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any tonebender specialist here? :)

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Hi,

need some help with Supa Fuzz/Tonebender I currently build. I'm using this layout:

YXj3Fg2

bender.png

General speaking, it works correctly, but I get very bright, shrill tone out of it. Been trying to add input cap (0,01uf), I soldered it between input and ground (I marked it with red circle on the layout), but it didn't affect the sound at all. What am I doing wrong?
 

Stu

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
262
Shrill doesn't sound right. Is your output cap definitely 10nF? What transistors are you using?

Don't worry about the 10nF cap on the input. It isn't necessary in the MkII circuit (different story with the MkI) and the later Marshall SupaFuzzes didn't have it. Also, forget those collector voltages on the diagram. If you want it to sound like a real one, -8V, -0.2V and -8V would be closer.
 

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Hi, yup, it's 10nf. I use ASY 37 S ge trannies. You probably never heard of them, they are Polish trannies from '70. I have dozens of them. They are pretty good quality, the sound is rather on the bright side with smooth mids. I have got very good results in FF style circuits using them. In case of voltages, I have - 8,43, - 0,32, Q3 has a Bourns trimmer and I keep the voltage around - 7.
I used smaller electrolitics, 5uf instead of 10uf. Maybe here is the problem.
 

JLee

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
89
It’s not the electrolytic values. 5uF is the stock value for MKIIs.
 

EpiLP1985

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2017
Messages
113
Hi, yup, it's 10nf. I use ASY 37 S ge trannies. You probably never heard of them, they are Polish trannies from '70. I have dozens of them. They are pretty good quality, the sound is rather on the bright side with smooth mids. I have got very good results in FF style circuits using them. In case of voltages, I have - 8,43, - 0,32, Q3 has a Bourns trimmer and I keep the voltage around - 7.
I used smaller electrolitics, 5uf instead of 10uf. Maybe here is the problem.

The next question would logically be: What guitar and pickups are you using? Is there the possibility that you may have put the wrong cap on the input, i.e. a very small value instead of the 5 uf? I generally am trying to add more brightness in my TB MKII because I play with humbuckers but even so, Ge TB MKII circuits, or thier Marshall SupaFuzz variants, are usually very full sounding.

I'll echo what has already been said: double check that the output cap is 0.1 uf.
 
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