Babylon Fuzz (cascaded Electra stages)

Original effects with schematics, layouts and instructions, freely contributed by members or found in publications. Cannot be used for commercial purposes without the consent of the owners of the copyright.
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culturejam
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Post by culturejam »

This is a little something I cooked up a few months back. I started off with two stock Electras in series and tweaked until I liked the sound.

This thing is LOUD. I mean really loud. Tons of output volume. It is loud enough to be used either as an overdrive/fuzz or as a dirty boost into a tube amp.

Greg_G suggested some diodes to ground at the output might sound cool, so that's worth a shot if you plan to build this one.

Enjoy.

:thumbsup
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Post by reveriesof »

cool idea. sort of like if sean n zacky had a lovechild :wink:
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JiM
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Post by JiM »

Cool !
Gotta breadboard this ...
culturejam wrote:Greg_G suggested some diodes to ground at the output might sound cool, so that's worth a shot if you plan to build this one.
May i suggest one or a couple of series diodes or LEDs to ground (cathodes facing ground), before the output cap ?
I did a quick simulation and i think that it might sound interesting, cutting the top of the square wave to let some original signal through. Depending on threshold, one diode would give less than unity volume, two or more increase the fuzzz. You might even control the amount of spike reduction with a pot shunting some diodes.

Hmmm, i realize it'll be less confusing with a picture :
babylon_fuzz_tamed.png
PS : As you obviously used Eagle for schematic capture, why not using it for PCB layout too ? It's easier with consistency check !
I only give negative feedback.
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Post by culturejam »

JiM wrote:PS : As you obviously used Eagle for schematic capture, why not using it for PCB layout too ? It's easier with consistency check !
I did the circuit design and layout way before I started using Eagle. I then subsequently drew up the schematic with Eagle.

I find Eagle hard to use for PCB layouts. It seems like it takes a ton of configuration to produce an image that is useful for effects PCB etching. But I'm probably just frustrated with all the options. :D
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JiM
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Post by JiM »

culturejam wrote:I find Eagle hard to use for PCB layouts. It seems like it takes a ton of configuration to produce an image that is useful for effects PCB etching. But I'm probably just frustrated with all the options. :D
I'm using it even for Vero layouts ! :slap:

You can find great tutorials at Sparkfun.com : http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutori ... als_id=115
and Gaussmarkov : http://gaussmarkov.net/wordpress/tools/ ... eagle-cad/

IMHO, the most important thing is to set a correct grid : too coarse it's difficult to use, too fine it's a mess. In most situations, 0.025" is OK.
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Post by khournos »

Nice, i may build that too :D
What kind of pot did you use?
I don't see it in the plan

Peace, Khour
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Post by culturejam »

khournos wrote:Nice, i may build that too :D
What kind of pot did you use?
I don't see it in the plan

Peace, Khour
It's just a volume control, so go with A100K. You could also try a lower value to tame some of the output volume. This thing is LOUD.
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khournos
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Post by khournos »

An maybe a bit Awkward question, but how would i put a gain pot in there?

peace, Khour
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Post by Zoom »

I build it some time ago.

Added gain control (the same as in the Fuzz Face, from the Q2 to ground), and "bass" knob - variable input cap.
Very nice sound from thick fuzz to fuzzy overdrive.
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Post by khournos »

So from Q2 to Ground, paralell to R4?

Thanks a lot, peace Khour
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Post by culturejam »

khournos wrote:So from Q2 to Ground, paralell to R4?

Thanks a lot, peace Khour
Fuzz Face style gain control will work. You need the pot to adjust how much signal is bypassed by the capacitor (that you will add) from Q2's emitter to ground
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Post by khournos »

Would you be so nice and make me a drawing of that, i'm not quite sure i got that right.

peace and thanks in advance, Khour
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