DIY Fuzz box and tone control placement help, please.

davelowell2 · #1 07-29-2010, 04:49 PM

I've built the Bazz Fuss. Several versions. Some worked better than others, one I gave to a guitar player friend, he likes it.

I've decided to build my own be all end all bass box.

I want the Bazz Fuss circuit, v1.
(http://www.home-wrecker.com/bazz.html)

I want to put 6 different diode configurations on a 6 way rotary.

I want the Big Muff Tone Control with body and tone pots.
(http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages...ffToneControl/)

I want a 6 way rotary switch with caps for high cutting.

This is all in a box with two dpdt switches. I don't want or need led's so no 3pdt's, thanks.

My problem...

I can't seem to get the tone control and body pots to work properly. I have a feeling it's because of the location I've used. Where should they go? I assume after the diodes and before the volume pot, but the tone acts as a volume and the body does nothing. Any help?

Once there was a nice guy on here named Stuggi and he helped me with a diagram. That diagram is now lost and he has not responded to my PM's. Is there anyone else out there willing to draw up or even just point to where I could put the tone control?

Thanks in advance.

karter2000 · #2 07-29-2010, 04:57 PM

It may be because the Big Muff tone control is passive, and may be loading down the signal after the diodes. The impedance in that section of the circuit may not be enough to drive the tone controls. The Big Muff actually uses a recovery gain stage after the tone section.

As far as where to put the tone controls, I'm not 100% sure. As you know, the Bazz Fuss is a pretty simple circuit. You could try breadboarding the circuit to see which works best. Beavis has a layout and example circuit for breadboarding the Bazz Fuss.

davelowell2 · #3 07-29-2010, 05:26 PM

Thanks. But the tone pot is acting like a volume with the body pot dooing nothing. It seems like I've either wired something wrong or I put it in the wrong place.

davelowell2 · #4 07-30-2010, 02:28 PM

Can anybody shed some light on where a tone control should go on a Bazz Fuss?

neuman · #5 07-30-2010, 02:55 PM

The bazz fuss I built as spec'd and added the beavis tone stack onto the output of the bazz fuss and ran the tone output (I believe lug 2 but don't hold me to that) to the output jack or to the circuit out lug on the 3pdt stompswitch.

gmr1 · #6 07-30-2010, 05:53 PM

As mentioned, Just tack the tone control on the output of the circuit, and the tone control output becomes your circuit out. IIRC, that's what the big muff does (with a gain recovery stage after the tone stack to get back the volume lost in the passive tone stage).

I like the big muff tone control with a mosfet boost behind it. Makes for a nice combo on it's own, or on the backend of another circuit.

davelowell2 · #7 08-02-2010, 08:22 AM

Thanks, guys. I'll give a another shot after a few days of not looking at it.

davelowell2 · #8 08-03-2010, 03:53 PM

So, my tone stack does work. It just didn't work when it was in the circuit. I took it out and made it a pedal, it worked, then I put a LPB1 right after it and it was lots better. Looks like I'll just add another stage but without the diode. Maybe I'll leave it in, I don't know.

I've got another question for you Diy'ers out there. In my box I want to have the caps that reduce highs on a switch as well as the fuzz.

I'd like to be able to use either on or off at any time. How do I wire this up? Anyone care to take a stab at a diagram just for the switches part? Thanks in advance!

moose23 · #9 08-03-2010, 04:50 PM

I would use a passive high cut control with just one pot and a cap for rolling off highs. You just wire it up the same as wiring up the other switch.

BritPicker · #10 08-03-2010, 06:22 PM

This was going to be my next project too!

I think I will try to do this, based on what's been said here..

Bass Fuss (adding an input gain)

Into the 2 pot Muff Tone circuit,

Then the LPB1 clean boost at the end.

I don't think I'll bother with the switchable caps - surely the tone controls will suffice?

Hookus · #11 08-04-2010, 07:10 PM

Some photos would help.

Do you have a coupling cap between the tone and fuzz circuits? Have you tried the Fuzz by itself?

I never solder anything until I have breadboarded it first. You save a lot of headaches this way.

tomhanzo · #12 08-05-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davelowell2

So, my tone stack does work. It just didn't work when it was in the circuit. I took it out and made it a pedal, it worked, then I put a LPB1 right after it and it was lots better. Looks like I'll just add another stage but without the diode. Maybe I'll leave it in, I don't know.

I've got another question for you Diy'ers out there. In my box I want to have the caps that reduce highs on a switch as well as the fuzz.

I'd like to be able to use either on or off at any time. How do I wire this up? Anyone care to take a stab at a diagram just for the switches part? Thanks in advance!

Ok so your wanting to be able to bypass your high cutter section?

I think, if so just add a dpdt switch there and wire it like this

moose23 · #13 08-06-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomhanzo

Ok so your wanting to be able to bypass your high cutter section?

I think, if so just add a dpdt switch there and wire it like this

looks right to me