Fuzz pedal working great with pre-buffers?

[Sascha Franck]

So folks, this is what I want.

A fuzz pedal giving me all the typical glory without sounding like ass once there's a buffer in front (which is always the case in my setup - and it won't change any day soon). And in case that's relevant, there's even a full ADDA cycle in front (all dirt pedals are sitting in the loop of my GT-1000). I do however defenitely suspect the buffering aspect to be the main issue as all other pedals in that loop (BE-OD, The Dude, TC Magus, Wampler Triumph right now) are working every bit as they should.

At the moment, for a sort of fuzzy sound I'm using a rat-clone-ish TC Magus Pro in turbo mode, which is fine but a) not just there and b) requiring too much gain to exhibit it's fuzzy potential.

The only real candidate on my list right now is the VS Audio Pandora Fuzz + Boost, which seems to be built explicitely to work well with buffers, but it doesn't seem to clean up just as well as a "real" fuzz and could as well have a tad more of the "gnarly, raspy dirt", so to say. Also, I think it's a little too expensive and I wouldn't need the (non-adjustable anyway) boost at all.



Any other potential candidates?
Thanks!

 

[Sascha Franck]

I should possibly add that I'm no corksniffer at all, so in case things don't sound 1:1 like the real deal (whatever that might be), I'd still be perfectly fine.

 

[Sascha Franck]

There's this video of Mr. Thorn pretty much describing what I'd like to achieve (but he explicitely says that the very pedal won't work the same with buffers upfront):



Mike Landau (and obviously Eric Johnson and tons of others) is doing that a lot live, too, and I absolutely love the flexibility.
As said, it's not about getting the same sound (I'm usually on pseudo single coil humbuckers anyway), just that there should be some kinda fuzzy goodness when I slam it and a great cleanup when dialing back the volume pot.

 

[laxu]

Boss FZ-1W seems to be fine with buffers. It's main stupidity is that it defaults to ON.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

The main two I know about are the Thorpyfx Tacit Blue and Phil Robinson Silicon Phuzz. Both are based on Fuzzface and both have a transformer at the input so will work with buffers in front. Annoyingly though both are discontinued and will need to be bought used.

I can guarantee the Tacit Blue works well after a buffer and cleans up really well because I've just built one for my own board.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I forgotthis one, it will work anywhere in your chain too. Takes a few weeks from order to dispatch but you could buy new without having to hunt down a used pedal.

The Pompeii

Our Flagship Model: A transparently buffered Fuzz Face

bigmonkdevices.com

 

[FuzzyAce]

It has a buffer switch for those times you want or need it. It does effect the tone when engaged but not negatively imo. It's a bit less gainy and clearer that way which can be useful on it's own.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Magnetic Effects White Atom is my choice. I have the 5 knob version.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I forgotthis one, it will work anywhere in your chain too. Takes a few weeks from order to dispatch but you could buy new without having to hunt down a used pedal.

The Pompeii

Our Flagship Model: A transparently buffered Fuzz Face

bigmonkdevices.com

I see someone copied my face?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Magnetic Effects White Atom is my choice. I have the 5 knob version.
View attachment 43033

I forgot about the white atom. They're discontinued now too aren't they?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I see someone copied my face?

They don't have your wonderful hair though.

 

[FuzzyAce]

They don't have your wonderful hair though.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I forgot about the white atom. They're discontinued now too aren't they?

Yeah. But you can still get one. It’s the only fuzz I’ve ever got along with.

I’m going to trace the circuit and make a PCB.

… one day.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Yeah. But you can still get one. It’s the only fuzz I’ve ever got along with.

I’m going to trace the circuit and make a PCB.

… one day.

That's be cool. I'd like to see the circuit. It's a hybrid silicon and germanium fuzz isn't it? Probably germanium Q1 and silicon Q2 for stability.

 

[the swede]

He eats everything and simply does not care. He spits it out on the ground because nothing really deserves his attention.

the drama aside… I don’t know the technical bits but buffer or no buffer, it remains the same. I tried that when I had HX Stomp and Carcosa was fine in the fx loop with other pedals as well. And now I have it after a compressor and overdrive that both aren’t true bypass.
I’m not a fuzz guy really, but I’ve always liked this pedal because it’s fairly silent also when on…. Until you touch him… I think there’s a gate in there also.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Boss FZ-1W seems to be fine with buffers. It's main stupidity is that it defaults to ON.

I should really check that out.

Thorpyfx Tacit Blue and Phil Robinson Silicon Phuzz.

Wow, they both go for <€200, or rather 300...

I forgotthis one, it will work anywhere in your chain too. Takes a few weeks from order to dispatch but you could buy new without having to hunt down a used pedal.

The Pompeii

Our Flagship Model: A transparently buffered Fuzz Face

bigmonkdevices.com

Not shipping to the EU.

Magnetic Effects White Atom is my choice. I have the 5 knob version.

Not bad. Would have to buy from Italy, though, so in the end I may end up paying more than for the VS Audio.

It has a buffer switch for those times you want or need it. It does effect the tone when engaged but not negatively imo. It's a bit less gainy and clearer that way which can be useful on it's own.

Another decent contender as it seems. Pretty expensive, though.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Boss FZ-1W seems to be fine with buffers. …

There’s a model of the FZ-2 in the Helix. It’s called Wringer or something like that. It’s pretty good but not sure if it differs from the FZ-1.

... It's main stupidity is that it defaults to ON.

You can change that behavior by swapping the caps and resistors in the flip flop circuit.

 

[Sascha Franck]

There’s a model of the FZ-2 in the Helix. It’s called Wringer or something like that. It’s pretty good but not sure if it differs from the FZ-1.

Hm, I gotta say I never liked any of the HX fuzzes unless I really set the input impedance pretty low - and that's not an option this time.
But then, I'm sure Boss knows how to deal with buffer issues as all of their pedals are buffered bypass ones, so maybe the hardware version is made to work within a buffered environment.

 

[StarF666]

There is a transformer based circuit that makes any fuzz buffer friendly. The basics are described here:

Guitar Pickups Simulation

Schematics & circuits for guitar effects with vacuum tubes and solid state electronics. FREE downloads of schematics such as TS-9, Fuzz Face and other classic rock devices.

www.muzique.com

A demo video of that very circuit can be watched here:



It's a very simple diy project but I'm not aware of a ready to buy product in Germany or Europe.

 

[jellodog]

The Benson Germanium Fuzz has an impedance control.

It doesn't care what's in front of it.