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 »

Solidhex wrote:With any Superfuzz build expect a delayed blast of hiss about a split second after you hit a note or chord. If you don't like it TOUGH!

--Brad
The ones I built didn't do this.

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

salocin wrote:To those of you who have built the superfuzz- do you have much trouble with hum/noise? Just finished mine off, and there's a fair amount of hum, which i've never had much trouble with in previous builds. I did have to twist the legs of the base and collector round as I used 2SC828's but the layout was designed for 2N2222's. Could that have anything to do with it?
My layout is for 2SC828s

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salocin
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Post by salocin »

ShortScaleMike wrote:My layout is for 2SC828s
I'll certainly be using your layout for the next build, hadn't seen it when I started on this one though which is why I used the Ulysses layout from the DIYstompboxes gallery.

edit: Which schematic is your layout based off?

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

The univox one that is floating around the web. The electronic layout isn't verified yet unfortunately, the paper one I made this layout from was though.

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Solidhex
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Post by Solidhex »

ShortScaleMike wrote:
Solidhex wrote:With any Superfuzz build expect a delayed blast of hiss about a split second after you hit a note or chord. If you don't like it TOUGH!

--Brad
The ones I built didn't do this.
I've built around 13 clones and have played through 3 Orange/Blue Superfuzzes and probably around 6 different rebranded (companion, shinei, jax, Crown, etc) Superfuzz circuit equipped fuzz/wahs through all sorts of different amp/guitar combos. The weird gate hiss thing is always there to some degree from my experience with the circuit. Adjusting the trimpot will get a minimum amount of hiss when the octave is well balanced but after hitting a chord I always hear the characteristic Superfuzz hiss...

--Brad

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salocin
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Post by salocin »

Cheers for the confirmation.

How about the hum? Is this typical of them as well, or is this possibility related to my build?

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Post by Solidhex »

salocin wrote:Cheers for the confirmation.

How about the hum? Is this typical of them as well, or is this possibility related to my build?
Yo

If you're getting a constant hum its most likely your build. I read up on the usual debugging processes. If you're runnning a wall wart try it with a battery.

--Brad

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Post by Kinki fuzz »

Don't forget this is called SUPERfuzz, so some hiss is needed!, :lol: if not, this would be called, fuzz'whatever', but not 'super'. Make nastiness part of your live, guys!! :P

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Post by Alex Frias »

Interesting point... but I think nastyness is present in sufficient doses in my life and in my pedals!

I have a Giannini (Braziliam Company) Superfuzz from 70's and even the layout was copied from the original.

It sounds cool and have a small portion of hum and hiss, they are there but not as an anoying factor.

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Post by graemey »

ShortScaleMike wrote:I made designed and built a stripboard layout for this. the original layout is verified (it was a paper design), unfortunately this electronic version isn't as yet.

Image

Here is the one I built:
Image
Image
Image

Tones are footswitchable with a dual colour LED
Im putting this together as we speak...
Shouldn't one side of R3 reach up to hole h3 so it connects to Q1?
Also, isn't that a cut under R9 making 21 cuts in total?

Just thought I'd ask to avoid any mistakes! :?

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Looks like you're right on both counts there! Sorry about that, like I said my original hand drawn version is verified but this is not, I'll make those fixes shortly

Thanks!

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Post by graemey »

ShortScaleMike wrote:Looks like you're right on both counts there! Sorry about that, like I said my original hand drawn version is verified but this is not, I'll make those fixes shortly

Thanks!

Cool!
I got my circuit finished and it sounds brilliant!
I tried germanium diodes and then swapped them for LEDs. Both sounded great so I might rig-up a footswitch to change between them both.
Think I will get a video of this one up on Youtube soon. Let you know if I do...

Thanks for the layout! :applause:

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

graemey wrote:
ShortScaleMike wrote:Looks like you're right on both counts there! Sorry about that, like I said my original hand drawn version is verified but this is not, I'll make those fixes shortly

Thanks!

Cool!
I got my circuit finished and it sounds brilliant!
I tried germanium diodes and then swapped them for LEDs. Both sounded great so I might rig-up a footswitch to change between them both.
Think I will get a video of this one up on Youtube soon. Let you know if I do...

Thanks for the layout! :applause:

Thank you for correcting it and thus making it verified (when I make the changes to it, it's on my home PC I try not to turn on since I'm in front of a computer all day. I'm glad you've got it working, it truly is a great design.

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Post by drmathprog »

Personally, except for the fact that it's AC powered instead of DC, I've always preferred the Univox Unifuzz to the Superfuzz. It's more versatile and useful.

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Post by HEAD »

Solidhex wrote:
ShortScaleMike wrote:
Solidhex wrote:With any Superfuzz build expect a delayed blast of hiss about a split second after you hit a note or chord. If you don't like it TOUGH!

--Brad
The ones I built didn't do this.
I've built around 13 clones and have played through 3 Orange/Blue Superfuzzes and probably around 6 different rebranded (companion, shinei, jax, Crown, etc) Superfuzz circuit equipped fuzz/wahs through all sorts of different amp/guitar combos. The weird gate hiss thing is always there to some degree from my experience with the circuit. Adjusting the trimpot will get a minimum amount of hiss when the octave is well balanced but after hitting a chord I always hear the characteristic Superfuzz hiss...

--Brad
Hi,

my first post here so far. Even though it is just a little off topic: Brad, you're not happen to be the bass player of a famous rock band, that forced me with their special fuzz sound to build a SuperFuzz too? :lol:
Thx!

Regards!
Helge

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Post by ShortScaleMike »

Thanks for teh corrections Graeme, this is now a verfied layout:
Image

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Post by Fuzzer »

Fu Manchu, yeeeahhhhh. :thumbsup
The Freestompboxes Forum search function is soo great, use the search function..., the S E A R C H function.

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Post by graemey »




Finally got round to posting a youtube video of my Superfuzz.
Big thanks to Shortscalemike for the vero layout and, as you may see, I pinched the 'Starve' control idea also. :applause:

I used 2N3904 trannys in mine.

Check the link above. Fuzzchaos!

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Post by Sickle »

Slamming job, graemey!

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ShortScaleMike
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Post by ShortScaleMike »

graemey wrote:


Finally got round to posting a youtube video of my Superfuzz.
Big thanks to Shortscalemike for the vero layout and, as you may see, I pinched the 'Starve' control idea also. :applause:

I used 2N3904 trannys in mine.

Check the link above. Fuzzchaos!
Wicked. Great job mate, I've watched a bunch of your videos before (you have some very nice gear indeed).

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