For first-order high-pass filters, frequency rolloff begins at about 10x the -3 dB corner because it's a gradual rolloff, not a sudden sharp corner. The corner frequency just tells you what point the rolloff becomes constant at -6 dB per octave. A 64 Hz corner starts to have its effect up at about 640 Hz. It's subtle, but it's happening. Moving that corner down to 16 Hz gets that starting rolloff out of the way 2 octaves lower.
Changing to that 100nF cap still has an audible effect, even with the smaller pot. Subtle but audible.
I've decided that I don't like the germanium fuzz face circuit. Too rounded or smooth or something. Maybe I haven't tuned it properly? I built a Fulltone '69 clone years ago that never really tripped my trigger. And same with this Sun Face clone. Neat pedal but I much prefer the sound of my Fulltone '70 clone. Maybe I'm just a silicon guy when it comes to FF?
I really REALLY dig the tone bender circuit. I'm a huge fan of the rangemaster circuit. So I know I like germanium. It just never did it for me in the FF circuit.
Anyone have any ideas about tweaking/tuning, or will I probably never like a Ge FF if I don't now?
Here is the best example I can find of what I would want a Ge fuzz face to sound like, but even this is not really all that great to me. But it does show the most appealing Ge FF I've found yet.
“Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
I socketed the transistors... so I'm thinking I might make this a hybrid.
“Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
Removed the 91 hFe PNP Ge transistor I had in Q1 and replaced it with a 193 hFe 2N3906 PNP Si I had laying around.
Big improvement (for what I personally want to hear). It gives it a slightly harsher silicon edge but without going fully harsh/silicon sounding.
It cleans up real nice with your guitar's volume knob too. Have to have the amp set just right and the fuzz cranked on the sun face, then dial back the volume knob just until the fiz suddenly stops - that's where I like it. A dynamic dirt that can sound overdriven when you play gentle and then get nasty when you dig in.
BTW, I think I'll call this hybrid variation the "Partly Sunny Face"
“Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
OUT goes to Volume 3, Volume 2 is the output to the stomp, Volume 1 to ground
"If anyone is a 'genius' for putting jacks in such a pedal in the only spot where they could physically fit, then I assume I too am a genius for correctly inserting my legs into my pants this morning." - candletears7 - TGP
I just made this one from one of IvIarks layouts using a couple of nkt275s Q1 hFE 59 and Q2 hFE 61 both low leakage and this thing sounds AWESOME
And for such low hFE transistors, this thing FUZZES great!
...or You can just put a cut between two bottom legs of trimpot.
I didn't draw it on this layout because in this way you can put small cap between B and C on Q2 on right side of trimpot, just in case if You want...