Dirty Bird Fuzz

Dirty Bird : Fuzz for Guitar

Features

• Sugary fuzz tone
• Volume control ("Beak")
• Two modes, "open" and "shut"
• In "shut" mode, fuzz is reduced and can be further fine-tuned with the "feathers" control
• In "open" mode, "feathers" control is bypassed and fuzz is shunted up a notch
• Hand wired
• Hand drilled
• True bypass
• Yellow and Red LEDs

Notes

Housed in smaller pedal case to maximize pedal board real-estate
Graphics printed on sticky-back white vinyl

No PCB - stripboard used instead

Photos

On an Angle
From the Back
From the Side, Showing DC Jack
Graphics


Samples
All samples recorded direct to PC.

Switch in "shut" position, hardly any feathers, sample 1

Switch in "shut" position, half feathers, sample 2

Switch in "open" position (feathers bypassed), sample 1
Switch in "open" position (feathers bypassed), sample 2

Extended Notes

I wanted to make a pedal which would distort the guitar signal but have no "screeching feedback" characteristics (I already made of those). A fuzz seemed the logical choice to get that grainy distortion sound but with a clean finish - no sustain or ringing out or extra noise after the note. This pedal cuts off perfectly after bashing out some chords but is plenty fuzzy during.

The "shut" sound is a little unusual; with the "feathers" control at a low setting it has break up characteristics, but almost sounds broken. With the "feathers" dial turned up, the pedal starts to produce a less aggressive version of the "open" position fuzz.