Topic: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
Does Joe use a silicon or a germanium Fuzz Face? 
- AD3THREE
- BONAMETAL
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
On youtube there is a video of him talking about his amps and pedals. He said it was a Fuzz Face built for Eric Johnson but he didn't like it so he ended up with it. Seeing how Eric Johnson is a tone freak and germanium is the holy grail so they say I would think it is germanium. Thats totally speculation though. Maybe Joe could tell us.
Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
Yea, I've been checking those videos too, as well as searching around the internet for information. I'm looking for a nice fuzz pedal, but in a smaller enclose than the fuzz faces. I really like Joe's fuzz tone, so I thought it'd be good to know if it is GE or SI transistors.
There's so many pedals out there so I gotta have some "guidelines" as I'm trying to find The one!
- AD3THREE
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
I hear you man. With the price of those pedals these days you gotta make sure its killer before you drop the cash on something. I had an old dunlop cry baby and it was ok but it was silicon. The new Jimi Hendrix pedal they make I think is supposed to have germanium. I also had an Electro Harminex USA Big Muff which was killer. It had much better range and sustain then the Fuzz Face with less noise. Plus they come in micros. It might be a bit over the top though for Joes tone. You should ask him sometimes he responds.
- JohnTB
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
Germanium tranistors (of good quality) are hard to come by if I was you I'd go on ebay and look for a fulltone '69 thats been the best sounding fuzz I've ever messed with..
Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
This is why I want to start a pedal exchange program. It all comes down to trust but I think if we as a JB community pulled together we could swap pedals out, try them, if if it's what we're after then we don't have to worry about throwing down $200-$400 on a pedal.
- mitch
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
DannyG wrote:
This is why I want to start a pedal exchange program. It all comes down to trust but I think if we as a JB community pulled together we could swap pedals out, try them, if if it's what we're after then we don't have to worry about throwing down $200-$400 on a pedal.
Guys-
Eric Johnson uses mostly Silicon FF's - I had the honour of talking to him way back in 1999 when I attended the Alien Love Child shows in Austin TX- the shows were taped for the subsequent live CD 'Live & beyond'. Eric said he preferred them as they had more gain than germanium. I have several FF's in my collection- Germanium is cool- but they're very temperamental to temperature changes & often give a much muddier tone.
I suspect the FF Joe's using is a Silicone version very similar to the Jimi Hendrix Dunlop re-issue, it certainly sounds that way to me. I tried to audition one today to see how it compared to my vintage late 60's collection- but the price put me off here in the UK- $329 !!! You guys over in the US can get them for way less- let me know what you think... It'd be worth me buying from the US despite rubbish 'credit crunch' exchange rates & the usual rip-offs via customs! ;-)
Cheers!
This don't look like no express way to me...
- AD3THREE
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
It just doens't seem right that a pedal like that would cost $329. I'm sure there is stuff over there that sounds as good for less isn't there?
- mitch
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Re: Joe's Fuzz Face transistors?
There is stuff over here as good - just I wanted the rather neato turquoise re-issue (sigh) it'd be nice (just for once) not to be ripped off big time for the majority of music kit over here- of course I guess Marshalls are cheaper! ;-) !!!
Actually, the Fuzz Face is a really simple circuit & pretty easy to build if you're handy with a soldering iron. I've built several and for a few $$$'s you can easily build a great sounding unit- especially the silicone variety. Silicone BC108's give the best tone imho -
there's plenty of good stuff on the web on how you can build 'em... if anyone needs help or is interested mail me off the forum.
This don't look like no express way to me...