Tuesday 6 July 2010

Mosrite Fuzzrite

There's a few versions of this on here now, so just choose the one that best suits the components you're using.

52 comments:

  1. What are the transistors here?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Are these the same as in:
    http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2010/02/mosrite-fuzzrite.html ?

    ReplyDelete
  3. ok, why there is no 100uF and 4001?

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's just a power supply filter cap and reverse polarity protection which I don't necessarily include on all my layouts depending on whether I wanted something more compact etc. Those are always optional so if you want them then just include them between the 9V and ground rail.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh.., cool so it is like protection. I have my mammoth done and microamp half way, so just after amp I starting with this one. Is there a way to add all this switching off stuff, so if you unplug input jack it will stop drain power (I have heard they does that), and when you plug DC adapter it will cut off battery.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @marwooj - read this article - http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring/

    ReplyDelete
  7. thx LaceSensor. This is cool !!!

    Does anybody know how to make amp attenuator?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just finished this one. It worked first time out (quite a feat for me) Sounds great, thanks for the project. - Now, anything about mods?

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's satisfying when they work first time isn't it! :o) Have a look at the tagboard version of this I did a layout for:

    http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2010/02/mosrite-fuzzrite.html

    J on there mentioned a mod which he felt was needed to make it sound like an original Fuzzrite so it may be worth having a look at the discussion there, and you'll see I did a revised layout with a switchable version of the mod.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I should have used my brain and not just my eyes. I built it and could not get it to work. Hours of trouble shooting later I realised the transister pictures are backwards. Flats should go to the right. Whoops:) Now it works great and with the addition of the 22k resistor it has that true Mosrite sound. Very cool. I've socketed the transisters this time too so I can try various combos. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, I tend to ignore the real orientation of the transistor because it can change sometimes with different manufacturers, and because some of the transistors like the BC108, some older styles and germanium tend to be round of course. So I just mark the pins and leave that up to the builder depending on what he's using. Glad you got it sorted.

    ReplyDelete
  12. http://mirosol.kapsi.fi/varasto/boxes/rite70s.JPG
    +m

    ReplyDelete
  13. I used this layout last week and it's a great sounding fuzz...I've read over at FSB that changing the 2n2 caps to 22n can have a nice effect, so I might socket them next time. I tried the 22k resistor to ground, but wasn't too enamoured with it (at least, enough for the loss of volume).

    Thanks again for the layouts!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Put one together last night. I ended up replacing the 2n2s with a couple of 5n6s and have to agree that the pedal sounds better with pretty much anything above 2n2. I tried a few different values and out of what I had available, 5n6 seemed like the best balance for my set up. This one's definitely getting boxed and going on my pedal board.

    ReplyDelete
  15. 22k to ground on a switch, lpb-1 after vol, BC109s 80 hfe & 130 hfe, both pots 500k with parallel resistor to get 'em close to 350k- sounds vintage. The 22k engaged really brings out a clean signal blend. The Mosrite forum has loads of info that show the 22k and pot values.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anyone know what the 4.7uf cap on the switch does?

    ReplyDelete
  17. after building 3 completely different versions of the Mosrite Fuzzrite, this version is my favorite. I ended up modding mine quite a bit to make it more versatile yet still can get the original fuzzrite tones. I added a pre-gain, a tone control and a Jfet booster on the output to give it more level andit's an awesome pedal now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PICS:

      http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Effects/Fuzz-ODs/Mosrite/Fuzzrite-01.jpg

      http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Effects/Fuzz-ODs/Mosrite/Fuzzrite-02.jpg

      Delete
    2. I've recently built this one too and it sounds great, but my Gain only seems to start working in last rotation quarter, i made it cap switcheable, but John, I d like to know how to add this tone control and pregain, I imagine pregain will be more or less like the usual mod for the tychobrahe, anyway, would you mind sharing this with us? thanks a lot,
      Sergio

      Delete
    3. Hi Sergio,
      here's my modded layout:

      http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Effects/Fuzz-ODs/Mosrite/01-Fuzzrite_with_mods.png

      with the pregain set at the minimum, and the depth at the max, it does a really cool compressed envelope type of super punchy fuzz, and if you dial those two controls in, it'll do the Stephen Stills Buffalo Springfied attack thing.

      Delete
    4. Hi John,

      I am very interested in your layout and mods. I have built the RFNR Green Bomb which is great but now a real Fuzzrite is what I am after. With your mods, is the pregain designed to be an attenuator like rolling down the guitar volume? Also, did you try other transistors like 2N3904 or 2N2369 or 2N2222A?

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    6. I only tired 2N2926's in it since that's what the original uses (IMO, if you want the original tone then use the original transistors). and yes, the pregain is just an input attenuator.

      Delete
    7. Thanks for the info. Will build this one this week, I hope. Can you estimate the hfe for those 2N2926?

      Delete
    8. From your experience, which 2N2926 would have less noise, or sound better? The metal can ones or the black plastic?

      Delete
    9. John Kallas, I really like your design. Is the 47nF instead of 2n2 for bass guitars? Cab you get with this modification the stock sound? Will putting the 47n on a switch enable me to switch between normal and bass versions?

      Delete
    10. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    11. the 47n just allows more low end and I think that it can still get the same tone as my old original fuzzrite, but if you want to put it on a switch to make it brighter/thinner, you could do that too. I didn't care for it being that thin sounding so I didn't find it necessary. I socketed all of those caps to see what I liked best and went with the values shown on my modded vero.

      Delete
    12. Replaced my first Fuzzrite clone with your design and immediate success!!!
      Great sound! Will appear soon on my blog. Still waiting for the reversed pot. Changed the 4n7 for a 2n2 and made both options on a switch.
      2n2 will give you more sax-like tones like Sky Saxons of The Seeds with all knobs at max and Pregain slightly back. Great for guitar and Bass too. The 4n7 will give you more boos and grit when Depth is dimed.

      Noise on max settings is a bit more than what I would like to have, though.

      Super Thankx hoodoo

      Delete
    13. glad to hear that you dig it. ;-)
      I built 4 different versionsof the fuzzrite until I was happy with it, and the modded one that I posted above was the one that sounded the best to me.
      unfortunately, the noise is basically the nature of the beast.

      Delete
    14. I di it very much as I can get a lot of the sounds I was after with the various settings in this amazing circuit. I still use the Si Orpheum to get past the scope of the Fuzzrite but if you are looking for "Spirit in the Sky", "Pushing Too Hard" kind of fuzz, that will take you there.
      Two comments:
      1. The Volume pot seems to be reversed in the above layout so I reversed it and now it's like normal - dime for max.
      2. The Depth pot is a very tricky pot. it has a low, mid and high settings which change the character of the sound completely. at 12 o'clock it's not between min and max, it's different. I would name it "Character", or "Presence" or something.
      3. The 47nF really gave me a lot of lows going through so I changed it back to 2n2 which is sweet and thin and requires the "DEPTH" to be cranked. I added a 22nF (I think 10nF would be good too) on a switch in parallel to the 2n2 and now I can get both options. With the switch ON you get much stronger heavier sound and more response from the DEPTH pot.

      btw,

      Can you say which setting gave you the most authentic Fuzzrite sound?
      and what should be the pots orientation? Pregain at max should be like to attenuation, I guess, the Tone goes trebely at max, the Depth is quite different than the original fuzztone (isn't it?) and brings more body at max.

      Delete
    15. Wow, I tried 2N2926 today in my fuzzrite. This differs a lot!! Louder then the 2N2222A and 2N4401 I used before. I didn't like the leg twisting on the 2N2926s, how do you guys do this? any tricks?

      Delete
    16. Try 2N2369. Low gain but may be up your alley.

      Delete
    17. But I liked the sounds from the 2N2926 ! Only the first time I had to twist legs and I wonder if there are tricks to do this.

      Delete
  18. thank you, John, it seems a good improvement, Im gonna try as soon as possible!)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi john,
    I currently own an original mosrite fuzzrite pedal. As you may know it is meant to be powered with a 9v battery. However I would prefer to use my power supply (pedal power mondo) as I find it to be more reliable. I have tried using the 9v battery snap adaptor, and the pedal did not function properly. When I switched the effect on I got a loud buzzing sound. However when I bypassed the effect, I got my normal clean guitar tone. Would love some of your input on how to get this pedal powered with my power supply.

    Thanks,

    Ralph

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hey ralph,

      if yours is a PNP build there's a really easy way to achieve what you want. you can make a little power inverter, link below:

      http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/05/negative-voltage-inverter.html

      in all my PNP builds i add one so that i can daisy chain the effect. if yours in NPN you can just remove the battery snap, and attach the power to the power lug of a DC jack, and ground to the ground lug of the DC jack.

      Delete
  20. I think Ralph is saying he's got an original and wants to power it with a battery snap adapter. You're gonna need to figure out if it's positive or negative ground first then choose a power supply for it. Don't burn out your Fuzzrite!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Built. Such a satisfying pedal. It has the exact sound I was looking for. Used 2N2222A's. I also added a switch to toggle between 22k and 220k resistors from lug 1 of the depth pot to lug 1(ground) of the vol pot. The 22k resistor bridge is on the original pedal (not in schematic). The 220k resistor provides a low-end and gain boost when volume drops.

    ReplyDelete
  22. WHat would be the best way to make this fuzzrite more sputtery? Strave the power or control the bias?

    ReplyDelete
  23. May be the best and usefull pedal I made from here . This circuit sounds amazing , very loud and fuzzy with a little bit of octave , perfect for Robby Krieger's sound or Stooges .
    Don't hesitate to try a lot of transistors , 2N2222 as Q1 and BC109c as Q2 are great for me.
    Keep on solderin'!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try upping the two 2n2 caps for 22n. I call that a Fatrite.
      +m

      Delete
  24. I built what Mirosol calls the FatRITE (after soldering in several different values) using 2N4401's and it rules!! Thanks a ton!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. hello. my 500K and 50K pots are 420K and 45K in real. do i need to add resistors in scheme to compensate it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pots have often a quite high tolerance, even at 20%. So if the 50k is 45k in real I guess it's still ok. But the with the 500k is 420k in real it is a bit far.
      I don't know the schematic and I can't tell you the effect of a smaller value, but I think you can replace the 500k pot with another one closer to the 500k.

      Delete
  26. 7 years on, just built this and it is mad! This one is headed to California to a friend who plays in the Chocolate Watch Band. Definitely has that Ventures 'Fuzzy and Wild'/60s cycle gang/swarm of bees sound going on!

    ReplyDelete
  27. What are the transistors? Are they 2n3904?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello,
    Yes, I know this is a very old thread, but wondered if there was a schematic for this layout as it seems to be different from others I've seen and I'd like to use this as a starting point for a design.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey guys! I built this, but it seems to be very low output, and the Depth knob doesn't provide much fuzz when maxed out. Depth also seems to roll back up to max when I turn it all the way CCW.

    I used 2N222As and did the following mods which others mentioned here:

    • switch to toggle between 22k and 220k resistors from lug 1 of the depth pot to lug 1(ground) of the vol pot.

    • Changed the 4n7 for a 2n2. Put it on a switch that toggles between 2n2 and 220n.

    Any ideas?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having depth pot decreasing volume when turned clockwise suggests that there may be something wrong around Q2.

      If you mean the 47n as 2n2+220n on a switch, that could be the issue - maybe the signal isn't getting to Q2 base? You could try double checking the connections on that switch and maybe use a probe to see if there is in fact a signal on Q2 base. And Q2 collector as well. If not, then there's something wrong with signal getting on the base. Or something wrong with Q2 amplifying..
      +m

      Delete