FuzzBurner

[jojokeo]

I thought I'd share the outcome of a fuzz box I've developed over the last several months. It was created after a lot of research reading up on old fuzzy circuits and listening to many vintage models via youtube and other sites and finding what I liked & wanted, especially after getting it up and running with many tweaks & changes to the original circuit as it originally began based on the three tranny Tone Bender II circuit. But I changed it lot even using some amp design ideas as well as auditioning many different combinations of vintage trannies to dial it in to it's current state that I feel performs and sounds the best that this circuit can offer. It's atypical sounding for a fuzz because it's very smooth and not raspy or buzzy like most. It retains the guitars natural sound and pick-up selection well and cleans up by rolling back the guitar vol. It's also touch sensitive to pick attack while the natural germanium break-up beautifully imitates that silky feel of a tube amp giving up velvety harmonic content o'plenty. Yet it can be minimized to the point that it can even be used as a normal boost just above unity gain. It's quite versatile and can't keep from playing without it the last couple of months. The controls are very interactive so there's much experimentation fun utilizing the various settings between them. Since the germs are vintage PNP types it has a negative voltage (charge pump) circuit which allows it to be used on all normal negative tip pedal boards. The graphic is made as a tribute to the Stones and their 50th anniversary tour.

[Ed_Chambley]

Way cool.  What you charging?

[jojokeo]

Normally $160 +shipping but I'm offering a discount for Hoffman friends. Please PM me if interested?

[Ritchie200]

Ok, I'll go ahead and put up for shipping, but that thing is priced $161.00 too high!!!  I mean come on! 

Sound clips?????????????????????????????????????  Any recordings??????????????????????????  Hello?  Bueller?

Live like Jay brother!
Yer BEST pal,
Jim

[jojokeo]

Ok, I'll go ahead and put up for shipping, but that thing is priced $161.00 too high!!!  I mean come on! 

Crikey that's only gas money and a car wash for your red racing toy, hard guy! Now I know how you afford such extravagances! ;) However, u must understand and consider how it goes for the common dude that can't get the product's parts in gigantic bulk amounts and built in China for chicken feed, err rice grains. U know I do it out of love and passion as any money brought in from playin' or makin' goes back into recouping outflow or feedin' the kitty for more of the same. I appreciate why the booteek guys charge what they do and I may have to edge up higher someday too? In the meanwhile I'm keepin' it real and many thanks you red hot rippin' shredder (I mean the surfin' not the playin')  btw, hope that flesh wound is doin' better? 

[Ritchie200]

Wow!  You must be feeling REAL guilty with a War and Peace response like that!  yeah...extravagance like a plastic pig?  Pot calling the kettle...

You realize that was just payback for your, "Your best playing was at 7min and 30 sec" when the song was only 7min long!

Toe has lost the beautiful sunset red/purple/black look.  Glad there was no video.  That would have been bad....

Seriously, can you post some clips or even better u-toob?

Thanks buddy....I think?
Jim

[Ritchie200]

By the way....  Have not received any "competition" pictures from you since last year.  You owe me for those horrible comments you made about me!  I will judge the photos and decide if I forgive you!

Jim

[jojokeo]

I make love not war    - YOU got me thinking of War Pigs:
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction...

...trying to think back if any wave watchers just might have 'accidentally' got in the way? I really think they're going Brazilian mode pretty soon? (won't complain either)

hmm, I DL'd your tune onto my desktop and on my 'puter it goes 'till 8:05. The Trower solo & song fades at the 7:30 mark then you are playing solo onward w/out music until it stops at the 8:05 mark. That must be hidden track bonus footage then? (thinking must've been the kitty moment?)
Thanks, now I've got 'kat' on my mind (as always) 

I'll try to get something going even if it's just a basic demo thing. I was thinking Pete (Thorn) or Gearmandude would be great (and unbiased too)? Andy at PGS is also cool. Hell fuzzboxgirl would be apropos and is always fun! Ever heard of her? But they're usually busy so you might just have to settle. Better soundwise would be to just mike it and throw onto Soundcloud or Soundclick but it's no fun w/out watching the knobs turn to see what's going on with the sound.

[Ritchie200]

The Trower solo & song fades at the 7:30 mark then you are playing solo onward w/out music until it stops at the 8:05 mark. That must be hidden track bonus footage then? (thinking must've been the kitty moment?)

Yeah, that was for EL34 - my pathetic attempt at Machine Gun...  Actually...........it IS a hidden secret track bonus!  If you play it backwards it is the sound of the devil!  It will sound like a TELE!!!!!!

Jeeembob
I wanna be Laird when I grow up 

[Ritchie200]

BTW...  Since you downloaded my copyrighted song, you owe me my RIAA proceeds.  I think you have listened to it at least twice, so I will cut you a deal - in case it was, in fact, more.  At $5K per play, I'll let you off with an even 10 grand.  But this is a one time deal.  You will be required to let me know each time you listen to it, so I can send you a new bill.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Yer pal,
Jim

[jojokeo]

Alrighty there funny man...  I forgot to get Trower or Richie in my demo :( but at least I did get 'r dun. Boy recording time goes FAST! And too much yapping but it had to be I suppose? Had to think of people seeing it for the first time that haven't a clue what it is. I only spent about 10 minutes on it so it'll have to do. Peace!
jojodancer

http://youtu.be/7IxjpkafEUo

[SILVERGUN]

Great demo jojo,,,,, way to cover all the bases.....
I love the fact that it makes you laugh as your turning the knobs @ 3:43 and the sustain jumps to feedback  

I also like that the guitar's personality is never lost  

Fuzzbox Girl aint got nuthin on you......well,,, almost nuthin  

[jojokeo]

I also like that the guitar's personality is never lost 

Thanks SG, FB-girl is awesome. She's a girlie girl in a manly man's world & can play too! Need more like her.

I could've used a LP or a strat w/ normal pickups but instead used one w/ DiMarzio anniv PAFs trying to cover a bit of both at the same time. The strat sound shines through better and the LP could've been better too? I got GMD primed & ready but don't have anything to send him at the moment.

[Ritchie200]

JoJo,
That is really cool!  Too bad I had to wait until the 8:00 mark to really hear you play!

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

Joe,
The pedal is very cool.  I am covered in fuzz.  Really I have a Keeley Fuzz Head and an original Big Muff which if David Gilmore never used one they would have made a great door stop if you filled them with pennies.

 Are you familiar with the Mad Professor Sweet Honey and can you Build one?  If you can get out of the fuzzy underworld long enough.  That is about the only pedal I would add to my board or need to.

[jojokeo]

That is really cool!  Too bad I had to wait until the 8:00 mark to really hear you play!

...my one gig card puts a limit on me  

Are you familiar with the Mad Professor Sweet Honey and can you Build one?

you bet, this is it essentially but with some fine tuning adjustments: http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=14225.msg134032#msg134032

[smackoj]

very nice Jojo....excellent effects without noise and mud...that pedal is a winner fo sho! Your knowledge and persistence are definitely visible and the product is quite an accomplishment.

If you don't mind my taking a little liberty?  I'd call it "The Smoozzee"  aka Smooth Fuzz

 

[jojokeo]

Thanks OJ!

[smackoj]

I took a second listen to the demo and WOW! I am more impressed than ever. This pedal makes SO many sounds that are recognizable from
classic rock songs.....So cool Jo.   

Can it do the same sounds using a 'store bought' amp like a Blues Jr, HRDeville, China junk AC15 or equivalent?  Just curious because most guys won't have a
high quality home built amp to run it through.

OJ  (the good one, not the bad one)   

[jojokeo]

  the good one or bad one only depends on what you're referencing OJ!? But I'm pretty sure it's that infamous running back.
Yes, it's doesn't have to be a booteek amp to sound good or give those characteristics, feel, tone, and fun. I get addicted to it and can't help from switching it in all the time cause set at low gains it feels & sounds so much like nice tube overdrive not fuzzy & harsh like many others. As my luck would have it, Wampler just came out with a Velvet Fuzz and there's some others doing similar stuff now. I don't know exactly (yet) if it's using silicon or germanium but the way it's described by having two clipping circuits, it tells me that it's not germanium. Mine has no need for clipping diodes or any other typical techniques, the germs clip in pretty much the same way as tubes by biasing and running them properly.

[smackoj]

No. 32 where are you?  oops, I forgot, you're in prison man!

do you run the bias 'hotter' on germs to get the tube OD sound?

hasta la vista,  OJ

[jojokeo]

Haven't seen this in a while sorry. No, "center" biased. Anywhere near -6.5 to -7.1 or so is fine. If you switch out trannies & measure this will go up and down accordingly to their gain (and/or leakage amount).

[smackoj]

roger that jojo

 

[jojokeo]

update: I was able to acquire more trannies so if interested PM me. All Hoffman members will also get a discount while supplies (and I) last.    All pedals are built one at a time by me only.

[jojokeo]

While recently making some more of these I made another quick file that sounds more realistic:
https://soundcloud.com/jojokeo/fuzzburner
Joe

Also, there's been a few small revisions where there's no longer a separate daughter board, added a zener diode to protect the charge pump chip, Cliff jacks, etc...

[SILVERGUN]

Nice Jo...
 
Glad I held out til the last second to hear that harmonic 'take off' 
 
Good to see what you're up to!

[jojokeo]

Ha! Thanks SG. That's a good way to describe it. Amp was only at talking/bedroom volume so as not to mess with the iPhone's input mic too much therefore the OD was all germanium sweetness.

[jojokeo]

Big tranny purchase made and pedals are available once again if anyone is interested, just PM me please.

[jojokeo]

Nice demo link by purpletele: