Univox Super Fuzz clone
This is a clone of the old Univox Super Fuzz circuit. I used the JMK Super Duper Fuzz PCB, which seems to be the most accurate commercial PCB currently available.
I've built a fair number of Super Fuzz clones and this is where I am right now. In the past I've used BC549B and BC549C transistors. I've also used 2N5088 transistors before. All with an hFE over 350 or so. Because I thought that was where the original transistors lived.
Because the originals used 2SC828 transistors. What I didn't realize until recently is that there were several versions of those transistors. The original Super Fuzz used Matsushita 2SC828-Q transistors. Those had a range from 130 - 280 hFE, but most of them were apparently around 180 hFE. I was seeing a lot of the more recent 2SC828-R (hFE 180 - 360) and 2SC828-S (hFE 260 - 520) transistors and thought the old pedals had a lot more gain under the hood.
So this pedal uses 2SC2655-Y transistors with an hFE of about 180 each. I matched Q4 and Q5 for a more pronounced octave effect. I think it's as close as I've come so far to the original Super Fuzz sound.
I also use the original germanium OA-90 diodes and German WIMA box capacitors.
The last piece of this puzzle is a steel enclosure very similar to the original enclosure. I powder coat them myself for durability. It's tough to drill these steel beasts, but they come out just as heavy and indestructible as the originals.
So that's the recipe.
Univox Super Fuzz clone
This is a clone of the old Univox Super Fuzz circuit. I used the JMK Super Duper Fuzz PCB, which seems to be the most accurate commercial PCB currently available.
I've built a fair number of Super Fuzz clones and this is where I am right now. In the past I've used BC549B and BC549C transistors. I've also used 2N5088 transistors before. All with an hFE over 350 or so. Because I thought that was where the original transistors lived.
Because the originals used 2SC828 transistors. What I didn't realize until recently is that there were several versions of those transistors. The original Super Fuzz used Matsushita 2SC828-Q transistors. Those had a range from 130 - 280 hFE, but most of them were apparently around 180 hFE. I was seeing a lot of the more recent 2SC828-R (hFE 180 - 360) and 2SC828-S (hFE 260 - 520) transistors and thought the old pedals had a lot more gain under the hood.
So this pedal uses 2SC2655-Y transistors with an hFE of about 180 each. I matched Q4 and Q5 for a more pronounced octave effect. I think it's as close as I've come so far to the original Super Fuzz sound.
I also use the original germanium OA-90 diodes and German WIMA box capacitors.
The last piece of this puzzle is a steel enclosure very similar to the original enclosure. I powder coat them myself for durability. It's tough to drill these steel beasts, but they come out just as heavy and indestructible as the originals.
So that's the recipe.