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Hey folks!

Andy and I have been working on the Guyatone Fuzz Monster. I did a thread on some of the Guyatone FLIP series pedals a few weeks back at diysb, and one by one, we'll dissect them, and post the traces as we go. I have a Fuzz Monster, and Hell Monster on hand, and a Funky Box on the way from Japan. I'll be cracking them open as we go down this FLIP'd journey (pardon the pun ).

For now, here is the schematic, courtesy of UKToecutter (Andy);



Please note that the power section has been modified for AC power. Normally, these pedals use a 12VDC wall wart, but I found that even the Guyatone branded wall warts are noisy, especially at high fuzz levels. They are crap, but, by adding a AC to DC scheme directly to a potential clone PCB (see Buy/Sell/Trade section), the noise can be pretty well killed. As for the balance of the schematic, I've gone over it with a fine tooth comb, and it matches the unit.

Go forth, and profuzzinate. )

Good shit! the flip td-x is my all time favourite delay, and it gets no love!

If you have any thoughts on how I can mod it for tails I'd love to hear them!

Boxbie wrote:Good shit! the flip td-x is my all time favourite delay, and it gets no love!

If you have any thoughts on how I can mod it for tails I'd love to hear them!

Would need the schematic for that. I believe that someone at diysb has one though, maybe we'll be able to get it traced as some point.

What is the fuzz similar to sonically?
Judging by the schematic, it seems almost over complicated for the sound in your videos!

Do you think the tube was a marketing gimmick or actually serving it's purpose.
I feel that this range of pedals could potentially have been built on the idea that "everyone loves tubes…so why don't we…"
You know?

Very interested in it however!

wildebelor wrote:What is the fuzz similar to sonically?
Judging by the schematic, it seems almost over complicated for the sound in your videos!

Do you think the tube was a marketing gimmick or actually serving it's purpose.
I feel that this range of pedals could potentially have been built on the idea that "everyone loves tubes…so why don't we…"
You know?

Very interested in it however!

Gimmick? Probably. Over complicated? Absolutely! But you know, that's why it's interesting. It would not surprise me if marketing adventures like this was what drove Tokyo Sound under. It's for these reasons that these pedal attract me. They are (or soon to be) pieces of history, and I feel that it's important to catalog them for the diy'er. Remember the Honey Special Fuzz? 13 transistors of pseudo Superfuzz autowah goodness? Only produced between 1967 and 1969, and could have easily slipped into obscurity, but through dogged work, it lives today...






As far as I'm concerned, the industry has created some pretty spectacular analog effects, some of which failed before they even got off the ground. But, at some point, they come back, and then we all sit here wondering, "How the hell does he get that tone?".

Remember the Burns Buzzaround? WEM Project V? Hell, Ludwig Phase II?

That's why I find these interesting. It's the whole purpose of "The Hen's Tooth Café".

wildebelor wrote:What is the fuzz similar to sonically?
Judging by the schematic, it seems almost over complicated for the sound in your videos!
Do you think the tube was a marketing gimmick or actually serving it's purpose.
I feel that this range of pedals could potentially have been built on the idea that "everyone loves tubes…so why don't we…"
You know?
Very interested in it however!

The active tone controls work really well, and I don't think the lows come through in the video. I feel sick some times after playing mine with the bass boosted

bass boost that makes you sick?
now I gotsta build it haha

I definitely understand the intrigue with these pedals, I was just trying to get a grasp as to why the tube was used and ascertain what type of fuzz it sounds like

Alright, I think this is too complicated to ever clone, but I'd still like tails! PM me if you want hi res photos of any of these.

And a few more…

wildebelor wrote:bass boost that makes you sick? now I gotsta build it haha

It's not in your face like most bass heavy stuff. Almost sub style. Sits behind everything all secret agent like.

Jero wrote: It's not in your face like most bass heavy stuff. Almost sub style. Sits behind everything all secret agent like.

EXACTLY what I like to hear…. feel…. hear!

Jero wrote:

wildebelor wrote:bass boost that makes you sick? now I gotsta build it haha

It's not in your face like most bass heavy stuff. Almost sub style. Sits behind everything all secret agent like.

Yes, I concur. Apparent, but not obnoxious. With a little delay behind it as well, the churning is relentless.

Fuzz Monster PCB's are now for sale in the buy/sell section.