Maestro fuzztone fz1b transistors circuit board of the m. Still a cool fuzz, but not the same muscle as the fz 1. However, i cant help but think neither of them sound quite as close to the real thing. These are general purpose germanium intended for audio frequency. The schematics and layouts are known to work, but you may have to do some debugging or component switching to get them to work properly. These fuzz boxes incorporated germanium transistors in. Fuzz the greatest sound on planet earth bjf pedals. Over 40,000 of this lower powered version were made. Dont miss out on this opportunity to own this limited edition fuzztone fz 1a reissue. Its built with 2n270 germanium transistors and runs on 3v like the original old pedal. It was characterized by an important boost of the high frequencies. Transistors, however, have two pn junctions instead of just one like a diode has. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
The fuzztone was also known as the fz 1 using 3v and soon afterwards was relased again as fz 1a using only 1. The fz 1 used pnp 2n270 transistors in the same circuit with different resistor values and required two penlights. The fz 1a used pnp 2n26 or 2n2614 transistors and was powered from one aa penlight. From what i have gathered, the first sekova branded pedal was a 3 germanium transistor, wedgeshaped fuzz that came about in the mid 60s. Gibson maestro fz 1a fuzztone guitar effects pedal original fuzztone fz1a. The two pn junctions allow a transistor to perform more functions than a diode, such as acting as a switch or an amplifier. Rf transformers rf transformers are widely used in lowpower electronic circuits for impedance matching to achieve maximum power transfer, for voltage stepup or step down, and for isolating dc from two circuits while maintaining ac continuity. Fuzz help, please satisfaction guitar tone fractal. Demonstration record 1972 by adriancopenhagen 20412 maestro fz 1b and fz 1s by jerms 20150310 maestro fuzztone fz 1s by alex t 201509 maestro fuzztone fz 1s vintage fuzz by alex t 20160508 maestro fuzztone fz1s trial by psych up melodies 20160808 maestro fuzz tone fz 1s by. Transistor modification replaced current transistors with geranium oc44 pnp transistors to capture the vintage sound. The fz 1 fuzz tone was introduced in the early 60s and ranks as absolutely classic vintage guitar effect. Jun 30, 2015 electro harmonix lpb1 and its siblings the lpb1 was the first effect made by mike matthews and electro harmonix.
It uses oldstock, matched germanium transistors to nail that raspy, 60s70s tone, but has the features that let it play gracefully on a modern pedalboard. This is an original maestro fuzz tone fz 1a serial number 6504. The name of the model is clearly written on the front of the enclosure, with fz 1a instead of fz 1. It is in need of repair and in need of new transistors.
So i am going to try some other pnps and humbuckers to see what sounds best. Gibson maestro fuzz tone reissue fz1a vintage guitars. Other variants followed like the fz 1b and the maestro mfz fuzz, but they were already different beasts operating on 9v batteries and sounded quite different than their predecessors. This kit is named in homage for the two names that appear on the us patent for the fuzz toneglenn snoddy and revis hobbs. The pedal is in great working order and cosmetic condition isas pictured the maestro fuzz tone fz 1b is the successor to the maestro fz 1 and fz 1a. Ibanez fz 5 jordan bosstone kay fuzztone maestro fuzz maestro fz 1 1a maestro superfuzz fz 1s maestro g2 rhythmnsound mosrite fuzzrite nobels fuz olson new fuzz roger mayer classic fuzz selmer buzztone shinei fy2 srs fuzz univox superfuzz vox suppatonebender vox tonebender noise gate line drivers boss nf1 dod fx30 mxr m5 roger. These schematics and pcb layouts carry no guarantee or warranty. Contrary to the other threetransistor fuzztones, the fz1b is a twotransistor. Fz t649 features mechanical data diodes incorporated.
Like many other effects at the time, it was housed in a small box that plugged directly into your guitar. The dallasarbiter fuzz face with ac128 germanium transistors. Especially stuff thats a bit jaggedy, edgy, and maybe a bit to thin or papery. What makes an electric guitar sound like an electric. Against this original 2n2614 transistors, with little or no attack pot excursion, aka max it or it wont fuzz, my clone is. I love doing research, both historical and technical. The maestro fz1 contained a three germanium transistor circuit with rca 2n270 devices. Find great deals on ebay for maestro fuzz tone and maestro fuzztone. The fuzz tones are pretty decent, and its meant to model the fuzzface, fz 1a and octavia. Guitar effects have a very rich history going back nearly sixty years since the maestro fz1a hit stores and speakers in 1962. Fz 1a fuzztone reissue reproduction of original instructions with schematics. Maestro fz 1b vintage fuzz 2 transistor edition nos parts guitar pedal. Maestro fuzztone fz1 guts the guts of my maestro fuzz.
Historical fuzz, distortion and overdrivedevices gitec. It faithfully reproduces the sound of models equipped with 2n2614 germanium transistors. From schematics i found online and my own research, the only differences are the use of 2n270 transistors and 20uf caps in the fz 1 versus 2n26 or 2n2614 and 1 uf caps in the fz 1a. Fz t649 25v npn high performance transistor in sot223 features bvceo 25v ic 3a high continuous current icm 8a peak pulse current low saturation voltage vcesat 1a complementary pnp type. Beatles wanted to use the gibson fz1 fuzz tone as early as 1963 on the song. Three transistors are employed, the first of which q1 is configured as an emitter follower where the base of the transistor serves as the input, the emitter is the output, and the collector is common to. Les transistors au germanium sont extremement rares aujourdhui. Transistors are made from the same ntype and ptype materials as diodes and employ the same principles. Retrotone knowledge skills supplies services this is a simple list i have been compiling over the years. The first massproduced box was the gibson maestro fz 1a fuzztone, which launched in 1962, right at the birth of british rock. The stories are interesting and the designs are fascinating.
Jun 19, 20 i totally get what youre saying, especially the chore of it. What are some good germanium equvialents to the original 2n26s. But the unchartered territory of the drive models was too tempting and here we have it. It even contains the original wiring diagram glued to the inside. Schematics and printed circuit board layouts for rare pedals like the tycobrahe octavia. This was made by the electronics division of gibson, inc in kalamazoo, mi. It would be real great to get this pedal up and running. It was quite similar to its predecessor but there was now a resistor from the base of the second transistor to the supply voltage, at last giving this q2 a most formally set operating point. Schematics, product picture illustration, semiconductor generic reference numbers. The fuzz eone is a clone of the famous gibsonmaestro fz1a, the satisfaction fuzz. Dec 15, 2014 watch in 360 the inside of a nuclear reactor from the size of an atom with virtual reality duration.
Maestro fz1 patent 333k,pdf the patent awarded may 3. Its circuit went through at least one minor update in the years. And yes, fuzz and modern high gain amps dont play nice at all. The maestro fz 1 fuzztone was the first fuzz distortion device to become widely available on the market for electric guitars and basses, although there had been other prototype devices made. They are also used for common mode rejection and as baluns. Maestro fz 1 along with its almost identical update the fz 1a. Based on the first guitar pedal ever made, the 1962 gibson maestro fz 1 fuzztone. The fz 1 and fz 1a used largely the same circuitry with three germanium transistors, though the fz 1 was powered by two 1. The 1962 maestro fuzz tone fz1 gibson owned the maestro brand name at the time is. The guts of my maestro fuzztone fz 1, made in 1962.
Automotive semiconductors contents present status and future prospects of 40. Mark has already drawn the maestro fz 1, so heres my layout for the fz 1a. Compared to the amplifier models, information about the drive models is scarce. Against this original 2n2614 transistors, with little or no attack pot excursion, aka max it or it wont fuzz, my clone is a pot full of sweet spots. I repaired refreshed five fz 1a pedals for a collector client this. All three of these fuzzes are pretty iconic in the fuzz world, and theyve helped create a majority of the old school 60s70s tones that were famous back in the day. The gibsonmaestro fz1 is often called the satisfaction fuzz, because keith. If you didnt know, the maestro fuzztone was the first transistorized guitar effect. Vintage gibson 1966 maestro fuzztone pedale fz1a ebay.
The maestro fz1 fuzztone was the first fuzz distortion device to become widely available on. There were only around 5000 of these little monsters produced in 62. This project is an adaptation of the famous maestro fuzz tone fz 1a. The fz 1 bore the manufacturing location of kalamazoo, michigan. Effects heaven effect schematics mxr ibanez boss dod. They also all rely on simple, transistor based circuits and come from an era of electronics when component tolerance was rather loose. Mar 04, 2015 the first massproduced box was the gibson maestro fz1a fuzztone, which launched in 1962, right at the birth of british rock.
My original fz 1a isnt much louder than unity, but the fz 1 is quite loud. The fz1 used pnp 2n270 transistors in the same circuit with different resistor. The boss fz 5 attempts to emulate three famed fuzz pedals. Diy build your own guitar fxmosrite fuzzrite maestro fz1. Maestro fuzz tone fz1a whos got their aa battery clip ready. Rothstein guitars serious tone for the serious player. The multigate transistors such as finfets, trigate fets, and gateallaround gaa fets are remarkable breakthrough in the electronic industry. In the mid 60s, the circuit was altered somewhat from the original fz 1 to the fz 1a. Maestro issued the 2nd version, fz 1a, with one aa battery instead of two. The maestro fz 1a with 2n2614 germanium transistors.
This is the fuzz pedal model that the rolling stones used on satisfaction guitar riff in the 1960s. Diy build your own guitar fxmosrite fuzzrite maestro fz 1 nobels fuz boss od ebay. Inside, three juicy germanium transistors did the dirty worktwo are more common in the majority of fuzz circuitsalong with a mere handful of other components, and two 1. A surge in the demand for the maestro fuzz tones sends the manufacturer scrambling to build new units. Inside the fz1a are the three germanium transistors and 1. For sake of bandwidth and some other caractheristics transistors used in this circuit that is without alteration to set bias et. One of the largest sites for doityourself guitar effects builders. The fz 1fz1abs would not at all be about picking dynamics but on the contrary about the attack and hence the attack. Maestro fz 1a fuzz tone by gibson audio sample duration. Glenn snoddy was a recording engineer working in nashville at the quanset hut. Its the sound of fury, aggravation, indignation, and considering the history of the most famous fuzzbox of all time, maestro s fuzztone dissatisfaction. Gibson maestro fuzz tone reissue fz 1a 20012009 nashville tennessee model condition excellent like new hardly used. One nos transistor oc75, two caps, female input cord, and a newer battery holder.
The fuzztone was responsible for keith richards sound in 1965. Jan, 2018 fuzz help, please satisfaction guitar tone. The reuss vintage three volt fuzz is based on the worlds first guitar pedal, the 1962 maestro fz 1 fuzztone not the later fz 1a or the fz 1b. The fz 1b is the silicon transistor model compared to its earlier germanium counterparts. Gibson maestro fz1a fuzztone fuzz box pete townshends. The sound of the maestro fz 1a was most commonly heard on the rolling stones track i cant get no satisfaction, the classic fuzz face pedal first designed by arbiter electronics ltd in 1966 revolutionized guitar riffs forever and appeared on tracks. The fuzz eone is a clone of the famous gibson maestro fz 1a, the satisfaction fuzz. Maestro was a brand operated by gibson from the 50s to the 70s. Do you know any pdf or something with measures of the enclosure. The different models were made in different places. The basic idea is the same as the fz 1, but instead of the fz 1s two aa cells, the fz 1a is powered by a single cell aa cell, reducing the total supply from 3v to 1.
Three transistor brown painted version with attack, volume controls on rear. The fz 1b model listed here was a later 60s edition that used a 9 volt battery. It was first manufactured in the kalamazoo factory in michigan. Its unclear why maestro needed the redesign, and outright baffling why they would lower the supply voltage while others notable the tone bender were increasing the power to 9v. Perhaps for this reason, the pedal is quickly redesigned. Maestro fuzztone fz1b from 1968 sg custom fender super reverb 65 reissue.
Are there any silicon transistors that could get the job done. A characteristic of this fuzz sound is a prominent boost in the highfrequency range. Still, its very worth pointing out that with some fuzzes you can really hear the smoothing effect of an amp with a bit of heat and the sound gels. The aforementioned pedals are classic, highly sought after and fetch serious dough. Produced during the 60s and 70s, the maestro fuzztone fz1a is considered a classic vintage effect along with its sibling the fz 1 and the legendary echoplex tape echo. Maestro fuzztone fz1b transistors circuit board of the. You might want to try locating ac151r or acy32, both similar but low noise. Maestro fuzztone fz 1b transistors circuit board of the maestro fuzztone fz 1b. It was very famous in the 60s, and was behind the typical psychedelic sound of those years. With both the fz1 and the fz1a, the transistors all lack any.
Its a twostage circuit, built around a tl072 dualopamp. Diy build your own guitar fxfender fuzzwah or blender jimmy. It is not boxed yet, the transistors are in sockets, and i tested it with single coils. The fz 1 used three germanium transistors to amplify and clip the guitars signal creating fuzz, glorious fuzz posted by iviark at 17. After finishing the guide to the fractal audio amp models, i thought to myself. The silicon transistor is a 2n3906 i use for power isolation emitter follower again and is part of a charge pump 7660scl and voltage regulator lm337 circuit to give me 3 volts with respect to ground to power this beast. Circuit would work with ac125 or similar too at higher noiselevel. Later an fz 1b version was released, changing from germanium transistors to silicon. Q1 is an emitter follower that provides a high input impedance to match a guitar. Coda effects vintage vintage maestro fuzztone fz1a 1966 vintage maestro fuzztone fz1a 1966. The fz 1a is the circuit evolved a little, the fuzz is a little smoother and a little more musical and offers a tiny bit. Electro harmonix lpb1 and its siblings perf and pcb.