Legendary guitar effects: Univox Super-Fuzz

Posted 2007-09-11 in Effects by Johann.

The Univox Super Fuzz is the ultimate fuzz box of all time.

The Superfuzz is so evil, it’s unbelievable. If you step on a Super-Fuzz, people will die.

Made by Univox of Japan (later Korg), the Super-Fuzz was launched before 1970 although I would consider it a fuzzbox typical for the 70’s. Super harsh, super over-the-top and super aggressive, it launched a new generation of fuzzboxes that probably influenced other 70’s classics like the Ibanez Standard Fuzz or the Roland Bee-Baa.

“Tone”

Like other 70’s fuzzes, the Super Fuzz has two “tone” settings. Don’t bother with the other one. There’s a little bit included in the sound sample, but not much.

When I got mine there was is no obvious octave-up. But thanks to a tip I now get better octave-up.

Audio clips

Sound samples were recorded with an Ibanez 2027XVV into a DOD 201 phasor/phaser and the Univox Super-Fuzz into a Boss VF-1 set to a small amp model with a lot of delay.

4 comments

Lovepedal pedal list

Posted 2007-10-28 in Effects by Johann.

When I still was a Lovepedal fan, I collected information about the various Love pedal pedals.

Since some of Sean Dunigan’s pedals are minor modifications of existing circuits (Eternity – Son of a Screamer, COT50 – Electra distortion) and there are some really bad Lovepedals (the Lovepedal Black Magic comes to mind), coupled with his childish outbreaks and disinterest in his own pedals, I lost interest in Lovepedal pedals a while ago.

Lovepedal list

This mind map contains information about the following pedals:

Eternity
COT50
COT50 Gold
FAB50
45/Angus
Love Pedal
Bass Love
Lo Driver/Lo
Baby Love
Purple Plexi/100
22/V
Woody/Woodrow
Magneto
Super 6
MAGICboy vibe
Deluxe 60/Twin 60/Twin 50
Class A Boost
Delux/Delux 60
Balance
Black Beauty Balance/Ezekiel/White Dragon
Wall of Sound
Fuzz 50
Toxic/Toxic II
Gated Fuzz
Black Magic
Buffers
Classic/Cannibal 1/2 W amps
Loudmouth
Deux
Black Gold
Octave Professional/Octave Planet/Believe
Karl Fuzz
Energy boost

My LovePedals

I had a bunch of LovePedals over time:

I still have two COT50, one white Eternity and a Balance pedal.

Additions

You can add something to the Lovepedal pedal list mind map. To open this file, you need the FreeMind mind-mapping software. Add something and send it back to me.

3 comments

Pushme Pullyou – simple DIY octaver, slightly modded

Posted 2007-10-22 in Effects by Johann.

So I experimented with various transistor types in the Pushme Pullyou which is a simple DIY full-wave rectifier designed by Tim Escobedo. I finally settled on a 2N5089 (NPN Silicon) and a low-gain AC128 (PNP Germanium) transistors in the rectification stage.

The AC128 sounded nice, with a bit more dirt and “Germanium feel” than the AC125 that I also tried. The differences were subtle however.

Modifications

The mods I made to the original circuit:

No bypass cap.
2 2N5089 transistors, 1 AC128.
0.047 µF input and output capacitors.
No 470 Ω resistor.
4.7 µF capacitors in the rectifier.

The Pushme Pullyou verboard layout I used. The 1 K gain pot and the 50 K output volume pot aren’t included.

Pushme Pullyou transistor experiments with 2N3904, 2N5089, OC76 and AC125

Posted 2007-10-17 in Effects by Johann.

I built Tim Escobedo’s Pushme Pullyou which is a simple DIY octaver.

It’s been said that the Pushme Pullyou sounds better/has a more pronounced octave the more mismatched the transistors are (in terms of gain, I think).

Pushme Pullyou sound clip

In this audio sample, I’m trying various transistors. These include the 2N3904 and 2N5089 which are NPN BJTs and OC76 and AC125 with are PNP Germanium BJTs.

2N5089 with OC76. Good octave-up.
2N3904 with OC76. Dirty but no octave-up.
2N3904 with AC125. Dirty but no octave-up.
2N5089 with AC125. Good octave-up, maybe a little better?

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