As promised, here are the project files for DIY Club Project #2: the bitchin’ Bulk Fuzz.
This nasty little fuzz bomb is fun to build and fun to play. Audition it here.
The project uses the same techniques introduced in Project #1, so if you survived that one, this should be smooth sailing. It’s also a great jumping-off point for custom designs, which you’ll get to explore in the course of the project. Bon Appétit!
Joe,
Was the intention for us to build version 2, as shown in your instructions? You had us order enclosures set up for 2 knobs/toggles and 1 LED.
I’m sure that’ll be fine. I guess I can’t drill another hole without a drill press, huh?
Excellent question! If you have a box drilled for only two holes and don’t want to add another, I’d say breadboard the circuit and decide which two knobs you want. If I were going to build a two-knob version, I’d probably dial in my favorite inout capacitor sound (which for me is about a .15uF) and omit the tone control.
FYI, Project #1 as I presented it calls for two knobs and an LED. Project #2 can be one, two, or three knobs plus LED. Project #3 calls for one knob, a switch, and an LED, which means a two-knob-plus-LED box (the switch goes in one of the knob holes).
You can totally drill the holes by hand if you have a large enough drill bit. It’s a little more work, obviously, but these enclosures are actually pretty soft.
Yeah, I thought that Gain and Volume would be the essentials, but I think I’ll try to drill another hole, so I can have the Tone as well.
So yeah, drilling the hole was super easy. For some reason, I thought a drill press, or a special bit was needed.
Can ya tell I’m not handy? I don’t even know how to use half of the tools I have. 😛
That’s not bad — I think I drilled my first enclosure with a dull steak knife. 😉
This is one of the best DIY instructions I’ve found on the web for a DIY fuzz pedal, and the theory therein. Very well done. Thanks.
The sound on project 2 actually turned out better than expected. This time the highest gain transistor was the best for me. The lows are awesome and the variation in tone and gain is huge. I also just finished the boost breadboard. Very nice.
“Better than expected?” What? You didn’t trust me? 😉
Good god, man….I finally got my hands on a pair of 5089’s.
This thing is a freight train…and such an easy build.
Keep em’ coming Joe.
Cool! 5089s are hot little transistors — WAY hotter than 5088s. Look both ways before you cross the tracks! 🙂
So, I’ve got the project breadboarded and am really digging it but I’m getting a bunch of radio noise and when I turn my guitar to “0” I get ground hum. Any ideas what that could be? I pulled it apart and re-breadboarded it and that didn’t help. It could be cables I suppose, but I don’t have the problem when I bypass the circuit. Is it a natural occurrence of the fuzz circuite?
Not sure if it’s related, but…I sometimes encounter that exact problem at my workbench when my breadboard is connected to an AC adapter. I’m not smart enough to explain why.
Do you encounter the same thing when running on a 9v battery? And did you mod any of the component values so they’re different than in the original?
I’ve only run it from a 9v battery and I ran the original version and modded a bunch. I’ve had the grounding problems the whole way. When I touch my cable ends the noise gets quieter. I think I’m just going to build the circuit on a pcb and see if it continues…
Here is a link to my version breadboarded. I’ve been able to make it quieter but I love how tight it is. Keep in mind, I recorded this with my iPhone… https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150605433731063
Hey I see you added a 2m resistor on this to keep foot switch pop down, but its not clear to me where to add the resistor on the perfboard should one end go to the input wire and cap and the other end go to ground bus? Sorry for such a noob question but im just new to all this, I really like the sound of the fuzz though. Basicly im learning all the techniques of making a pedal just so I can make this one. I want to make a 1 knob one and a three knob one, im going to start with the 1 knob first and see how well it goes.
Hi, this looks like a great pedal. This will be my first pedal and I can’t wait to give it a try. I couldn’t find a parts list like the one in the first DIY project. Did I just miss it? Can the tones on the simple pedal (1st version) be reproduced by the 2nd and 3rd versions?
Hi Matthew! Sorry, I didn’t yet get it together to create a handy part list for this project. But if you read through the PDF, it’ll be clear what you need. And yes — all the version 1 sounds are available from all there versions — just not vice-versa.
I could really use some part numbers for these pieces, so many different ones to choose from! Ie;, capacitors and pots have a huge variety listed on digi key.
I could really use some part numbers for these pieces, so many different ones to choose from! Ie;, capacitors and pots have a huge variety listed on digi key.
Any help appreciated