ZVEX: Machine

This is an interesting one - the Zvex Machine uses Mosfet boosters into a pair of transistors in a push-pull configuration designed to generate cross-over distortion.  Apparently, it doesn't do much on its own but likes to be paired after a fuzz to shine.

ZVEX MACHINE - VERO LAYOUT

MACHINE VIDEO DEMO

ZVEX: Woolly Mammoth

After having played around with some random mic preamps on the breadboard and in LTspice lately, I thought I might go back to basics with a fuzz face derivative - the Zvex Woolly Mammoth.  Brother to the Fuzzolo and Mastoron (they all share the same bones).

ZVEX WOOLLY MAMMOTH - VERO LAYOUT

ZVEX: Mastoron

Another tweaked Fuzz Face from Zvex - not to downplay the good work of Mr Vex and his amazing array of guitar effects pedals, but it is what it is.  

The Fuzzolo, Mastoron and Wooly Mammoth all have a similar Zvex Fuzz Face variant as a base - thread on DIY Stompboxes, and you can also find the schematic there.

ZVEX MASTORON - VERO LAYOUT

If five knobs and a switch is too much for you, it's pretty easy to remove the switch or knob here and there with this layout.  There are a lot of options...   it is a Fuzz Face after all.

Examples:  

• Completely remove the relax pot, input straight to the 220n capacitor

• Sub switch can be removed, and replace the 33n capacitor with a size that you prefer (or just leave it).  The 68n capacitor can then be removed, along with the 100uf capacitor connected to switch 1

• Fuzz can be replaced with a fixed resistor of your choosing (1k - 2.2k as an example)

• Pinch pot can be removed, connect the 100k resistor from base of Q1 to the blue jumper coming from the emitter of Q2.  Adjust the size to taste, bearing in mind that 100k is the standard Fuzz Face value

• Completely remove the tone section and switching - 10n capacitor to Volume pot 3, same as a regular Fuzz Face

VIDEO DEMO

Here's a nice easy one if you haven't done anything point to point before - the Zvex Super Hardon.  

ZVEX SUPER HARDON - POINT TO POINT LAYOUT

I've left some room on the board for added power filtering / protection.

I haven't done a point to point layout for a while, and I also remembered that I've been meaning to make a Zvex Fuzz Factory for some time, but have never quite gotten around to it.  So here it is.   

I tried a Fuzz Factory using a different layout as one of my first guitar effects builds on vero, and it didn't work well at all - so much so that it ended up in the bin.  Maybe better luck this time with a bit more experience, and I have a couple of AC128s that could do with a home.  Think I tried some dodgy AC125s for the build that didn't work well, it was some time ago, so who knows what I did.

ZVEX FUZZ FACTORY - POINT TO POINT LAYOUT

ZVEX: Octane 2

There's always room for one more Super Fuzz - this time, it's the Zvex Octane 2, which is a Super Fuzz with a simplified boost stage, and the notch filter can also be adjusted - probably more of a filter depth control than a tone control as such, but that's just what Zvex called it.

A Super Fuzz usually has a 2k2 resistor to ground from the emitters of the long-tailed pair instead of the 1k as listed on this layout.  If you have issues with biasing, try a 2k2 in this position.

As always, here's a larger-than-necessary vero layout.  

ZVEX OCTANE 2  - VERO LAYOUT