If your only experience of a Fuzz Face is the "Fuzz" setting on a digital model then, like me, you will probably have disregarded it as a useless effect. Only once you have experienced the warmth, tone, and control of a real germanium fuzz will you understand why this is the most enduring guitar sound of all time. Read on.......

A modern take on the classic Dallas Arbiter Fuzz-Face circuit using a hybrid germanium / silicon design which gives all the warm sounding fuzz of the original without all the problems caused by pure germanium circuit.

Why hybrid? Well basically it is because germanium transistors are rubbish - no two perform in the same way and none of them match the data sheet. It is the stuff of music legend that out of every box of new Fuzz Faces only two or three produced the "Jimi" sound, the rest were clunkers. Hendrix certainly used pedals that had been fettled rather than rely on pot luck with the stock items.

By using Silicon in the first stage it is possible to overcome a lot of the problems with variance in the Germanium second stage without sacrificing the sound. It also allows me to use a wider range of these precious and rare items.

I have a small stock of AC128 transistors and will continue to use them while they are available, mainly because these are the ones that were used in the first Fuzz Faces (many other types appeared in later models). I also have AC188s which are basically a lower voltage version of the AC128 and sound the same to all but Superman, or possibly Spiderman. I have a few AC122s which do sound a bit different, slightly less warm, and will fit those if you require. No matter which type used the sound is still warm and fuzzy, not at all like the hard sound of silicon. Or the horror that is digital!

Sample sound file:
Recorded through a Roland Cube 60 (JC120 model, flat EQ) into Cubase SX
Stratocaster middle p/u. Gain 90%