?

 

[Harry Klippton]

Yes please. I almost always play Got This Thing On The Move when testing out a new fuzz pedal

 

[jwin615]

Honky Funk Fuzzfunkadunk.

 

[MobyOctopad]

+1 for E Pluribus Fuzz

Not sure how I missed this a few weeks back when I first found out Basic Audio's take on the circuit wasn't based on the Heathkit, but here's an old freestompboxes post about the circuit built into Messenger guitars. The links to the circuit files all seem to be dead for me but I managed to find this schematic on a Brazilian diy forum. Fwiw, the schematic lines up with the values in the freestompboxes thread where folks were comparing the Messenger circuit to the Heathkit.

Fingers crossed we can get another semi-obscure old fuzz resurrected!

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

+1 for E Pluribus Fuzz

Not sure how I had missed this a few weeks back when I first found out Basic Audio's take on the circuit wasn't based on the Heathkit, but here's an old freestompboxes post about the circuit built into Messenger guitars. The links to the circuit files all seem to be dead for me but I managed to find this schematic on a Brazilian diy forum.

Fingers crossed we can get another semi-obscure old fuzz resurrected!

Good sleuthing! I was reading that thread too, and tried tracing my way back to a copy of the dead files to no avail.
If @Robert gets this going, perhaps it could use an lm317 as the regulator, so there could be a 3-way toggle integrated to switch the regulator-setting resistor that goes to ground to be 50Ω / 330Ω / 1k5Ω which would be 1.5V / 3V / 9V respectively, to simulate it being powered by a AA battery, two AA batteries, or a 9V battery

 

[Robert]

If @Robert gets this going, perhaps it could use an lm317 as the regulator, so there could be a 3-way toggle integrated to switch the regulator-setting resistor that goes to ground to be 50Ω / 330Ω / 1k5Ω which would be 1.5V / 3V / 9V respectively, to simulate it being powered by a AA battery, two AA batteries, or a 9V battery

I have a circuit drawn up here somewhere that does exactly that, but it uses a 1117 LDO instead. Can't recall which one it was though....

 

[MobyOctopad]

I have a circuit drawn up here somewhere that does exactly that, but it uses a 1117 LDO instead. Can't recall which one it was though....

I was going to ask @Bricksnbeatles if what he suggested was similar to the Buzz Tone but it looks like the voltages are handled via the charge pump there, right? Wasn't sure if you meant that, Robert, or if this was something new you're working on

 

[Robert]

The Buzz Tone is a similar idea, although a little less precise.

It depends on the current consumption of the circuit to drop the voltage.

The charge pump is just inverting the 9V supply to -9V.

 

[Feral Feline]

Yes please. I almost always play Got This Thing On The Move when testing out a new fuzz pedal

Not my favourite, but an interesting take on bass fuzz...
SO what's the fuzz on the bass?


ANYone know? Same Messenger circuit?



Name this PCB "QUICKSILVER"

Naming my pedal "PHANTOM COURIER"