Fuzzwell Effects tourbox (DONE!)

[D.o.S.]

Spectacular.

[Inconuucl]

Quick update: The box should be on it's way to Europe next week, and so the USA one will get up and running by September.

[Tristan]

Got them in today!
I'm digging it, they all really have their own sound to them.
Here's just some of my quick initial thoughts.

Maypole
Very versatile, indeed the tone switch is tuned really well.
Different from any other Fuzz Face I tried so far, the bias actually makes the mids go up when you turn it down,
that makes the bias control not only a great texture control but also a very powerful tone control.
Really lots of sounds in this box, from a nice sustain to an almost brass like short gated effect.
It's different from what in my mind a Fuzz Face sounds like, not as fuzzy or woolly / textured in the lows maybe, but that could also be down to the transistors.
Awesome pedal.
If I could have a say I'd like a Deluxe version with the tone switch on a secondary footswitch and if possible a led and 9V connection.

Orpheum
Definitely has this brassy quality, I really like the tone / texture control because it's very useful over the whole range.
There's always a hint of an upper octave there.
For me personally with my Strat it could have a bit more gain maybe because it's always pretty gated but it's a great fuzz overall.
I think with more fuzz on tap and a fuzz control this could be quite a versatile beast and again if possible I'd like to see a led and a 9V connection.

FY-1
This one is not for the faint of heart, it's really bright and the tone switch makes it even brighter.
For now I can't make it work in my setup but I'll try and have another go with it later.

So yeah, I think it's fair to say you really seem to know how to tune a fuzz Graeme.
I'd love to hear your takes on a Tonebender MKI, Germ Pep Box and Germ Fuzzrite too should you ever decide to make some.

[alalalkasar]

yes, three knob pep box!

[Snufkino]

Got them in today!
Maypole
Very versatile, indeed the tone switch is tuned really well.
Different from any other Fuzz Face I tried so far, the bias actually makes the mids go up when you turn it down,
that makes the bias control not only a great texture control but also a very powerful tone control.
Really lots of sounds in this box, from a nice sustain to an almost brass like short gated effect.
It's different from what in my mind a Fuzz Face sounds like, not as fuzzy or woolly / textured in the lows maybe, but that could also be down to the transistors.
Awesome pedal.
If I could have a say I'd like a Deluxe version with the tone switch on a secondary footswitch and if possible a led and 9V connection.

Thanks a lot, Tristan

I put together a couple of Maypole's using high-gain AC128's which have a tiny bit more fuzzy texture to them, but I can understand why people go after certain transistors like the 2N404A's, as they're a certain overall smoothness to them. I'll have to see if I can come up with something that offers the best of both worlds, although since there's not a huge difference, I think that for full-on fuzzy goodness I'll try a Silicon version of some kind.

Orpheum
Definitely has this brassy quality, I really like the tone / texture control because it's very useful over the whole range.
There's always a hint of an upper octave there.
For me personally with my Strat it could have a bit more gain maybe because it's always pretty gated but it's a great fuzz overall.
I think with more fuzz on tap and a fuzz control this could be quite a versatile beast and again if possible I'd like to see a led and a 9V connection.

I've tried a few mods with the Orpheum, but nothing has really stood out as being worthwhile. I tried putting in an fy-2 'Companion' fuzz tone section which was pretty good, but there was a big volume drop. I might see if I can put some kind of simple, switchable mod in there to push it more toward fuzzrite territory since they're the same circuit for the most part.

FY-1
This one is not for the faint of heart, it's really bright and the tone switch makes it even brighter.
For now I can't make it work in my setup but I'll try and have another go with it later.

This was always the tricky one. From the feedback I've been getting, it seems way more suited to bass, and the 'filter' switch is fairly useless, and can potentially pick up French radio. The reason I put that in is that it had the same effect as the Os Mutantes filter switch, although I actually preferred it with this circuit for sitar-like tones if you play close to your bridge.

I'd love to hear your takes on a Tonebender MKI, Germ Pep Box and Germ Fuzzrite too should you ever decide to make some.

I tried to make a germ pep box a long time ago, but couldn't get it to work and totally forgot about it, but will try again, although I'd have to come up with some extra mods as I don't want to tread on Ghost Effects toes, as he builds the Silicon Pep Box -which is great-.

I don't think I'll try to tackle the Mk1 as there are way more established builders out there (especially here in the UK) who really nail that sound, and my aim is just to have a line up of just a few fuzz circuits that aren't necessarily very common. Plus I don't have the knowledge or resources to track down the necessary mojo transistors.

Hopefully, if I can get some money together I'll have a proper line up by the end of the year. Other than these three, I've been working on one of my favourite fuzz circuits, the FY-2 "companion" fuzz, and have come up with some simple mods that I'm happy with, and one more that I need to try at some point. I also have a mids boost based on the Alembic boost that's most commonly known for being installed in Strats. I've also finally got round to building myself my other favourite fuzz, the FY-6 super-fuzz, and will most likely add that to the line up, but Ideally I need to sort out a toggle switch for the 'octave' parts of the fuzz to make it sound a little better with bass.

[alalalkasar]

Well I was pretty close to France at the time

[ProCarsteNation]

Got it! Love it!

First & Second impressions:

Maypole
is my immediate favorite, for it brings the low end and the gain, my sweetspots for bias seem to be around both extremes

Orpheum
oooh this one growing on me, especially since the tone control offers so many sounds that i like for different reason/applications,
it could easily have two tone-knobs and a footswitch to A/B them..... I sometimes wish for more gain, most of the time I love
it precisely for its lower gainy crunch

FY1
Holy Cow! Say wha? Can't hear you cause my ears are bleeding.....
I'll admit I accidently had the bass contour rolled off on the guitar the first time I tried FY1, but when I thought "Ah! That's why..."
No. This pedal makes you go ouch even at lower amp volumes. It also steals quite some low end so I discarded it for bass,
but I now read this rocks so I'll have to try that...
So far I wish this pedal did its magic like an octave lower, especially since it does wonderful squealy things
when you play with your tone knob. Hope I phrased that correctly...



I wish I had time for more review/demo (or be surer I'm even capable of cobbling together a demo that's worthy of these pedals ) but I'm getting ready to go visit the grandma with my daughter for a week or so. While snufkino generously granted me a couple of days to play again after I return, I know some of you are waiting for these goodies, so if whoever is next is desperate for more FUZZZ or in a better Time/Space to dig into this trifecta:

lemme know, I'll do my best to mail it before I take off....

[Snufkino]

No hurry to get it back, as you were the last participant on the UK/EU list

So with that said, if anyone in the USA is still interested, then just drop a reply here.

Also, how long does it take on average to post across mainland USA via courier? Just a few days? A week? I think it'd be best to do this one according to locations.

[resincum]

I've received stuff 1-2 weeks from over yonder.

[ProCarsteNation]

Little update:

FY1:

Wish I would have been able to try it out in a band context.
Home alone it was just too bright, in a mix it might be just the secret weapon you're looking for.

My bass is really crap, so I wouldn't entirely blame it on the pedal that they didn't get along.

Baritone: AHA! That for me is the sweetspot of this contraption. you get a pleasantly cutting, hot & raunchy sound, kinda like a fixed wah fuzz.



Other news:
Package gets posted today

[Snufkino]

Received, along with the Haribo

So before I get too lazy, let's start the USA tourbox.

List so far is:

DoS
jwar
echroaven
resincum
Strange Tales
BoatRich
ThurberMingus
Inconuucl


Post or PM me by Sunday 13th Sept if you're interested in taking part.

Only two rules:
1) You have the box for 3-4 days, but that's not set in stone.
2) Send the box onto the next person via tracked courier


Probably best to organise this from East to West?

[Snufkino]

Last chance.

[ThurberMingus]

So it showed up today in the US!

Well kinda, I have to pick it up at the PO tomorrow.

I have a show coming up on Sunday, do the further recipients mind if I keep it around until then? I really want to see how these tastey fuzzes will fare with my band. Plus I'm off on Monday so I can ship it off right away!

[Snufkino]

Cool. I was just about to PM you to see if it had arrived by now.

[D.o.S.]

Doesn't matter to me: I'm at the end of the line tho, so.