Astrotone Fuzz [schematic]

[modman]

Greetings to you all;

Haven't seen this one around, also, there's not much information on the web. A friend got one used in really good shape, despite being such an old unit.

Anyway, my friend let me take a look inside, I traced it and made a layout, nobody has verified none of them, but I'm pretty sure both are allright.

I guess it's a silicon based fuzz, because I don't know the transistors and don't know the clipping diodes neither. The tone control is really weird.

It's a nice sounding effect, It might be a little brittle and thin on some amps; A strat plugged into it and then into a Blues Jr. amp sounded pretty good to me, nice subtle fuzz, gives a nice crunch when playing rythm.

Regarding the layout Transfer, I couldn't scale it properly, if I reduced its size, then the image would distort, so, sorry for that inconvenience.

Hope you like it.

[gurishka]

Here are the unit's photographs

[modman]

Wow, nice job!
Thanks for contributing!

modman

[gurishka]

Wow, nice job!
Thanks for contributing!

modman

Thanks to you Modman, for such a great forum.

[MoreCowbell]

Greetings to you all;

Haven't seen this one around, also, there's not much information on the web. A friend got one used in really good shape, despite being such an old unit.

Anyway, my friend let me take a look inside, I traced it and made a layout, nobody has verified none of them, but I'm pretty sure both are allright.

I guess it's a silicon based fuzz, because I don't know the transistors and don't know the clipping diodes neither. The tone control is really weird.

It's a nice sounding effect, It might be a little brittle and thin on some amps; A strat plugged into it and then into a Blues Jr. amp sounded pretty good to me, nice subtle fuzz, gives a nice crunch when playing rythm.

Regarding the layout Transfer, I couldn't scale it properly, if I reduced its size, then the image would distort, so, sorry for that inconvenience.

Hope you like it.

Thanks !

Notice any similarities ?

[Fuzzer]

Oh, shit,

Well, at least my schem has colors on it.

But, honestly, this seemed such a unique creature I thought it hadn't even been copied.

Morecowbell, I got my hands on an old (really old) Electro harmonix Fuzz-wah, and I also haven't found anything on it, is it worth tracing?, I don't know, maybe you or someone else around here already has it or a similar one. Thanks in advance.

[MoreCowbell]

Oh, shit,

Well, at least my schem has colors on it.

But, honestly, this seemed such a unique creature I thought it hadn't even been copied.

We've all been there ! Still, it's important to have "confirmation" to the "rumour" that the two were the same pedals.

Morecowbell, I got my hands on an old (really old) Electro harmonix Fuzz-wah, and I also haven't found anything on it, is it worth tracing?, I don't know, maybe you or someone else around here already has it or a similar one. Thanks in advance.

Of course you KNOW I'm going to say "yeah it's worth it"...But...you may want to post a few pictures and see if AG, Dirk, JHS or one of the other guys has already reversed it.

Unless of course it;'s this one...

[Fuzzer]

Yes man, thank you very much, is pretty much the same, the wah part is identical.

There are some differences in the fuzz circuit though, according to my drawing, (I'll post the gutshots later anyway, it's always nice to see effects innards ), the input cap is .047u, and in the second feedback loop, the clipping diodes are shunted with a 470k resistor and a 0.1[nF] cap, maybe to tame the highs a little, I guess. Also, some of the 680k resistors are 1M in the one I had.

By the way, have you heard it in action?, the wah sounds great to me, really raw and angry, I like that, and the reverse mode is pretty interesting. It's a uncomfortable pedal though, you'll see when I post the pics in other thread.

Thanks again.

[MoreCowbell]

Yes man, thank you very much, is pretty much the same, the wah part is identical.

There are some differences in the fuzz circuit though, according to my drawing, (I'll post the gutshots later anyway, it's always nice to see effects innards ), the input cap is .047u, and in the second feedback loop, the clipping diodes are shunted with a 470k resistor and a 0.1[nF] cap, maybe to tame the highs a little, I guess. Also, some of the 680k resistors are 1M in the one I had.

By the way, have you heard it in action?, the wah sounds great to me, really raw and angry, I like that, and the reverse mode is pretty interesting. It's a uncomfortable pedal though, you'll see when I post the pics in other thread.

Thanks again.

The 470k that parallels the clipping diodes in the feedback loop is there to help keep the fuzz from "gating".

Value changes were VERY common for EH in those days

I'd LOVE to see pictures...though you should probably post them in a new thread.

Thanks man...sounds like you have some cool toys !

[teleman]

That fuzz is one of the "Hen's Teeth" in the Analog Man(can I say that here?...) Book. As in "rare as hen's teeth." Thanks for sharing with us!

[Fuzzer]

Well, guess what, my friend was going to sell it to whom you call 'the king of solder Jockeys', and as far as I know, finally he didn't. Instead he soldt it in some kind of vintage gear shop, got $350 for it. Blatant Rip-off.

When I think of it as a guitar aficionado, it's a good deal, but, having second thoughts, he could've sold it for much, much more, taking in account that in the U.S. there are those vintage freaks who will pay anything just beacuse its old, and it looks good.

By the way teleman, do you have the book? Maybe you could scan that part, thanks in advance, and anyway, thanks for the info. Man, I should've taken a picture of me with that fuckin' box, smilin' big. . Maybe that would turn me into some kind of demigod among vintage geeks.

[bajaman]

Hello Fuzzer
Great to see a noobie posting - great work with the artwork and schematics etc. Thanks for being part of our sharing community and welcome to Freestompboxes.org - the best DIY resource site on the planet.
Cheers
bajaman

[Fuzzer]

Hey Bajaman, thank you very much, just plannig to contribute every bit I can.

[seniorLoco]

that 100k at the clipping diode section is a actually a 100pf cap.... i just wrote the actual marking found on the cap

Cheers fellas

[JHS]

Muff-Fuzz Part values and circuit layout can differ a bit (EH adapted values to the actual used IC ).
JHS

[RnFR]

extremely hi res pics of the Sam Ash fuzz box here-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270309076752

so clear you can smell it!

[Fuzzer]

I think you can smell the price too.

[RnFR]

oh, shit. i didn't even look at the price!

[analogguru]

Oh, they price is already reduced, was on Oct 05, 2008 at $ 3.400,--

analogguru

[Fuzzer]

Man, if my friend, (the one that lent me the astrotone for tracing) sees this, and sees it get sold at this price, he's gonna kick his own balls, repeatedly. As far as I know, he sold it for 350 dollars... I wouldn't pay more than 200 for it, anyway, it had a cool sound, but nothing excellent.


I had written the price earlier in the thread.