Special Porpoise Fuzz (no tremolo/space noise)

[lcamino64]

I recently built the Special Porpoise Fuzz, because one could use "just one more" weird pedal, right? Anyway, it works, but I can't seem to get any tremolo much less any weird space noises out of it (which was the whole reason I wanted to build it). I tried it on bass and a telecaster, tweaking the guitar volume, tone, pickup selector, but no tremolo/weirdneess.... Any ideas?

 

[Robert]

Post some pics.

Something is definitely wrong, I got nothing but weirdness from this one.

 

[lcamino64]

 

[lcamino64]

I want the weirdness

 

[lcamino64]

I want the weirdness

Post some pics.

Something is definitely wrong, I got nothing but weirdness from this one.

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I pulled out the GE diode, and it works. I put sockets in so I could try different diodes. It shouldn’t work with the diode removed, right????

 

[Guilherme Collateral]

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I pulled out the GE diode, and it works. I put sockets in so I could try different diodes. It shouldn’t work with the diode removed, right????

If your diode is from URSS, it should be pointing the other way

 

[lcamino64]

If your diode is from URSS, it should be pointing the other way

I’ve tried it both ways. I metered it, it’s oriented correctly, not backwards like other URSS diodes…
Like I said, I “works” when I completely remove the diode.

 

[Sturdag Lagernathy]

Germanium diode is too leaky. Clamped to ground, it dumps all the signal. you could try another low leakage germanium, or low Vf silicon. Something like a BAT 46 would probably work. 2x 1n5817 in series would work well in a pinch.

 

[lcamino64]

Germanium diode is too leaky. Clamped to ground, it dumps all the signal. you could try another low leakage germanium, or low Vf silicon. Something like a BAT 46 would probably work. 2x 1n5817 in series would work well in a pinch.

I put one in, no change

 

[Robert]

Do you have another transistor you can try? My guess is that the transistor is out of spec or too leaky.

It doesn't have to be germanium, just stick any old PNP in there for testing. (Pay attention to pinout)

 

[lcamino64]

I have a few to choose from. I’ll try that, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lcamino64]

Do you have another transistor you can try? My guess is that the transistor is out of spec or too leaky.

It doesn't have to be germanium, just stick any old PNP in there for testing. (Pay attention to pinout)

I should have asked….
Are you talking about Q1 or Q2?

 

[Robert]

Ahh my apologies, Q1, the big UFO.

 

[lcamino64]

Ahh my apologies, Q1, the big UFO.

Cool, thanks!!! I'll give that a try...