Fuzz Central


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Submitted Schematics
Effects FAQs
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Effects Projects
ToneBender MKII
ToneBender 3-knob
Arbiter Fuzz Face
Vox ToneBender
Axis Face Silicon
Liquid Drive
Tycobrahe Octavia
Ampeg Scrambler
fOXX Tone Machine
Fender Blender
Dallas Rangemaster
Vox Clyde McCoy Wah
Axis Wah
4ms Tremulus Lune
Ross Compressor

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Past Updates

Thursday January 4, 2007
I hope that everyone out there had a happy and safe New Years! Welcome to 2007...let's try to make this year a little better than the last!

Sunday December 24, 2006
Fuzz Central wishes a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! :0)

Finland Wednesday December 6, 2006 Finland
I would like to wish all of our Finnish visitors a happy Itsenäisyyspäivä! Today is Finland's Independence Day. Happy 89th Birthday Finland! May you have an infinite number to come in the future!

Thursday November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US!

Monday November 13, 2006
The new Fuzz Central Guestbook is up and running. Be sure to sign the guestbook on your way through! Feel free to sign it every time that you visit, too!

Sunday November 12, 2006
This evening I have posted a new PCB and Layout for the Arbiter Fuzz Face. The new Fuzz Face PCB and Layout that I have drawn is based on the Axis Face circuit board, which is quite possibly the smallest and most compact Fuzz Face circuit board available. The layout also uses a 10K trimpot on the collector of Q2 so that that biasing can be adjusted precisely...around -4.5VDC to -5VDC. It also features a 2.2M input pull-down resistor to prevent "true bypass pop", a 100uF power supply filtering capacitor and a 1N4001 reverse polarity protection diode to help protect the circuit from accidental reverse polarity power supply connections.

Thursday November 9, 2006
Fuzz Central has moved to MUCH faster ad-free hosting, thanks to the very generous offer from the administrators of ssguitar.com. I also redesigned the HTML files for the website, incorportating PHP for the very first time, which will help to speed up the loadig of the pages as well as making general website maintenance much easier for me. Enjoy the new site!

Monday, June 20, 2005
This evening I've added the Liquid Drive to the Pedals for Sale page. If you're interested in picking up the original Liquid Drive for a bargain, check it out!

Tuesday, January 25, 2005
This afternoon I've posted Axis Face Silicon Revision 3! Check out the Axis Face Silicon project page to see the whole article! Lots of really nice improvements to this version of the circuit...who needs Germanium transistors in the circuit when Silicon can sound so good! I've also added some new PCB and Layout files to the Tremulus Lune page.

Tuesday, November 30, 2004
This evening I've added some more modifications to the Ross Compressor page, given to me by Mark Hammer. This mod increases the treble response of the pedal so that it's not as muddy when the pedal is on. It's a quick and simple mod that really improves the tone! I've also added the scematic of the Vox MKII Fuzz to the Sola Sound ToneBender MKII Professional page. It's nearly the same as the MKII Professional with only a few minor component value changes. Thanks to Peter for sending me the schematic of the Vox MKII that he traced from his original 30 years ago!

Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Today I've corrected some information on the Sola Sound ToneBender 3-Knob project page, and I've also added the schematics of two more versions of the pedal, the Park Fuzz Sound 3-Knob and the Vox ToneBender MKIII. Thanks to Stuart Castledine for providing me with this great new information and also for the schematics for the two new circuits! Everyone in the United States have a happy and safe Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Sunday, November 21, 2004
This afternoon I've added the Sola Sound ToneBender 3-Knob project page, which includes the schematic of the original Sola Sound 3-Knob ToneBender and a picture of the circuit board. It also includes the schematic of two variants of the circuit, the 2-Knob Park Fuzz and the Prescription Electronics Yard Box. I've also upgraded the schematics on the following project pages: ToneBender MKII, Vox ToneBender, Arbiter Fuzz Face, Axis Face Ge., Axis Face Si., and Dallas RangeMaster. Enjoy!

Sunday, November 7, 2004
Tonight I've updated the ToneBender MKII page with new PCB and Layout files for the ToneBender MKII and Marshall Supa Fuzz, and also a seperate PCB and Layout for the MindBender NPN. The new PCBs have enough room for a trimpot on the collector of Q3 for easy tuning, as well as pads for input pulldown resistors and reverse polarity protection diodes. The Vox ToneBender page has also been updated with some more information, including the picture of the circuit board of an ultra rare Colorsound ToneBender MKI.

Thursday, November 4, 2004
This evening I've added a "Build Difficulty" rating system to each effect project page on the site. You'll find the rating bar at the bottom of the table containing the links to the PCB, Layout and Parts List for each project. "Easy" builds are easily completed by most beginning builders. "Moderate" builds are for builders who have experience working with circuit boards with a higher parts count, lots of off-board wiring, or projects that require "tweaking" experience. "Difficult" projects are for experienced builders who don't mind spending a complete afternoon soldering ;)

Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Today I've added the Vox ToneBender project page under the "Effects Projects" drop-down list. The Vox ToneBender is a great little 2-transistor fuzz circuit, which predated the Arbiter Electronics Fuzz Face, which means that the Vox ToneBender was probably the inspiration for the Fuzz Face. However, the Vox circuit has a great deal more treble response to brighten up the darkest amps! A super small PCB and Layout with several optional improvements are included! Enjoy!

Monday, November 1, 2004
This afternoon I've updated the ToneBender MKII page to include some information about the reissue of the ToneBender MKII, as well as the schematic. Not exactly a reissue...since it's built around a modified version of the Fuzz Face! Be sure to check it out! I also added a new PCB and Layout to the Arbiter Fuzz Face page. These new files are nearly identical to the original Arbiter Electronics circuit board used in the PNP Germanium Fuzz Faces...you won't find a circuit board layout anywhere that's closer to the original!

Thursday, October 28, 2004
This evening I've updated the Ross Compressor page with some updated information, schematic and pictures of my newest Ross Compressor clone...modified of course! This time I used 2N5088 transistors for lower noise operation and I also replaced the 220pF capacitor from input to ground of the circuit with a 100pF Silver Mica capacitor for less treble loss when the pedal is engaged.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Today I've added Axis Guitar Effects Skrambler #025 to the Pedals for Sale page. Skrambler #025 is a special edition model that features one-off gold stenciling on the sides of the pedal instead of the normal silver stenciling. The Axis Effects Skrambler is simply the best clone of the Ampeg Scrambler that you can buy! Grab it before it's gone!

Tuesday, October 26, 2004
This afternoon I've updated the Colorsound ToneBender MKII Professional page with the schematic and some information about the Marshall Supa Fuzz, which is nearly a twin of the MKII. There are only a few differences between them, but those few differences could very well change the character of the Supa Fuzz enough to make it worth building one of each!

Saturday, October 23, 2004
Fuzz Central has gotten another makeover! The navigation is now done by the drop-down bar at the top, which loads faster than the previous version and it's also much easier for me to add new pages since I'll only have to update a single file to make changes to the navigation on all pages. I've also added a new project page...the Liquid Drive! It's a modified version of the Ross Distortion using half of a Burr Brown OPA2134PA and asymmetric Germanium clipping diodes along with several other great mods...be sure to check it out! The Tycobrahe Octavia and Colorsound ToneBender MKII project pages have also been updated.

Monday, October 11, 2004
Today I've added the schematic of an early version of the Roger Mayer Classic Fuzz to the Schematics & PCBs page. It's almost a Fuzz Face, but with a couple of small tweaks here and there. Thanks to Pete F. for sending me the Schematic! I've also added the PCB & Layout for the TS808 to the Schemaitcs & PCBs page thanks to Bill Lawrence!

Thursday, September 30, 2004
Even more pedal up for sale on the "Pedals for Sale" page! I've added my second modded Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive and my fantastic sounding ToneBender MKII Professional clone. Be sure to check them out!

Thursday, September 23, 2004
This afternoon I've added a couple of pedals to the "Pedal for Sale" page. Get em before it's too late!

Sunday, August 1, 2004
This evening I've posted Axis Face Germanium Revision 3! It's an even more refined circuit, using NPN Germanium transistors and a temperature stabilizing Germanium diode to keep it from sounding lousy when the temperature starts to go up! Complete with new PCB and Layout files.

Monday, July 19, 2004
Today I've added several schematics to the Schematics and PCBs page, submitted by Alan Probandt. We now have the DOD Classic Tube, the DOD FX55-B Supra Distortion, the DOD FX59 Thrashmaster, the Ibanez PowerLead PL5, and the MXR Commande Overdrive. Be sure to check them out!

Thurday, July 15, 2004
This afternoon I've added newer, smaller PCB and Layout files for the Dallas RangeMaster and my customized version, the RangeBlaster. Be sure to check them out on the Dallas RangeMaster project page!

Saturday, July 10, 2004
Today I've added my Ross Compressor clone with Variable Recovery mod to the "Pedals For Sale" page. Even Keeley doesn't make a Compressor this nice...and I'm selling mine for a lot less! Grab it before it's too late!

Monday, June 5, 2004
This afternoon I've added a circuit board picture, schematic and some background on the Arbiter reissue Fuzz Face to the Arbiter Fuzz Face page. It's not quite an exact reissue but rather an improved version of the original. Be sure to check it out! The DOD YJM308 schematic has also been corrected.

Thursday, June 10, 2004
Tonight I've added Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layouts for the Ibanez OD855 and TS7 to the Schematics & PCBs page. Be sure to check them out!

Monday, June 7, 2004
This evening I've posted two new PCBs and Layouts from Bill Lawrence, the Ibanez TS5 and TS9. Be sure to stop by the Schematics & PCBs page! More coming soon.

Wednesday, May 26, 2004
This afternoon I've added some new pictures of my newest ToneBender MKII to the ToneBender MKII page. I built this one in a small Hammond B box, which made things tight, but it turned out great! I've also updated the FAQ page with lots more great information, so be sure to read through it all!

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Today I've added PDF project files for several of the projects at this site, including the two Axis Face, Fuzz Face, Tycobrahe Octavia, Clyde McCoy Wah, ToneBender MKII, Dallas Rangemaster, and the Boss SD-1 and DS-1 mods. The PDF files include the Layout diagram, PCB transfer pattern (actual size, ready for transfer), and the Schematic. Enjoy!

Friday, May 14, 2004
This evening I've posted pictures of the new Axis Face Germanium to the Axis Face Ge. page! This is one of the first pedals that I've built in the small Hammond 1590B box, and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with the results...and the way the pedal sounds too!

Saturday, April 24, 2004
Today I've added the Axis Wah project page! This project represets a great sounding and low cost wah pedal project. You'll be able to use your original circuit board, inductor and wah pot! No need for expensive aftermarket replacements. Check it out!

Sunday, April 11, 2004
This afternoon I've posted a refined PCB and Layout for the Vox Clyde McCoy project. Not a really serious change, I just cleaned up the appearance a bit and added new capacitor mounting pads that will accept a variety of different size caps.

Friday, April 9, 2004
Tonight I've posted a new layout by Bill Lawrence to the Schematics & PCBs page, the DOD 308 Yngwie Malmsteen Signature. Check it out!

Wednesday, April 7, 2004
This evening I've reposted the project pages for the Butterfly Fuzz and the fOXX Tone Machine. I've also added two new project pages...the Axis Face Germanium and the Axis Face Silicon, which are still in their "development" phase, but should be completed soon. I've also added a Pedals For Sale page, to hopefully sell or trade some pedals that I have around.

Sunday, April 4, 2004
This afternoon I've updated the pictures of my Clyde McCoy clone on the Vox Clyde McCoy page. The new pictures show the JFET output buffer mounted at the "toe" of the case, for those who've emailed asking how and where I put it inside the case. The output buffer is a great addition, and it doesn't change the sound of the pedal at all. You can also use it for a very slight volume boost since the JFET buffer does slightly amplify the signal.

Monday, March 29, 2004
Today I've added the project page for the 4ms Tremulus Lune...the best friggin' tremolo on the planet! Check it out and then go build one today!

Sunday, March 28, 2004
Fuzz Central has entered its second generation with a completely new design! I've also updated and improved all the project pages, along with the Links page and FAQs page. Soon I will post the 4ms Tremulus Lune project page and also the project page for Ninve Volt Nirvana's (Joe Gagan's) DinoDrive! Stay tuned!

Monday, March 1, 2004
Today I've added another PCB and Layout for the MindBender NPN, drawn by Bill Lawrence, to the Schematics & PCBs page.

Saturday, February 2, 2004
This afternoon I've added the Boss DS-1 Modification page! These modifications are my hybridization of the Keeley "Seeing Eye" and "Ultra" mods. Enjoy!

Friday February 20, 2004
I've created a mirror site for Fuzz Central. The URL is http://fuzzcentral2.tripod.com/. Make sure to bookmark the mirror incase the main site here is down because of too much bandwidth consumption. The mirror doesn't have all the features as this main site, but it does have all the project pages. The links on the Schematics & PCBs page are also working agian.

Thursday February 19, 2004
I'm having some problems with my AT&T webpage accounts today, so the links for the schematics and PCBs on the Schematics & PCBs page aren't working. Hopefully they'll be back and running soon...whenever they get their server problems fixed. The Axis site is also down.

Sunday February 15, 2004
This afternoon I've added the Boss SD-1 Modification page! It outlines my takeoff of the Keeley "5-Star Germanium" mods. Check the navigation bar on the left for the new page link!

Saturday, February 14, 2004
Today I've made general updates to the site to help it load a little faster, and I've also added the schematic of the DOD YJM308 Yngwie Malmsteen Signature pedal to the Schematics & PCBs page. Soon I'll be adding pages that show how to modify your Boss SD-1 like Keeley does!

Sunday, February 8, 2004
I updated the Wah Buffer PCB and Layout by removing the 1M resistor on the input. Turns out that it doesn't need an input pulldown resistor in this application. Oops ;)

Saturday, February 7, 2004
This evening I've added updated PCB and Layout files for the ToneBender MKII Professional. These new and improved files also include pads for the 0.01µF capacitor that should be on the input of the MKII and Supa Fuzz. You can also use these files to build the MindBender NPN and MindBender PNP. I've also added the schematic of the Jim Dunlop JH-1 Jimi Hendrix wah pedal to the Schematics & PCBs page.

Sunday, February 1, 2004
This afternoon I've posted updated versions of the Clyde McCoy wah PCB and layout. These new files have the correct hole spacing for mounting the board in the wah shell with the two screw mounting posts that are cast into the case.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Today I've added the schematic of the Ibanez Tube Screamer TS7. The schematic illustrates how the "Hot" switch works. In one position you get TS9, and in the "Hot" position you get a lot more drive and sustain!

Tuesday, January 20, 2004
A new updates list setup has been added. Now it's a scrollable list instead of the long list that's usually been here.

Thursday, December 19, 2003
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Fuzz Central!

Sunday, November 30, 2003
This evening I've corrected a couple of capacitor values in the tone control sections of the TS5, TS9, TS10, and TS808 schematics.

Sunday, November 16 2003
Today I've updated the schematic of the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive. The voltage biasing section on the SD-1 has a couple of different values to get the +4.5 bias voltage. Instead of the two 10K resistors as found in the Tube Screamers, the SD-1 has a pair of 33K. I've also added some new schematics to the Schematics & PCBs page, the Ibanez OD-850 Overdrive, the Ibanez OD-855 Overdrive, the Ibanez TS-5 Tube Screamer, and the Boss DS-1 Distortion. Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 11, 2003
This afternoon I've two more Tube Screamer schematics to the Schematics & PCBs page...the Ibanez TS10, and the Ibanez Super Tube Screamer. I'm still looking for a good schematic of the TS5. The one at Aron's Stompbox page has the parts numbered, but no part values.

Saturday, November 8, 2003
This afternoon I've added three of the Tube Screamer schematics to the Schematics & PCBs page...the Ibanez TS9, the Ibanez TS808, and the Boss SD1

Friday, November 7, 2003
Today I've added the Schematic, PCB, and Layout files for the Wah Output Buffer to the McCoy Wah page. This solves the old problem of the wah pedal not wah-ing when used in series before a fuzz pedal.

Tuesday, November 4, 2003
This afternoon I've added the schematic of the Jim Dunlop GCB-100 Crybaby Bass wah pedal to the Schematics & PCBs page. It's pretty much the exact same as the GCB-95, except the 0.01uF capacitor that's attached to the emitter of Q3 is replaced with a 0.068uF. Other than that, it's the same, and can be constructed on the regular GCB-95 board by simply replacing that one capacitor. The unit that I traced out had the regular SPDT switch and the Dunlop Hot Potz II 100K wah pot.

Monday, October 13, 2003
Today I've corrected the schematic and PCB/layout files for the ColorSound Tremolo. The PCB and layout files had some transistor pinout problems and they wouldn't work with regular C-B-E transistors, but they have been modified to work with regular high-gain transistors like the 2N5088 or 2N5089. The schematic had the reverse polarity protection diode shows backwards but it has been corrected.

Sunday, October 12, 2003
This evening I've corrected the schematic of the ColorSound ToneBender 3-Knob Reissue and I've also added the PCB and Layout files for it. The PCB and Layout are patterned after the original pedals circuit board and while I was drawing it up I discovered the errors in the schematic, which have been corrected.

Friday, October 10, 2003
Today I've added the Schematic, PCB, and Layout files for the circuit that is believed to be the ColorSound Tremolo to the Schematics & PCBs page. I've also updated the FAQ page with a diagram that shows how all the power switching wiring is supposed to be hooked up when using a stereo input jack, a 9V battery clip, and a power adapter jack with a built-in switch.

Tuesday, October 7, 2003
Sorry for the lack of updates! It's been rather busy lately. This afternoon I've added the schematic of the 1970s Electro Harmonix Hot Tubes Distortion to the Schematics & PCBs page. This schematic was requested by someone who signed the guestbook so enjoy!

Sunday, September 7, 2003
I need to make some clarification about the two Vox Distortion Booster schematics on the Schematics & PCBs page. The first one on the list is the first very rare version of the circuit, which was built into a regular stomp box. The second one on the list is a later version, which was built in a small enclosure that plugged directly into the output jack of the guitar, like the Dan Armostrong Orange Squeezer.

Sunday, August 24, 2003
I've made some updates the the ToneBender MKII page tonight. I decided that I liked the 0.047µF output capacitor more than the 0.1µF, which makes it sound too muddy. The 0.047µF is a good in-between point...not too bright and not too muddy.

Monday, August 11, 2003
Tonight I've added Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the BlackCat OD-1 overdrive pedal to the Schematics & PCBs page.

Friday, August 8, 2003
This evening I've posted Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper. Thanks to Bill for another great layout! Next up, the BlackCat OD-1 overdrive.

Tuesday, August 5, 2003
Today I've added a bunch of new schematics of mostly wah pedals to the Schematics & PCBs page. These schematics are: BlackCat Overdrive OD-1 Colorsound One-Knob Fuzz (current reissue...also includes my PCB and Layout files), Colorsound Wah, Dallas-Arbiter Wah Face, Dan Armstrong Blue Clipper, Dunlop GCB-95 CryBaby, Electro Harmonix Wah, fOXX Wah, Maestro Boomerang Wah, Maestro Boomerang 2 Wah-Volume, Shin-Ei Companion Wah, Vox "Grey Wah" (early version of the Vox wah), and the Vox V847 wah. I've also added Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the EH Little Big Muff to the Schematics & PCBs page. Also some more updates to the Roger Mayer Octavia files...now it's correct!

Saturday, August 2, 2003
More revisions to the Roger Mayer Octavia schematic and PCB/Layout files today. Thanks to David who emailed me with more corrections using his original autographed RM Octavia as a reference. The cap on the input is indeed a 470pF, and the capacitor on the emitter of Q2 is a 0.1uF, NOT a 0.01uF. Also, lug 1 of the "drive" pot is left unconnected, and because of this, a tapering resistor will not work on a linear taper pot to get the correct reverse log. taper that's used in the original pedal.

Thursday, July 31, 2003
This afternoon I've posted Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the legendary Roger Mayer Octavia to the Schematics & PCBs page. THIS is the one that Jimi Hendrix used...something similar to it anyway. Jimi did NOT use the Tycobrahe Octavia, mainly because it wasn't being manufactured until three or four years after his death. I've also made some corrections to the previously posted Roger Mayer Octavia schematic and made some general improvements around the site. Enjoy!

Monday, July 28, 2003
This evening I've reposted Bill Lawrence's updated and corrected PCB and Layout files for the Ampeg Scrambler. If you didn't read my post at Aron's Forum, there is an error in the Scrambler factory schematic. The 1uF electrolytic capacitor on the emitter of Q1 should be oriented the other way...with the positive lead pointed into Q1's emitter and the negative lead pointed into the blend pot. Installing it the way shown on the factory schematic will produce a VERY substantial switch pop.

Thursday, July 24, 2003
This afternoon I've added Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz to the Schematics & PCBs page. I've heard that this is a very fuzzy fuzz! I also corrected the Ampeg Scrambler schematic with an electrolytic capacitor that I accidentally left off when I was redrawing it from the factory schematic.

Friday, July 11, 2003
Today I've added some more schematics to the Schematics & PCBs page: Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff, Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz and the Roger Mayer Octavia.

Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Tonight I corrected the Schematics and Layouts for the EH Mole/Hogfoot Bass Boosters. The input and output capacitors should be 3.3uF, NOT 33uF.

Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Today I've posted updated PCB and Layout files that Bill Lawrence sent me for Fender Blender to solve a problem that we discovered. Blend 1 connects to Sustain 1, not ground.

Saturday, June 28, 2003
This evening I've posted Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout for the Roger Mayer Classic Fuzz to the Schematics & PCBs page. This circuit is a slightly modified version of the Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, but all the improvements make it sound better I think

Monday, June 16, 2003
Tonight I've posted Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the Guild Foxey Lady 3-Knob to the Schematics & PCBs page. The Foxey Lady 3-Knob is basically a Big Muff with some minor differences, so chances are they sounds pretty much the same

Thursday, June 12, 2003
This afternoon I've added Bill Lawrence's PCB and Layout files for the Big Muff Pi to the Schematics & PCBs page. This has always been a very popular pedal, but I've personally never built one. I've heard that they're really nice sounding distortions though! I've also posted improved (smaller) PCB and Layouts for the JHS FZIII and the Jen Fuzz III. Next up...the Guild Foxey Lady 3-Knob!


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