NEIN! (Fairfield Circuitry ~900 Fuzz)

MichaelW

Well-known member
Build Rating
5.00 star(s)
Couple of fuzzes to report.

I finished this one up yesterday and still learning the curves on it. As with most Fairfield circuits, the controls are super interactive.

There's an "Input" control that adjusts the gain going to the first MU amp stage.
The "Fuzz" control is actually an "input" control that adjusts the input to the second gain stage.
The Bias control affects the bias of the second gain stage and can go from overdrivey to sputtery gated fuzz.

Lots of interactivity between the "Fuzz" and "Input" controls.

So far it sounds pretty killer with hum buckers but I'm still trying to dial up a sound I like on my Strat.

So this was totally not on my radar.......then.......... @Guardians of the analog happened.......sigh....

Anyway, very glad I built it, even though I'm not a fuzz guy.
This is a highly recommended build, so many good sounds in it. Even you're not into fuzzes.

I did not bother measuring or sorting the J201's but I'm wondering if I should have.....

IMG_8630.JPG

IMG_8629.JPG
 
I never bothered measuring SMT components. From what I read here I was under the impression that, compared to through hole, the manufacturing of these is way more precise, and as such we shouldn't be bothered checking them out?

Also, this must be the most vanilla pedal by Fairfield. It's good, but it's not really its own thing in the vast field of fuzzes.

Also, The Oblongs....

the oblongs.png
 
I never bothered measuring SMT components. From what I read here I was under the impression that, compared to through hole, the manufacturing of these is way more precise, and as such we shouldn't be bothered checking them out?

Also, this must be the most vanilla pedal by Fairfield. It's good, but it's not really its own thing in the vast field of fuzzes.

Also, The Oblongs....

View attachment 112497
It's definitely not the usual "out in left field" type pedals from Fairfield. It's like the Chop Chop of fuzzes..... :ROFLMAO:
 
Very clean build!
What gauge is the wire you use to connect the daughterboard (jelly of that!)? 26 AWG?
Also are those caps dipped in dark or milk chocolate? Or is it Bovril?
 
Very clean build!
What gauge is the wire you use to connect the daughterboard (jelly of that!)? 26 AWG?
Also are those caps dipped in dark or milk chocolate? Or is it Bovril?
That's 22 AWG buss wire. the big poly cap is a Panasonic ECQ-B 10nf. The last of them in my stash. I'm so sad they disco'd those caps.
The small ones are more red in color. This are probably KYETs. The brown ones are Silver Mica 220pf caps. Last of those as well but those are available, just pricey.
 
I just spent a few hours auditioning pedals on my drummer's "auxiliary noise" set up. He has a kalimba I made with a cheapo transducer pickup and Leaf Audio Soundbox along with a contact mic he's been attaching to his snare with a few effects and a looper all on a little table to the left of his hi-hats. He's been using a green muff but the noise, especially with the soundbox was no bueno. I brought like a dozen dirt pedals over and the Nein was the big winner of the day. Didn't even try the Pastel which was on deck. I figured gated would be the way to go but the wooly had no sweet spot, just too much or too little. The Nein gates just right for this setup, diming the gain and input brought no ill effect.

Screenshot_20260301_155422_Chrome.jpg
 
I just spent a few hours auditioning pedals on my drummer's "auxiliary noise" set up. He has a kalimba I made with a cheapo transducer pickup and Leaf Audio Soundbox along with a contact mic he's been attaching to his snare with a few effects and a looper all on a little table to the left of his hi-hats. He's been using a green muff but the noise, especially with the soundbox was no bueno. I brought like a dozen dirt pedals over and the Nein was the big winner of the day. Didn't even try the Pastel which was on deck. I figured gated would be the way to go but the wooly had no sweet spot, just too much or too little. The Nein gates just right for this setup, diming the gain and input brought no ill effect.

View attachment 112553
Damn, I want to hear that thing!
 
Damn, I want to hear that thing!
It's pretty cool but he and I both kind of hate the plastic kalimba-esque tines on the front right. I'm trying to talk him into removing those and putting something like the moonn Drone a Little Drone in that place. The rest of it is great though, my favorite part being the long antennae when played with a cello bow.
 
Back
Top