EH Switchblade to Harmonic Jerkulator (Redux)

A request for interesting fuzz pedals on an online forum made me suggest a number of circuits. The Harmonic Jerkulator was chosen. I took a commission and built a version of Tim Escobedo's circuit (with silicon transistors and no clipping diodes) into an EH Switchblade pedal. I think it was a success, from treble boost to chunky, gated-fuzz.



It's not going to make all guitarists sound like Steve Albini, but it has a character unlike many other fuzzes and overdrives that is fun to play. I was not trying to recreate the original Harmonic Percolator (by Interfax), but to make a pedal which could give a range of tones that would have impact when used live, and would deliver useful shelving (without needing to use extra EQ) when used in a studio.

It creates plenty of hiss and rumble, and even had traces of radio ghost voices in some settings; It does a great job of distorting that is not done by digital plug-ins.

Oh Yeah - Belfast Record Fair 220912

The Oh Yeah Centre Belfast will be hosting another Record Fair on Saturday 22 September.

There will be a host of my creations available to try and buy.
Here are some prototype enclosures with laser cut zigzags:


Blurb from their site:
"
The quarterly Belfast Record Fair, wth a variety of stalls to meet all your music needs. This month for the first time the record fair will feature special vinyl only DJ sets, plus live beatboxing and turntablism.

www.facebook.com/belfastrecordfair

Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15-21 Gordon St, Belfast, BT1 2LG

12pm - 5pm

"

Recycling towards fuzz...

I have recently acquired some equipment from a plaster/dirt filled storage room after a recent stage area refurbishment. From the wreckage I got two chunky boxes covered in AV sockets. The enclosures were battered, and their contents a spaghetti-episode mess. I took a while to separate it all, and now I have a want to design a distortion circuit with XLR connections - A vocal muff maybe? From some old VHS gear I've also found some small transformers, diodes, and such - Maybe get an Octaver of some sort in the mix?

I imagine this could be a project with many iterations...updates as I find time.

Build-A-Fuzz

Build-A-Fuzz
Workshop for beginners.
Build an individualised fuzz circuit in four hours
Learn basic soldering.
No knowledge of physics is required.

Date:
Saturday 30 Jun 2012
1.00PM - 5.00PM

Address:
Upstairs workshop behind the big grey doors.
1b Jameson Street, Belfast
(Beside Kurl Up & Dye hairdressers, across from the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road)

To book a place contact - dodgystereo@gmail.com

Places limited to four per session.
Cost - £35 or £40 with an aluminium box

http://www.facebook.com/events/243364025781542/

You will have a functional 9v battery powered fuzz circuit with control knob, jack sockets, and stomp switch. Enclosure optional.

FET Booster / Vox Tonebender Tribute

Another two circuits I found online - tweaked to have the dodgy kind of character I like.

FET Booster
This is based on Donald Tillman's circuit (read his article, "An FET Preamp Cable"). I tried four different FETs before choosing the one which produced the most interesting grit when cranked up full.

Vox Tonebender Tribute 1
Based on a layout by Richard Boop. I've tried a variety of PNPs; they're socketed as I haven't settled on a pair yet. They're all producing bright, high gain, silicon fuzz so far, which I like. The original specified germanium transistors (SFT363/SFT337).

I changed capacitor values from the originals a little on each build. I've played them through two different practice amps and they both do different jobs. The FET booster is good for clipped rhythm work and the Tonebender does heavy riffs and solo wailing well.

Build-A-Fuzz Trial Workshop 310312

I've moved some tools and components into a new workshop space above pxyl. There is more work to be done to optimise the space, but it's got off to a good start with a successful trial run of a build-a-fuzz workshop.

Two guinea pigs took part. They built their fuzzboxes by combining two versions of the bazz fuss circuit as starting points on bread boards, then experimenting with a variety of transistors, capacitors and diodes to find their own unique voicing, before soldering it to vero board. Satisfying DIY.

UPDATE
Here's a video of one of the builds with a bass guitar:

Harmonic Jekulator Tribute 170312

Circuit based on Tim Escobedo's Harmonic Jerkulator. This is based on the original Harmonic Percolator. Click the link and enjoy some words from Steve Albini.

Zvex SHO Tribute, Touch Bleep

Here are some more fresh builds made for the market this Sunday.
My first painted pedal enclosure. It's got lots of layers - should take a few kicks before chips appear, I hope.
Isopropyl wipe (1 wipe)
Etch primer (2 coats)
Acrylic paint (2/3 coats)
Acrylic lacquer (4 coats)

Boost/drive circuit. Based on the famous Zvex SHO, with some tweaks.

Another 9v noise synth using a 40106 and 6 contact points to control 3 oscillators.

Black Box Bazaar - Jordan Bosstone, Amp/Boost, Bleep Box 2nd Edition

Black Box Bazaar this Sunday.
I have some new builds for sale.

The latest (and most playful) little edition of Bleep Boxes

an amp/booster

and a few fuzz boxes.