Build - Pedal Project: One Knob Fuzz Face
The Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face is one of the most iconic pedals ever made, with the original germanium version being the most sought-after. Many users of original Fuzz Faces and their clones prefer to keep the “Fuzz” knob maxed, and use their guitar’s volume knob to control the fuzz amount instead. With the fuzz knob set to its max position at all times, an obvious Fuzz Face variant is a one knob fuzz with the “Fuzz” control replaced with a set resistor internally so that the pedal operates like a Fuzz Face with its Fuzz control maxed at all times.
There are various pedals in this style (e.g. the Colorsound One Knob Fuzz and the D*A*M Meathead), but they are often silicon variants and often have a few other changes to voice the pedals somewhat differently from the original Fuzz Face. The Colorsound One Knob Fuzz and D*A*M Meathead can both sound great, and both can be built from this layout with a few small tweaks, but this layout uses the original germanium Fuzz Face values for a one-knob take on the iconic pedal.
This is a PNP build and uses battery power only. With no LED indicator, this pedal will last a very long time on battery power. If you would like to build this pedal with a DC jack, please see our PNP "Positive Ground" Pedal Considerations tech article.
Figure 1: Turret board layout of the One Knob Fuzz Face.
See Figure 4 in our Guitar Pedal Footswitch and Jack Wiring article for the recommended footswitch and I/O wiring.
Figure 2: One Knob Fuzz Face Schematic
Parts List
| Value | Qty | SKU | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Capacitors | |||
| 10 nF | 1 | C-MKT-D01-400 | Film cap |
| 22 µF | 1 | C-BC-22-63 | Electrolytic |
| 2u2 | 1 | C-BC-2D2-63 | Electrolytic |
Potentiometers | |||
| 500k Audio | 1 | R-VOMSL-470KA | Volume Control |
Resistors | |||
| 100 kΩ | 1 | R-I100K | Carbon Comp Resistor |
| 1 kΩ | 1 | R-I1K | Carbon Comp Resistor |
| 1 MΩ | 1 | R-J1M | Carbon Comp Resistor |
| 33 kΩ | 1 | R-I33K | Carbon Comp Resistor |
| 470R | 1 | R-I470 | Carbon Comp Resistor |
| 8.2 kΩ | 1 | R-I8D2K | Carbon Comp Resistor |
Semiconductors | |||
| OC83N | 2 | P-QOC83N | Germanium transistor |
Other Items | |||
| 2x6 | 1 | P-HTB-2X6 | Board |
| Black 3PDT | 1 | P-H501-L-BLK | Footswitch |
| Fairchild arrow knob | 1 | P-K347-52 | Knob |
| Greencell 9V | 1 | S-9V-GCELL | Battery |
| Vinyl battery snap | 1 | K-P155 | Battery snap |
| Low Profile jack | 2 | S-H534 | In/Out jacks |
| White 1590B | 1 | P-H1590BW | Enclosure |