built-in-fuzz/distortion

[L0SerKiD11]

does anyone know of a way to get some built in fuzz or distortion or gain or something in my guitar... id preferably like it to have an on/off switch and it would be cool to have a pot controlling the amount of gain or watever... any sites, tips, etc. mucho appreciato...

[Jeronimofesto]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Black_Ice_overdrive.html

I've never tried it, but it seems like what you are looking for.

[moghes69]

http://aronnelson.com/gallery/albums.php
search for one knob fuzz and that should be what you're looking for. just have it inside your controll cavity rather than in a pedal.

[Double You Awful]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Black_Ice_overdrive.html

I've never tried it, but it seems like what you are looking for.

I remember it being said that you could do the exact same thing, maybe even better, for a fraction of the price.

I think AG said it, but I'm not sure.

[Jeronimofesto]

I remember it being said that you could do the exact same thing, maybe even better, for a fraction of the price.

I think AG said it, but I'm not sure.

What exact same thing? Have distortion built into the bass/guitar? I've never done that. I guess if you let the battery run down it adds a nice distortion. :lol:

[moghes69]

I remember it being said that you could do the exact same thing, maybe even better, for a fraction of the price.

I think AG said it, but I'm not sure.

though it does use a batery, the one knob fuzz could be made for less than $10. but i think you're talking about the idea of using two diodes in opposing directions in the place of the tone capacitor. that idea would cost about 20 cents, but the distortion would be pretty harsh.

[slpntrx5]

1. take apart a fuzz box
2. rout out the back of your guitar to fit the chip n such
3. rout a hole for a 9-volt jack
4. install

:p

[Akira]

What exact same thing? Have distortion built into the bass/guitar? I've never done that. I guess if you let the battery run down it adds a nice distortion. :lol:

I have seen instructions for making essentially that device, but on your own.

[moghes69]

What exact same thing? Have distortion built into the bass/guitar? I've never done that. I guess if you let the battery run down it adds a nice distortion. :lol:

i think he was talking about the transistor based distortion on stewmac. instead of that you can just wire in two diodes in opposite directions.

[Double You Awful]

though it does use a batery, the one knob fuzz could be made for less than $10. but i think you're talking about the idea of using two diodes in opposing directions in the place of the tone capacitor. that idea would cost about 20 cents, but the distortion would be pretty harsh.

Yeah it was that second one. But I'm not big on electronics at all, so I have no idea how you'd go about doing that \=

[da_s_man13]

I've never really seen the reason why people do this rather then having a seperate stomp box for it. Someone care to explain?

[slpntrx5]

I've never really seen the reason why people do this rather then having a seperate stomp box for it. Someone care to explain?

1. space saver
2. its just badass
3. its just badass
4. you have something unique that you did yourself
5. you dont need an extra cable/wall wart
6. you dont need a pedalboard (if its your only effect or something)
7. its just badass


good enough reasons?
:chug:

[moghes69]

Yeah it was that second one. But I'm not big on electronics at all, so I have no idea how you'd go about doing that \=

open up the back of your bass. look at the tone pot. where you see the capacitor wired, you put in place of it two diodes that have the stripes on opposite sides. and you're done.

[purple_hazer]

though it does use a batery, the one knob fuzz could be made for less than $10. but i think you're talking about the idea of using two diodes in opposing directions in the place of the tone capacitor. that idea would cost about 20 cents, but the distortion would be pretty harsh.

any diodes or a particular model?

[moghes69]

generally any ones would work, but each different kind would give you a different sound.

[rancid22]

http://store.guitarfetish.com/anammotuampa.html

my bassist just told me about this.

another option is to take apart a pedal and install it.

[moghes69]

or... you could build an equivalent of that for a lot less than $100

[rancid22]

or... you could build an equivalent of that for a lot less than $100

this is $50.

[purple_hazer]

but it can be done for lik 5 is the point

[moghes69]

i thought i saw 99, but my point remains the same

[rancid22]

but it can be done for lik 5 is the point

links? or instructions please?

[Thunder Fingers]

I want that in my next custom bass! :D next one though, i gotta go through some pedals.

[purple_hazer]

links? or instructions please?

i guess just 2 diodes together in place of the cap on the tone pot and have them going opposite directions, idk i think im going to go try it in a bit

[moghes69]

i guess just 2 diodes together in place of the cap on the tone pot and have them going opposite directions, idk i think im going to go try it in a bit

thats exactly it.

[purple_hazer]

well no one ever do that, i did it earlier and it was horrible sounding, the weakest gain ever

if i put a crap load more diodes would it sound better?

[moghes69]

well no one ever do that, i did it earlier and it was horrible sounding, the weakest gain ever

if i put a crap load more diodes would it sound better?

probably not, but try doing 4 or 6

[Son of Magni]

probably not, but try doing 4 or 6

I think it might be better to soften the blow by putting a resistor in series with it, maybe 47 ohms.

[hartke20g]

i definately need to see how this ends up.

[purple_hazer]

I think it might be better to soften the blow by putting a resistor in series with it, maybe 47 ohms.

what would happen if it went resistorless? would the diodes fry or would there be more serious damage?

[rancid22]

u all lost me at aboooooout........ diodide

lol. dont worry ill google it.

[moghes69]

what would happen if it went resistorless? would the diodes fry or would there be more serious damage?

i highly doubt your pickups could put out enough current to fry the diodes. the point of the resistor would be to cut down on whats being sent through the diode so it would soften it up a little bit.

[hartke20g]

what value diode should be used? because i used 4 diodes, but only 2 were matching values from the looks of it, and i got nothing.

[Son of Magni]

i highly doubt your pickups could put out enough current to fry the diodes. the point of the resistor would be to cut down on whats being sent through the diode so it would soften it up a little bit.

Exactly. The diodes will give you pretty much a square wave, which is pretty ugly sounding distortion. The resistor will allow the top of the wave to still be a bit rounded.

Another idea would be to just put the diode going one way. That would clip half the wave, and leave the other half normal - a half-wave clip...

[Bajs]

I was close to build in a phaser in my latest "Spacemaster", but it ditn fit.

[Bajs]

now THAT would have been badass.


If you build a booster you could overdrive a tubeamp at least :P

But building in dist isnt hard, i could probably do that. Just buy som cheap thing with 2 knobs and build it in.

[king of suede]

i really want to see how this turns out, my teacher would freak about this

he's ALWAYS modding his guitars and basses

[Jimbobntnr]

I did the diode thing on a jazz special. you can hear it on the "Jazz Special Tones" clip here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=471082

[hartke20g]

Jimbob, what exactly did you do? parts of that soundclip sounded like a really good fuzz.

[Jimbobntnr]

Some of those tones are without the mod, I put it on a switch. here's a good site to follow:
http://members.aol.com/ku07090/strawberry_ice.html

but I put the diodes right across the switch, so + on one went to - on the other. I wish I had a picture, but the two middle 'prongs' on the switch have the signal in and out, one set is empty (off position) and the other set has the diodes (on position). All the diodes do is send anything over .5 volts (if I recall electronics class correctly) to ground thus clipping the signal.

Hope that helps.

[purple_hazer]

a dpdt on off on?

[Jimbobntnr]

DPDT on on

There is just nothing connected to one pair.

[Jimbobntnr]

here's a neat little picture:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/dude_050/mod.jpg