MXR El Grande mod for less fuzz?

john keates · #1 07-20-2009, 06:14 PM

I really like my El Grande fuzz with the fuzz control right down and my bass volume down too so I can get a clean sound if I play quite and then lots of bite if I play loud but I don't want to have to be fiddling with my basses volume on stage. I would like to mod the pot to make it naturally much less fuzzy and I had a little poke around in there but I'm not sure what to do.

Any ideas?

bongomania · #2 07-20-2009, 06:39 PM

If the idea is to reduce the level of your signal on the way in to the circuit, then you could put a resistor in series between the bypass switch and the input stage of the effect. I'm not sure what value would work best for you, some experimentation may be necessary.

MAMMOTHvolume · #3 07-20-2009, 06:57 PM

maybe look into a lower gain pedal, or wack a volume pedal infront of it

loendmaestro · #4 07-20-2009, 07:13 PM

yeah man, I really wanted to like the El Grande but I found that it was just WAY too much with no middle ground....

Silent Fly · #5 07-21-2009, 02:13 AM

I suspect you may need to change the clipping (and possibly the filtering that follows) to achieve a more moderate effect.

Nothing that cannot be done but it is not easy.

john keates · #6 07-21-2009, 05:40 AM

Thanks for the advice guys! I might try putting a resister in the input first and see where that gets me.

john keates · #7 07-21-2009, 07:31 AM

I had another look in there and I think I found the place where I want to put the restister. However, the wire is printed on and I guess I would have to scratch it off and solder on the resister hoping that it makes a connection. Anyone have experience with this or know where I can read about it?

Silent Fly · #8 07-21-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john keates

...However, the wire is printed on and I guess I would have to scratch it off and solder on the resister hoping that it makes a connection....

I am not sure I understand... Could you take a picture?

bongomania · #9 07-21-2009, 11:02 AM

He's talking about traces on the circuitboard. The solution is to make your connections at the points where the previous and following components join the board. So instead of cutting the trace and trying to solder a wire to the ends of the trace, you'd just attach one leg of your resistor to the last leg of the previous component in line, and the second leg of your resistor to the first leg of the next component. And cut the trace between them, since current follows the path of least resistance.

john keates · #10 07-21-2009, 12:27 PM

Yeah, I was thinking of doing that, but the beginning and ends of the trace are conceiled under components (the input jack and the bypass switch). I might have to just turn the volume down on my bass... or forget about the whole idea.

Thanks eveyone for your suggestions.