Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz Box knockoff

[CJ]

right here>

 

[CJ]

acrlyic pen

 

[CJ]

they still sell the orig batt clip!

bent the box on a DIY brake,

 

[AnalogPackrat]

Nice. Are you satisfied? Are those TI 2N1307 transistors? Back in the 80's a friend of mine had an original one. Point-to-point build, IIRC. Had I realized what it was I'd have tried to buy it from him. I did get his very early 1981 TS-9 for $25

 

[CJ]

WE 12N pnp.
Sounds exactly like the record.
Check this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2345496382...lOc+vB9NOAM/Hfnerdhz2cH/w=|tkp:Bk9SR-TmoJrqYA

 

[AnalogPackrat]

Prices are crazy...

https://reverb.com/item/54925331-original-ntk-275-untouched-dallas-arbiter-fuzz-face

 

[rock soderstrom]

Does anyone know the dimensions of the original FZ1 housing? What are the dimensions of this clone? I like the print, faked with a white Sharpie.

 

[fazer]

I have an original but it’s in storage boxes in the barn. If I can find it I’ll get dimensions

 

[CJ]

That would be awesome Fazer!
I used the dims for an AA battery and the volume knobs as a ref on order to scale the box from a pic. Used a little cosine action to solve the triangle, the top bend is 90 I believe. One thing I don,t know is what kind of standoffs the circuit board screws go into. I see no sign of spot welds on the top cover. And what kind of padding is in there. It looks kinda like Dow Corning cancer glass torn out of somebody,s apartment wall.

That evilbay price raised the eyebrows of R Soderstrom, I see the wheels turning from here,

The lettering is off. The fuzz tone part needs to be shifted right, and the stripes above the letters are too thick. But anything is better than the Lazertran hassle.

 

[rock soderstrom]

I have an original but it’s in storage boxes in the barn. If I can find it I’ll get dimensions

Yes, that would be great!

That evilbay price raised the eyebrows of R Soderstrom, I see the wheels turning from here,

Ohh yes, the prices go totally crazy, so only DIY is possible.

After I have built a Skylark amp for myself my desire to build a few classic pedals increases. FZ1 and Fuzzrite are at the top of the list.

Thanks for inspiration!

PS: bought 10 germanium transistors last night...

 

[hodad]

I started a stripboard FZ1 a while back but got distracted building other fuzz pedals. This might inspire me to get back to it!

 

[musika]

…second that Fuzzrite. You can still find the Rosac NuFuzz rather reasonably priced. It’s an other worldly dirt box like “Spirit in the Sky” sound. I’ve got one with the encapsulated circuits. No idea what’s inside, but sounds great.

Someone took the Sprague SM001 encapsulated fuzz circuit apart and did this reverse engineering schematic.

 

[13engrsapper]

I have restored a couple of those for people. I think I may have an original board here - if I have not already thrown it out. Your clone is pretty accurate. If memory serves me they did not run on two AA 1.5V batteries, it was an odd old cell, I have some of those too here some where.

 

[rock soderstrom]

they still sell the orig batt clip!

bent the box on a DIY brake,

View attachment 98532

You really did a good bending job. I'm trying to understand how you did that? Aluminum or steel?

 

[fazer]

Measured my fuzz.

 

[13engrsapper]

It's been about 8 years since one has been in. I do not recall the original size. I will look for pics. We were making a different germanium type fuzz of our own on different transistors. I still have about 10,000 pairs. I think I may use them for mic-pre's etc.

 

[13engrsapper]

I wish I had a brake here. - and a cabinet saw again... and.... oh crud. ya

 

[rock soderstrom]

Measured my fuzz.

Thank you Fazer!

 

[fazer]

That side profile I traced around the actual unit so angles are accurate in the drawing.

Also mine uses 1 AA battery.

 

[rock soderstrom]

There were some with 1.5 and 3V operating voltage. Which transistors were used in your model?

Some good Info here:

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/history-of-the-maestro-fz1