GAF Fuzz

[SpiderWars]

I’ve had this enclosure and most of the parts including the NOS GE 2N508 germanium transistors for a very long time and decided to build a fuzz. I modded a red Fuzz Face way back then and had parts leftover. I found a bunch of NOS transistors at a military parts surplus store around 20 years ago.

I basically just needed a circuit board. The thru holes in this one were tiny. I did not think I would get it all in there. I used sockets for the transistors so I can try different combinations. I plan to build a silicon BC183 into an old failed pedal enclosure at some point. I don’t use fuzz much, just for fun.

 

[Ben Waylin]

That looks like 600V wire - the kind you'd use inside an amp.

 

[SpiderWars]

That looks like 600V wire - the kind you'd use inside an amp.

Yes, I just used red wire from Marshall builds. The inner wire filled up those big holes for the pots/switch better and it was just easier to use than any other wire I have.

 

[Ben Waylin]

Yes, I just used red wire from Marshall builds. The inner wire filled up those big holes for the pots/switch better and it was just easier to use than any other wire I have.

That's cool.

I find it sometimes causes difficulty working in the small space of a pedal enclosure due to the larger size and stiffness of the wire. Also, the greater heat required to solder sometimes flows to board traces and other components causing collateral damage to plastics and insulation.

Not to mention mechanical strain on solder joints, or difficulty in even getting the back panel on without making contact with the mass of wire.

ymmv

 

[SpiderWars]

That's cool.

I find it sometimes causes difficulty working in the small space of a pedal enclosure due to the larger size and stiffness of the wire. Also, the greater heat required to solder sometimes flows to board traces and other components causing collateral damage to plastics and insulation.

Not to mention mechanical strain on solder joints, or difficulty in even getting the back panel on without making contact with the mass of wire.

ymmv

What wire do you use? I have a crapton of different wire but it's all either that type or Teflon coated which would have been a nightmare. I don't have anything smaller than 20ga. Whatever that battery clip wire is would be smaller but it seems so weak.

 

[Ben Waylin]

What wire do you use? I have a crapton of different wire but it's all either that type or Teflon coated which would have been a nightmare. I don't have anything smaller than 20ga. Whatever that battery clip wire is would be smaller but it seems so weak.

Here' the latest pedal I've built. ProCo RAT clone with a few mods.

https://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/24-pre-bond-colors-50-ft-spool/​

 

[SpiderWars]

Here' the latest pedal I've built. ProCo RAT clone with a few mods.

https://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/24-pre-bond-colors-50-ft-spool/​

That looks killer...like you actually planned it. I modded my Rat a long time ago and have no idea what I did other than adding a retina-burning blue LED but it has a really cool "EJ-in-a-box" type tone.

 

[Ben Waylin]

That looks killer...like you actually planned it. I modded my Rat a long time ago and have no idea what I did other than adding a retina-burning blue LED but it has a really cool "EJ-in-a-box" type tone.

I like buying the boards from the pedal cloners - that way you can choose your components.

I used the 8-pin DIP socket so I could easily swap chips and try all the other OP amps that will work in the RAT circuit to see which one sounded best.