Japanese Fuzzie - Crazy Tone  [schematic]

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

admin edit: see Guyatone - Crazy Face
Anyone know anything about this ?
Japanese Fuzz Face clone maybe ?

https://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Vintage-60s-F ... 7C294%3A50
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MoreCowbell
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Post by MoreCowbell »

Do a search for "Crazy Face" or "Crazy Tone".

It's a Japanese made "clone" of the FF that really isn't a "clone". Different circuit - sometimes they sound ok, but typically they suffer from poorly biased transistors and poor build quality. Most that I've seen don't have the "Fuzzie" label. They typically have been selling in the $150 - $250 range, though a few people have been asking ridiculous prices for them.

The seller states "pre Dallas-Arbiter", though it is quite doubtful that this is the case. Dallas merged with Arbiter in 67, this pedal is more likely in the 1968-1972 or so range.

IIRC, Dan N or Sir HC traced one and posted a schematic or layout somewhere - maybe at DIY.


https://cgi.ebay.com/VIntage-Crazy-Face ... 1|294%3A50
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Greg
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Post by Greg »

Great info.. thanks.
Next time I'm playing Fuzz Faces, I'll have to try one.

V Nice note decay on the one in the clip too.
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Post by MoreCowbell »

Greg_G wrote:Great info.. thanks.
Next time I'm playing Fuzz Faces, I'll have to try one.

V Nice note decay on the one in the clip too.
The one in the clip is rare in that it sounds great. Most of them sound farty, misbiased, and nasty...and not necessarily in a "good" way. :lol:

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Post by jrod »

That one does sound really good! What do ya'll think? It's just biased well?

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Post by Dan N »

I drew that schematic based on this layout of the one I have (yellow lines connect pads):

http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/crazytone/cftop.gif

It still makes no sense to me. What can the second transistor do if the signal leaves the circuit before running into it? But, that's how mine is... Weird.
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Greg
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Post by Greg »

Dan N wrote:I drew that schematic based on this layout of the one I have (yellow lines connect pads):

http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/crazytone/cftop.gif

It still makes no sense to me. What can the second transistor do if the signal leaves the circuit before running into it? But, that's how mine is... Weird.
You drew the schematic that MoreCowbell posted above ?

There's feedback from Q2 to Q1, so I guess that's how it plays a part.
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Post by JoeRimicci »

I have one of these and its dead. I cant find any schematics or even a brand name for researching.

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Post by Manfred »

JoeRimicci wrote:I have one of these and its dead. I cant find any schematics or even a brand name for researching.
Take photos of both sides of the PCB and give us the values of the components so we can trace the circuit.

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