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my fuzz bxxx build is not as loud as my dstm fuzz.is this normal?
Should have mentioned that mine was originally populated with 2N3053s both with hFE around 217. Just now I replaced them with a pair of BC108s with Q1 at 220 and Q2 at 280 – this raised the volume some but still less than the DSOTM. Then I replaced the 108s with a 109 (hFE 526) in Q1 and a108 with hFE 577 in Q2 – this is grittier and a touch louder but still not in DSOTM territory but that’s comparing a two transistor fuzz (sort of a Fuzz Face) to a three transistor fuzz (sort of a (hot rodded) Tone Bender). I like it better with the 108/109 combo.
Chuck
Comparing the loudness of two completely different circuits is not critical. The gain structure of every circuit is not going to be identical since different pedal designers made their circuits to suit their own individual criteria.
What I would be asking to determine if there is an issue is if the circuit is loud enough. More specifically, does the circuit offer a bit more “loudness” when the circuit is activated, than when the circuit is switched off? That is what is important. If the answer is no, then you have a problem to sort out, as I would never allow the release of a product that could not easily achieve “unity gain”.
Note that you should not have to turn everything full up to achieve unity gain.
As Barry points out, different circuits have different volume outputs. A Distortion+ has difficulty attaining unity gain when maxed out. It is the nature of the beast.
I didn’t in any way intend to cast shade on one of Barry’s boards though I may not have expressed it well. My variations of the DSOTM live on my board quite happily with their volumes and gains at about 10 o’clock while the Fuzz Bxxx is a bit happier with the volume between 1 and 2 o’clock and the silicon fuzz face next to it likes high noon better. Everything has it’s own sweet spot.
Chuck
THANKS EVERYONE.MY FUZZ BXXX OUTPUT IS WELL ABOVE UNITY.SOUNDS GREAT JUST NOT AS FUZZY AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,unique sound love it in my distorted channel.
Re: THANKS EVERYONE.MY FUZZ BXXX OUTPUT IS WELL ABOVE UNITY.SOUNDS GREAT JUST NOT AS FUZZY AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,unique sound love it in my distorted channel.
Tommy Bolin used it more like a treble booster with everything maxed out. It really does not get real fuzzy like a Fuzzrite does. More like a booster with some distortion.
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