Compared a store-bought Fuzz Face clone to my own vero build last weekend...

I A/B'd a $60 commercial fuzz against my hand-wired version using the exact same schematic and the difference was night and day. My build had way more punch and clarity, probably from using carbon comp resistors and a real germanium transistor instead of surface mount parts. Has anyone else noticed how much better their DIY pedals sound than the factory stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordan30526d ago

That sixty dollar fuzz you mentioned - was it one of the Dunlop mini Fuzz Faces or something else like a Mooer or Joyo clone? I ask because I've torn apart a couple cheap fuzz pedals myself and the difference I noticed wasn't just the components. It was the way the circuit board was laid out and how long the wires were running from the jacks to the board. Even with good parts, a messy layout can kill the tone on a simple circuit like a Fuzz Face. Did you keep your vero build's wiring short and tight, or did you just focus on the transistor type?

the_jessica26d ago

Yes, jordan305, it was definitely a Dunlop Mini Fuzz Face and I agree with you completely on the layout thing. I had a cheap Mooer that sounded fine for about five minutes before it turned into a tinny mess and when I popped it open the wires were literally twice as long as they needed to be, just flopping around in there. For my vero build I kept everything super tight with the jacks right against the board and it made a way bigger difference than I was expecting, actually beating out the Dunlop on sustain.