I want a fuzz pedal...

[The-Kid]

Also OP.

Dont be hung on the Germanium vs Silicon thing.

When I went for my first fuzz tried a bunch and agree @Stratoskater that the Dunlops even vs the feature latent Fulltone had the mojo. Even vs the Wampler Velvet Fuzz for me thr Dunlop won out for that vintage mojo and raw Fuzz Face tone. Simple. I can go into depth but simply Dunlop is the choice for me.


Tried so many damn Germaniums this and that. Even hunted down a First run Dunlop Dallas Arbiter England probably the second best fuzz Ive ever played....


But to me in the end gave the little blue one a test run one day and it had everything Ive been wanting my whole life. And everyone talks trash on silicon, "woptty whoop this whopty whoop that Germanium is better ".....BS

Simple.

So as said. When approaching these Fuzz Face circuits dont overcomplicate things.


Just keep it simple.

Other than Dunlop really look into the Peppermint Fuzz or the Sun Face by Mike at Analongman. @Cerb

Might get a Peppermint fuzz next year....my new years resolution lol

 

[Class A Knob]

A germanium fuzz to be specific. I've been looking at Fulltone 69 mkii and Wren & Cuff Your Face 60. There was also one made by Jam pedals that I found used but the seller had changed his mind about flippin' it and they are much too expensive new.

All of them are between expensive and very expensive. I've tried, owned and looked at cheaper options like Mooer Grey Faze and Outlaw Effects General Fuzz but none really appealed to me.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Fulltone but only because they don't sell the Wren & Cuff at the place where I have my gift certificate

I have owned Dunlop fuzzes and don't like them. They sound good at full tilt but anything other than that turn them into a stinking pile of mud IME. They could as well have saved a few $ by not equipping it with pots and knobs.

Any reccommendstions/experiences? Price ceiling about $220.

There's something magical about germanium diodes. Both Ge and silicon have grit, but Ge has grind.

I know this metaphor goes into "like buddah" territory, but it's hard to put into objective terms. Good luck!

 

[Stratoskater]

This is the one I really wanted, that the seller changed his mind about. They are just too expensive new.

That is an awesome fuzz too.

 

[Cerb]

Also OP.

Dont be hung on the Germanium vs Silicon thing.

When I went for my first fuzz tried a bunch and agree @Stratoskater that the Dunlops even vs the feature latent Fulltone had the mojo. Even vs the Wampler Velvet Fuzz for me thr Dunlop won out for that vintage mojo and raw Fuzz Face tone. Simple. I can go into depth but simply Dunlop is the choice for me.


Tried so many damn Germaniums this and that. Even hunted down a First run Dunlop Dallas Arbiter England probably the second best fuzz Ive ever played....


But to me in the end gave the little blue one a test run one day and it had everything Ive been wanting my whole life. And everyone talks trash on silicon, "woptty whoop this whopty whoop that Germanium is better ".....BS

Simple.

So as said. When approaching these Fuzz Face circuits dont overcomplicate things.


Just keep it simple.

Other than Dunlop really look into the Peppermint Fuzz or the Sun Face by Mike at Analongman. @Cerb

Might get a Peppermint fuzz next year....my new years resolution lol

I've owned the blue Dunlop silicon fuzz. Hated it. Well, not hated. Felt a strong dislike towards it. It all depends on expectatuons though and what you want.

 

[Class A Knob]

Also OP.

Dont be hung on the Germanium vs Silicon thing.

When I went for my first fuzz tried a bunch and agree @Stratoskater that the Dunlops even vs the feature latent Fulltone had the mojo. Even vs the Wampler Velvet Fuzz for me thr Dunlop won out for that vintage mojo and raw Fuzz Face tone. Simple. I can go into depth but simply Dunlop is the choice for me.


Tried so many damn Germaniums this and that. Even hunted down a First run Dunlop Dallas Arbiter England probably the second best fuzz Ive ever played....


But to me in the end gave the little blue one a test run one day and it had everything Ive been wanting my whole life. And everyone talks trash on silicon, "woptty whoop this whopty whoop that Germanium is better ".....BS

Simple.

So as said. When approaching these Fuzz Face circuits dont overcomplicate things.


Just keep it simple.

Other than Dunlop really look into the Peppermint Fuzz or the Sun Face by Mike at Analongman. @Cerb

Might get a Peppermint fuzz next year....my new years resolution lol

Silicon is more stable which is a big deal when gigging (different power supply qualities, temperature, etc).

I favor Ge but definitely like silicon fuzzes too (Swollen Pickle).

 

[Cerb]

There are these too...

 

[Cerb]

Going with the red Dunlop Fuzz Face mini. Got a B-stock significantly cheaper than any of the other pedals.

 

[SlyStrat]

I just ordered the Dunlop GE Fuzz Face.
Had a few boutique fuzz and none turned me on.

 

[Cerb]

I just ordered the Dunlop GE Fuzz Face.
Had a few boutique fuzz and none turned me on.

Yep, that's what I ordered too. Found a B-stock about $60 cheaper than all the other ones. It might arrive by the end of the week buy probably not...

 

[AntStrat]

@The-Kid @Stratoskater

The round Dunlop fuzzes, they confuse me cuz they have several.

I like this one and am willing to take a risk for $120


Or would this be a better way to go?
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/dunlop-germanium-fuzz-face-mini-red-guitar-effects-pedal/h93724000000000?rNtt=Dunlop fuzz&index=2

Relying on your fuzzy experiences and thanks in advance.

 

[nederemer]

Personally in like the zvex fuzz factory.

 

[ThebiggestJerk]

The TC Electronic Rusty Fuzz is a pretty decent clone of the Fuzz Face and can be had for ~ $50 new.

The Behringer Superfuzz is about $25 and has a killer octave property to the #1 fuzz setting, but the boost setting is the best boost I’ve ever used to overdrive a tube amp into saturation, even at low volume.

 

[Stratoskater]

@The-Kid @Stratoskater

The round Dunlop fuzzes, they confuse me cuz they have several.

I like this one and am willing to take a risk for $120


Or would this be a better way to go?
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/dunlop-germanium-fuzz-face-mini-red-guitar-effects-pedal/h93724000000000?rNtt=Dunlop fuzz&index=2

Relying on your fuzzy experiences and thanks in advance.

The band of gypsys is not really a fuzz face. It’s based off of a modified Octavia Hendrix used with the octave removed. It really sounds more like a raw distortion than a fuzz. Still great tones but like the Band of Gypsys shows and not normal Hendrix fuzz tones most people think of.

The red germanium one is excellent if you like the wooly fuzz tones. If you want Hendrix style fuzz I’d go with the light blue Hendrix fuzz with the BC 109 tranny’s. The dark blue silicon fuzz with the BC 108 is a lot more raspy than the light blue one. Also if you play humbucker pickups consider the Joe B fuzz. The EJ fuzz is awesome too but does not come in a mini.

Here are some good videos comparing them. Oh and don’t mind the first one being the full size ones, the minis sound the same.

Happy hunting but I must warn you once you travel down the rabbit hole of fuzz you may never escape

 

[Stratoskater]

The TC Electronic Rusty Fuzz is a pretty decent clone of the Fuzz Face and can be had for ~ $50 new.

The Behringer Superfuzz is about $25 and has a killer octave property to the #1 fuzz setting, but the boost setting is the best boost I’ve ever used to overdrive a tube amp into saturation, even at low volume.

I disagree that the Rusty Fuzz is a good fuzz face clone. It’s a decent fuzz but despite TC claims that it’s inspired by the FF it pales compared to the Dunlop’s and many others.

 

[AntStrat]

The band of gypsys is not really a fuzz face. It’s based off of a modified Octavia Hendrix used with the octave removed. It really sounds more like a raw distortion than a fuzz. Still great tones but like the Band of Gypsys shows and not normal Hendrix fuzz tones most people think of.

The red germanium one is excellent if you like the wooly fuzz tones. If you want Hendrix style fuzz I’d go with the light blue Hendrix fuzz with the BC 109 tranny’s. The dark blue silicon fuzz with the BC 108 is a lot more raspy than the light blue one. Also if you play humbucker pickups consider the Joe B fuzz. The EJ fuzz is awesome too but does not come in a mini.

Here are some good videos comparing them. Oh and don’t mind the first one being the full size ones, the minis sound the same.

Happy hunting but I must warn you once you travel down the rabbit hole of fuzz you may never escape

Big thanks

 

[The-Kid]

I've owned the blue Dunlop silicon fuzz. Hated it. Well, not hated. Felt a strong dislike towards it. It all depends on expectatuons though and what you want.

Yeah you either like it or you dont but just saw you got a Germanium one.

Dont foget to adjust the trimp pot on the inside.

I feel a 7.5 feed is good. You can easily calculate how much your feeding it by breaking up the dials into quarters. Quarter dial is 2.25 volts, halfway 4.5, 3/4 turn is 6.75 full turn is 9 volts...

You dont want it 9 volts ans you want jt a bit aboce that 3/4 turn to get around 7 or a hair just above. Start at that 3/4 turn and slowly move hair by hair and dial in the tone you want.


After you do this close it up and play and leave it like that forever.

 

[The-Kid]

@The-Kid @Stratoskater

The round Dunlop fuzzes, they confuse me cuz they have several.

I like this one and am willing to take a risk for $120


Or would this be a better way to go?
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/dunlop-germanium-fuzz-face-mini-red-guitar-effects-pedal/h93724000000000?rNtt=Dunlop fuzz&index=2

Relying on your fuzzy experiences and thanks in advance.

Yes that one is a fuzz face. The other one is more like a DS pedal.




As said I personally prefer the blue but the red one is dope too.

 

[The-Kid]

Also never use a Fuzz on an already broken up tone or with no head room.


Headroom is your friend but there is a balance too add some preamp. To much preamps with an FF and they sound to whooly and farty. Not enough to thin.

Find the right balance but dont use to much preamp gain with one or break up.

 

[AntStrat]

Yes that one is a fuzz face. The other one is more like a DS pedal.




As said I personally prefer the blue but the red one is dope too.

Thanks for the response.

What do you like about the blue one?

 

[The-Kid]

9

Thanks for the response.

What do you like about the blue one?

Like everything, no fluctuation in temperature. Performs the same everytime, more gain on tap, cleans up well, not as dark and more bright but still mid heavy, cuts through more, more articulate. It also just rips where as I feel the red one get muddy.


The Red one for me has nowhere near the gain I was looking for and it quickly got sent back. Also it really added alot more warmth and bass than I really wanted so when I tried the blue one it was like night and day.


My advice get one if you dont like it send it back for the other and chances are all the things you didnt like about the other one the other one will solve.

I got the first runs of these and still have my Blue mini, yeah its been through a lot but still works like a champ.