Fuzz II

Some more great fuzz layouts. Again, none of this work is mine, so all praise goes to the tracers. Credits are on the layouts; for more info check out  freestompboxes.org and tagboardeffects (IvIark) for the originals and more info. If you really like a design, please support the builder by buying his or her pedal (if it's still made).

Fulltone '70 fuzz. I'm a fan of the '69m but haven't heard this one in person. Posted here as a reminder to myself that I should build it.

One of my favourite Ge Fuzz Face clones. Built one with AC128's and it has great vintage tone and cleans up really well when you work the knob on the guitar. Warm, wooly sound, even with single coils.

Mosrite Fuzzrite: unfortunately I couldn't find the specified trannies and haven't looked at substitutions. That's why it's here, because I really should look for substitutions!

The Axxis Fuzz supposedly works better with cranked amps, not so much at bedroom volumes. I have the Classic Fuzz and that does indeed sound much better playing out than at home.

Only played the D*A*M Sonic Titan with single coils. I think it sounds more like an od/fuzz hybrid but that makes it a great pedal and makes it stand out. Definitely more polite than the Meathead and Fleshhead. 

Karl Fuzz by Lovepedal.

Can't find much info on the Dirty Sanchez (try googling that...), so I guess I have to try it for myself.

Wooly Mammoth bass fuzz. I don't even have a bass...

Big Muffs

Some layouts of the Big Muff in it's different incarnations. Not my work, so all praise the tracers! They are mentioned on the layouts. Check out freestompboxes.org and tagboardeffects (IvIark) for the originals and more info. If you really like a design, please support the builder by buying his or her pedal (if it's still made).

Fuzz I

A couple of great fuzzboxes and their layouts. Not my work, so all praise the tracers! They are mentioned on the layouts. Check out freestompboxes.org and tagboardeffects (IvIark) for the originals and more info. If you really like a design, please support the builder by buying his or her pedal!

D*A*M 1966

 The D*A*M Meathead produces raw, unbridled power and has nothing to it that is even remotely close to subtle.

The Karaoke Party is one of my favourites! Can sound like a gritty boost that adds some sparkle with low output single coils or like a nice woolly fuzz with higher output pickups.

The US fuzz by Devi Ever FX is high on my list of pedals to try out, as I  like most of her pedals and they come at a fair price.

Great pedal! A bit edgy with single coils but not too bright. The 'Choas' switch is aptly named btw.

One of the classic fuzz boxes (well, its not that old.)

Updated layout & tricks

The layouts and schematics posted here are the 'original' ones: if you decide to build an amp based on these layouts, please take note that you should at least update the wiring of the power cord (use a three prong cord and remove the deathcap). The wiring of the heaters is also a very good candidate for a more modern approach. See this layout from Weber for an idea:

Furthermore an artifical centertap from the PT can do a lot to reduce heater hum (even if your PT has a centertap) in SE amps (but I like it in PP amps as well). You can wire it from the heaters to ground using 100R resistors like this:

You can also use dc-elevation on amps with a high cathode voltage when you wire in an artificial centertap: use two 100R resistors and run them from the heater connections on a powertube socket to the cathode (pin 8) of  that same socket. Heaters (ac) now float 'above' the dc you add form the cathode.

For more info, please visit the website of Merlin B, valvewizard.co.uk. He has a wealth of information available. 

In any case, do not use both the CT from your power transformer (if it has one) and an artificial centertap. And finally, no matter what you do with your amp, be very careful: the voltages inside an amp are lethal.

Vibrolux 5F11 (1956-1961)

Champ 5F1 (1956-1964)

Pro 5E5-a (1956-1960)

Same as the Super 5F4, but with a 1x15" speaker instead of 2x10".