madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: G.G. on August 10, 2017, 01:49:47 AM

Title: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: G.G. on August 10, 2017, 01:49:47 AM
Hi Folks,
Here's a Fuzz Face variant I built up a while back from Storyboardist's Jack Deville (Mr. Black) Vintage 2-Knob Fuzz layout. I had tried a couple Fuzz Faces before but had never been that impressed, maybe I didn't understand how to use them, but this one sounded interesting so I gave it a try. It was ok, but it wasn't until I got it back out, put the right pot values in  ;D and tried out several different MP38A's that I found out I really like this circuit a whole lot. I was looking for something that would dirty up my super clean Fender amp, and it sounds great with my Tele. The enclosure is one of BLMS powercoats that I relic'd up with some steel wool and sandpaper, I thought it came out kinda cool looking.

(http://i.imgur.com/qnkuR6q.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/BHEiv5a.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7P1bGZN.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: storyboardist on August 10, 2017, 01:54:16 AM
Looks great! Nice work  8)
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: gordo on August 10, 2017, 02:33:42 AM
Nicely done.  Reminds me of the PRS "scraped" binding.
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: oip on August 10, 2017, 02:36:01 AM
looks excellent!  love the knobs and styling
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: matmosphere on August 10, 2017, 02:49:35 AM
That is a great look.

I'm going to have to look up the circuit. Fuzz Faces have always struck me as a little meh.
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: G.G. on August 10, 2017, 02:41:59 PM
Quote from: Matmosphere on August 10, 2017, 02:49:35 AM
That is a great look.

I'm going to have to look up the circuit. Fuzz Faces have always struck me as a little meh.

With the fuzz and guitar volume all the way up it's got very squishy super smooth sustain.  I didn't realize how much range,  from boost, overdrive to pure fuzz you can get just by turning the guitar volume knob a little. I know that's old news since that how Fuzz Faces work, but it works great with my Tele. I didn't like it quite as much with the humbuckers on my Gretsch.
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: jimilee on August 10, 2017, 03:09:46 PM
Smooth lines


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: selfdestroyer on August 10, 2017, 03:53:08 PM
Love them knobs on there!

Cody
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: stringsthings on August 10, 2017, 08:17:12 PM
Purty!  :)
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: chordball on August 12, 2017, 03:37:17 AM
Looks great! Do you have the schematic? I searched but came up empty handed.

How does this version sound compared to stock?
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: G.G. on August 13, 2017, 01:29:22 AM
Quote from: chordball on August 12, 2017, 03:37:17 AM
Looks great! Do you have the schematic? I searched but came up empty handed.

How does this version sound compared to stock?

Maybe Storyboardist can chime in on how it's different than stock, the only info I have is the layout on his blog:

http://effectslayouts.blogspot.com/2015/05/jack-deville-vintage-two-knob-fuzz.html
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: storyboardist on August 15, 2017, 02:56:32 PM
It's a pretty standard Fuzz Face, just with a few minor tweaks. Most of them are just value changes from a stock FF. The trimmer to bias Q2 is a pretty standard mod and really the only component added is a the 820Ω resistor off lug 1 of the Fuzz pot. All that does is limit the minimum setting. Here's Jack's schem (he originally posted it on TGP a while back):

(https://s30.postimg.org/s00hfop4h/Vintage_Two-_Knob_Fuzz.gif)
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: chordball on August 15, 2017, 04:25:52 PM
Thanks a lot! I had seen a fuzzy ;) thumbnail of that schematic but couldn't make it out.

So after a little digging, I see that this circuit is very similar to the original Vox Tone Bender with some minor value changes. Interesting bit of fuzz history to see the predecessor to the almighty fuzz face!

http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/vox.php (http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/vox.php)
Title: Re: Black Beauty Fuzz Face
Post by: Boba7 on August 18, 2017, 07:09:34 AM
This looks fantastic! Really really like it. It does honor to Jack Deville/Mr Black line of pedals! :)