Adjustable but not too modernized—a vintage-style 2-transistor fuzz with
extra controls and tweaks to let you recreate oodles of classic fuzz
sounds with minimum hassle
The Skreddy Pedals™ BC109 FUZZ is made from
silicon transistors for power and temperature stability, but it's darkened
so you can get germanium-ish effects out of it too.
The 2 transistors are piggybacked for better tone (smoother, lower noise
than single transistors), giving this circuit 4 transistors total.
The extra controls let you emulate different classic fuzz tones from the 60's
and early 70's along with improvements for some of
the issues those early fuzzes had (noise reduction, adjustable tone, and
input impedance selector switch). Can get frazzly or smooth, bright or
dark.
* The names "Tone Bender" and "Fuzz Face" belong to their
respective owners and are only used here as comparisons; Skreddy Pedals is
not affiliated with these products or trademarks.
About the name BC109 FUZZ:
It refers to the part number
of the transistors used and is certainly not a unique moniker. In fact it's
so generic it cannot be used as a trademark; that would be like claiming to
own the terms "V8" or "327" as the name of an automobile model. There are other
products already out there using "BC109" as their name or part of their name
(I know of at least 3 others, not to mention several other products named "BC108").
If you want to use the transistor part designation of your fuzz as its name
too, nobody's gonna stop ya. Or you could think up a unique name.
Either way is fine with me.
deposit: $97.50
We'll invoice you for the balance
including the shipping cost
upon completion
California customers
will have tax added at
check-out.
Allow about 2 months for us to get through
our list and make your pedal.
If I don't answer an email, please re-send it in
case I missed it. We are busier now than ever.
Classic Fuzz
Tones
From thin and buzzy to
clear and cutting to rich and thick and syrupy
Selectable input
resistance lets it work great with humbuckers and get along
with other effects too
Stable at all
temperatures but very sensitive to guitar volume knob changes
Just leave the
fuzz knob cranked or backed down a touch
True bypass, LED,
standard 9v power jack
US orders will be sent via USPS Priority Mail (signature
required).
International orders will be sent USPS Global Priority (where
available).
We will not declare your package at a lower value for customs;
be prepared to pay your country's import duty when you receive
the package.
Skreddy BC109 FUZZ settings suggestions
Notes:
To get lower-gain, overdrivey sounds (like some
germanium-equipped fuzzes), just set the impedance selector to "HB".
Volume stays at unity gain, around noon, more or less, depending on the bias setting,
which will interact with and require adjustments to the volume.
Fuzz stays either at max or backed down just a hair.
Your guitar volume will go from all-out fuzz at 10 to distortion at 9, heavy
overdrive at 8, and all the way clean down at 3 or so.
These settings were worked out
using a Stratocaster guitar.
Clock settings: 5:00 = max, 7:00 = min
*Sounds kinda like…
BIAS
VOICE
HB/SC
Eric Johnson (to emulate how he rolls off guitar
tone for smoothness)
10:00
9:00
SC
Jimi Hendrix germanium era
9:00
2:00
HB
David Gilmour "Pompei" era
9:00
MAX
SC
Jimmy Page/Yardbirds (TB Mk1.5 era) (use neck
pickup, preferably)
MIN
7:30
SC
*These names are just used for comparison purposes; no
artists have endorsed this product. Obviously your mileage may
vary.
Power
Do not share power with a daisy chain. Not because
that would fry anything, but just because this circuit is very sensitive
to ground-loop hum. In other words, it will create extra noise. It is
typical, normal negative-ground, though; no special power requirements.
9v battery is not included.
If you use a battery, then remember to un-plug the input cable from the
pedal’s input jack when not in use to prevent draining (or you can also
just plug in a power-supply, which disconnects the battery).
You may supply external power through an AC adapter.
All Skreddy Pedals accept the industry-standard 9v DC plug (5.5mm barrel x
2.1mm center coax), negative tip. Please use a quality, regulated,
filtered power supply.
Controls:
VOLUME
This VOLUME control gives you a
LOT more output volume than most classic fuzzes, with unity gain around noon and plenty of boost beyond that.
BIAS
The BIAS control lets you go from
buzzy and low-fi to clear, louder, and more present. Sometimes referred
to as a "MIDS" control since it does give you more (or less) of those
too.
VOICE
The VOICE control lets you go from
bright and articulate to smooth and syrupy with that lovely
upper-harmonic emphasis you hear in classic fuzz recordings. It's really
nothing more than an extra guitar tone control. This fuzz sounds so
sweet with the tone rolled down that you will love having this dedicated
control right where it's at, freeing up the guitar knobs for all your
other applications.
FUZZ
The FUZZ knob is the control that
sets the gain for this whole thing. Most fuzzes of this type sound best
with the fuzz turned either all the way up or dialed back just a touch
from max.
HB / SC
The HB / SC switch adds a bit of
resistance to the input in order to keep a humbucker pickup from
swamping the circuit and causing it to have a gated attack. But it's
also useful for helping this fuzz work together with other effects (like
to keep a wah pedal from making that siren sound you get from driving it
into a vintage-style fuzz, or that extreme, trebly fuzz you get if you
use a buffered pedal in front, for example).
Sound Clips: none for now. Will wait for some good ones and post
those when I get 'em.
