one knob fuzzies

[lapsteel]

Hey
I am making a series one knob dirt pedals. So far I gots a meathead and culturejam's dead easy. So I was wondering if any of you fine peoples could point me in the direction of some interesting circuits that are, or could be made into one knobbies. The criteria is one knob, however toggles and other switches are always welcome....

[kevinhifi]

I'd take any of the popular two knob fuzzes where one is output volume. Just put in some fixed resistors to put the volume where you think it works best, and leave the gain/fuzz control as a knob.

[Chankgeez]

[Dr Satan]

Muff Fuzz or a FZ-1, for that old skool fuzz tone. I've had success with adding a MOSFET booster to a Green Ringer to give it volume control and put it on a toggle so that I could use just the MOSFET for a clean booster.

[lapsteel]

Thanks Kevinhifi, I know you know that I know you like simple killer pedals.

Chankgeez---isn't a meathead a close relative to a colorsound one knobber? I am wrong aren't I... either way I could make a meatknobber.

I was thinking maybe something like the pumpkin butter muff with a diode toggle....

[Chankgeez]

You may be right, I'm not sure. I do know D*A*M built the reissue of the Colorsound Fuzz Box though.

[Gone Fission]

Bazz Fuss and the Electra distortion circuit are worth messing with. They tend to really shine as building blocks, but of course that means they make for fun stacking.

Colorsound Fuzz and Meathead are related, as are all Fuzz Face circuits. If you want to omit either the volume or the fuzz knob, any FF variant can go one knob. Probably a better move for a two-knob than a three-knob Tonebender circuit, too, if you want to keep running with that idea.

[Nocentelli]

[Chankgeez]

Nice name for a one knobber.

[Gone Fission]

Nice name for a one knobber.

TWSS.

[Chankgeez]

[selfdestroyer]

Here is a few I can think of.

Earthquake Devices Speaker Cranker - Its an Electra Drive with an extra clipping diode and a few value changes.

and I added the Black Arts Ritual to this One Knob Fuzz vero layout. You can also use the Madbean Sprout PCB transfer as a base for all Colorsound One Knob Fuzz builds.

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/Sprout/docs/Sprout.pdf

[lapsteel]

Nocentelli --- Is this yours? Fuzzface based?

Selfdestroyer---ohhhh thank you. I could play with values to taste. Maybe a Dark Meat Ritual...

[eatyourguitar]

yes the meathead is a colorsound one knob. the meathead uses different pinout on the transistors so this may be why some people have reported the PCB's not being the same. I am designing a PCB to allow building of every fuzz face type circuit variation so you can stock up and just be impulsive with the DIY at a later date. here is a list of what I found that is similar in circuit topology.

fuzz face
muff fuzz
colorsound one knob
meathead
FY-2 (without the tone stack)

there are two ways to have a one knob pedal. do you want one sound with a volume control on the output or a dirt control that gets louder as you turn it up?

on a nazo fuzz, I think most people use them with the gain %100 anyway. try building it without the gain pot VR1 and remove the R5 15k. if you put the clipping diodes after the volume pot on the output, you will have a one knob dirt control and volume control all in one!






I never got this strip layout working so it might actually be wrong. check it against the schematic before you build it.

[lapsteel]

Nazo fuzz. NICE.

Thank you kindly for sharing. Can you swap out those NPNs for 3904s or similar? Would it become a gainny noise mess?