This is a library of perfboard and single-sided PCB effect layouts for guitar and bass. I'm not an electrical engineer by any stretch of the imagination, just a DIY'er who likes drawing layouts. It is meant for the hobbyist (so commercial use of any of these layout is not allowed without permission) and as a way to give back to the online DIY community.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

One-Knob Fat Fuzz

Here's another quicky for your weekend. This is based on Tim Escobedo's LoFoMoFo, but tweaked for more bass frequencies. This circuit was actually my first build and it sounds great. Although, I made the n00b mistake of using a 10n cap on the input instead of the 100n because I misread the capacitor code. So I guess I should say it sounds good with a 10n input cap. Can't really speak to the stock sound, but it's apparently very fat. Should fit easily in a 1590a.


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25 comments:

  1. fredDecember 20, 2015 at 12:34 AM

    for bass guitar?

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    1. Effects LayoutsDecember 20, 2015 at 1:16 PM

      I haven't tried it on bass, but I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine on it.

      Delete
  2. fredDecember 20, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    thanks brother.

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  3. fuss buzzMay 23, 2016 at 11:10 AM

    Just little n00b question bro, why the volume doesnt mute when the knob is turn all the way down?
    Its just like it in nature?
    Great fuzz for bass anyway, fat and growly.
    Cheers mate.

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsMay 23, 2016 at 11:59 AM

      It should mute when it's turned all the way down. Lug 1 of the volume pot goes to ground. You could have a bad pot, or maybe you wired it incorrectly?

      Delete
  4. Caio HenriqueOctober 13, 2016 at 10:48 PM

    If I want to control the "fuzz gain"? Just change the 100k resistor in the base of transistor to pot? Or the 100k resistor in the collector? Sorry for bad english

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    1. Effects LayoutsOctober 14, 2016 at 8:22 AM

      You could try making the 100k resistor from 9v to the collector a pot, but a more effective gain control might be putting a pot before the input. In wire to lug 3 and lugs 2-1 go to the input pad of the circuit board.

      Delete
    2. Caio HenriqueOctober 14, 2016 at 12:05 PM

      Thanks, I'll try tomorrow.

      Delete
  5. Just DuDecember 25, 2016 at 1:11 PM

    Thanks bro.., built this for my bass and i like the sound.
    I built with the gain control as you said

    "... but a more effective gain control might be putting a pot before the input. In wire to lug 3 and lugs 2-1 go to the input pad of the circuit board."

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  6. Tate FXJanuary 13, 2017 at 6:03 PM

    This sounds good qith a big muff tone stack as well

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  7. joaquinApril 22, 2020 at 2:38 PM

    Hi, i'm from Argentina and this one is my first build, but i have a problem, when i play a string, a fart-like noise come out of the speaker for a few seconds and then it disappears (with the pedal connected) and i don't know why, it should work, maybe a bad diode or transistor?. thanks

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    1. Effects LayoutsApril 23, 2020 at 5:14 PM

      Sounds like it could be mis-biased. Make sure you've got a 100k resistor going from the power line to the collector. Or that value may need to be adjusted. If so, grab a 250k or 500k potentiometer and wire lugs 1 and 2 to either side of where that 100k resistor would go. Adjust the pot till it sounds right. Then measure the resistance across those two lugs of the pot and replace it with a similar value resistor. Good luck

      Delete
    2. joaquinApril 25, 2020 at 5:37 PM

      i've made the 500k pot wiring but it didn't work, it changes a little bit but almost the same sound as before, i think that the pedal is working but with no sustain at all, i hit the string, the sound comes out and immediately stops tracking the note, and i have to hit the string very hard to make the pedal sound that way, if i strum normally it's almost inaudible, i'm currently using used capacitors, and a 1n4007 diode, maybe it's that?, thanks in advance :)

      Delete
    3. Effects LayoutsApril 25, 2020 at 8:51 PM

      That diode shouldn't matter. Double check the pinout of your transistor and double check the values.

      Delete
  8. joaquinApril 25, 2020 at 10:20 PM

    Finally! it's working perfect, i made a n00b mistake (connected the 9v the wrong way. Positive where the negative goes xd). Thanks for the fast response i really like the sound of this tiny pedal, very big sound, now it's time to keep trying new pedals ;), again thanks.

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  9. Carpe DiemMay 29, 2020 at 7:49 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. Carpe DiemJune 8, 2020 at 5:13 AM

    I checked all and everything is connected good, but it makes fart like distortion, very annoying tone..not sure is it bcoz I use S8050 transistor (npn ebc), it's even higher hfe than original, but who knows..I'm not sure where to connect pot at input, is it instead of 1m resistor or before it, and how exactly to connect it anyway, it's not clear for me?

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsJune 8, 2020 at 12:51 PM

      It could be the transistor hfe. To connect a pot as a pre/gain control, wire the input to lug 3, 2 to the input pad on the board, and 1 to ground. And you can remove the 1M pulldown resistor at input.

      Delete
  11. Carpe DiemJune 8, 2020 at 5:24 AM

    I wonder is it possible that problem is in wrong resistors wattage, for example, if circuit requires 1 or 2W res. and I maybe use just 1/4W ??

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    Replies
    1. Effects LayoutsJune 8, 2020 at 12:49 PM

      Wattage shouldn't matter. 1/4 watt is sufficient for everything on the blog unless otherwise noted.

      Delete
  12. Carpe DiemJune 10, 2020 at 6:59 AM

    I solve it, not sure what exactly was problem, because I replaced transistor with better onr with very high hfe, and also put that pot at input, and now is very decent sound, especially is awesome if I put booster in front of it, I cannot resist not to use them in front of anything, thank you :-)

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  13. vand'sOctober 19, 2020 at 5:52 AM

    Hi, i made this one and i want to add a simple tone pots ... how can i do ? i tried a pot with 0.0047uf cap on the lug 2 of volume pot but don't work ... (Sorry for my bad english )

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  14. AWSeptember 14, 2021 at 4:54 AM

    Hi. I did this, but soud like overdrive. What's hfe for Q1?

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  15. UnknownDecember 11, 2021 at 12:46 PM

    Hola cómo puedo encontrar el PDF con el esquemático

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jose_Ole66November 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM

    I could be mistaken, but it appears that on the layout, the Volume 1 and the Ground are not connected in the reversed image - could be throwing some folks off. It is proper in the top two pictures however.

    I got it working and it sounds great and gets very loud! One other thing I noticed is that when connected to my test box (as I have not put it into an enclosure) - even in bypass - the effect is present, albeit very low fuzz, it is still there.

    Any clue as to why this would happen? I use this passive test box for all of my pedals and have never had this issue.

    ReplyDelete

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