Univox - Superfuzz  [schematic]

Discussion regarding early stompbox technology: 1960-1975 Please keep discussion focused and contribute what info you have...
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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

haha, it's Mike, but glad you have it working anyway, always a satisfying feeling!

From looking at other Octave Fuzzes like the Foxx Tone Machine, I would suspect that it is the Q3 emitter path 10uF 470 junction you want to break to cut the Octave effect.

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Solidhex
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Post by Solidhex »

Hmm

Wonder if sticking a pot in there and putting in some series resistance would let you blend in the octave. The usual 10k octave balancing trimpot does it a little...

--Brad

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salocin
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Post by salocin »

Thanks for the layout Mike. Just got mine finished and it's great!

Here's how it came out:
Image

Unfortunately it's for someone else so will be building another for myself straight away.

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Wicked, always great to see when people use the layout. That's a great looking pedal.

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metulmykul
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Post by metulmykul »

Finally got one of these together on the weekend.

Many thanks to ShortScaleMike for his layout and all who had input on it.

I can say that this build is a whole lot better to my ears than the Leeds Fuzz kit that i built. Both use 2SC828s but this has an unadulterated rawness that leaves the BYOC somewhat sterile in comparison.

How a fuzz should be in my opinion :twisted:

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Nice to hear, good stuff!

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theblackman
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Post by theblackman »

this is a great sounding fuzz, i was bashing out some riffage through my octane 3 yesterday which is the same circuit AFAIK

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Nikifena
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Post by Nikifena »

I make this pedal maybe before more than 5 years.
Here is it:
Image

It's good pedal, but right now I preffer to use a few schottky diodes instead normal 4148 diodes.

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MJS11
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Post by MJS11 »

I am new to this and was wondering if anyone can help with a wiring diagram for the layout posted here?

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Post by modman »

This one contains wiring information, else you should check the schematic on the first page
viewtopic.php?p=37093#p37093
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Caillan
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Post by Caillan »

I have tried to add a DC jack to plug into an adaptor, now my fuzz keeps dieing! I have traced the problem to something going wrong in the pots, so I replace them and they work for a while then something happens and they die again... any ideas as to what I might have done wrong??? I'm completely stumped!!

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Solidhex
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Post by Solidhex »

Yo

You most likely wired it wrong...
Its interesting the amount of components for the Superfuzz. Lots of transistors for a fuzz. I think the fuzz and octave seem to have a richer, deeper tone to it than most diode clipping octave fuzzes. Is that second transistor really needed at all. The buffer after the first stage?

--Brad

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salocin
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Post by salocin »

Caillan wrote:I have tried to add a DC jack to plug into an adaptor, now my fuzz keeps dieing! I have traced the problem to something going wrong in the pots, so I replace them and they work for a while then something happens and they die again... any ideas as to what I might have done wrong??? I'm completely stumped!!
I had a similar problem. It would work for a minute or two and then slowly die over about 30-40seconds. Turned out I had accidentally cut a track which, from memory, was just after a cap around q2.
I also had problems with a bad solder joint on one of the pots so check them too (even if they look fine!)

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Caillan
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Post by Caillan »

Yeah, I had built a working circuit from an etched PCB, but of course I felt the need to add a few little modifications (DC jack, power starve pot...) and (typically) now I've ruined everything!! I am pretty sure its a power source issue, my DC jack is wired as such..
Image
Please let me know if I have done this wrong, it's the first time I have tried adding a DC jack so frankly I'm just taking stabs in the dark!

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

switch the 9v battery and 9v circuit connections and you're golden.

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Caillan
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Post by Caillan »

Argh, still nothing.. I did a bit of probing with my handy ol multimeter and found that there is absolutely no current running through the pots, ideas??

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devastator
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Post by devastator »

Hi,

Anyone tried to change the tone switch to a potentiometer like zvex did on his Octane 3 ? That can allow more sound possibilities.

I saw a lot of fuzz pedals use this tonestack.

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Don't measure current. Measure voltage and start with the places you're expecting to see +9V, ground, and bias (on the transistors).

Debugging can be frustrating but it is actually very simple. Check everything methodically and you will find the problem. Presume nothing. Verify everything.

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skumberg
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Post by skumberg »

ShortScaleMike wrote:Thanks for teh corrections Graeme, this is now a verfied layout:
Image
Hello Mike, I've been looking for a SF layout and was thinking about building yours, after looking att schematics shouldn't there be a 100k to ground at the output?

Would an external 10k pot be useful to balance Q4 and Q5 or is that a set and forget thing? I see you have used the schematic whitout the 10k trim found on some schematics so maybe somebody else knows?

Nicklas

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Obviously we are looking at different schematics. My layout is accurate for the one I used.

There were multiple variations of this thing by various different companies.

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