I've found that you can get very similar sounds by messing around with the bias on simple one and two transistor fuzzes. Try starving the transistor a bit and you'll get right into that zone.
Here's the schematic for the circuit. The two sides of the circuit are mirror images and their combined signal creates crossover distortion which gives it that distinctive buzzsaw tone. There are a lot of clones available.
For the record, the type of Fuzz used on "Spirit in the Sky" has never been disclosed. It was installed directly in Greenbaum's guitar, and he has yet to tell people what it was.
Fun fact: I lived on the same small street in a small town outside of Boston as Norman Greenbaum. He was long gone by the time my family moved in.
Here's the schematic for the circuit. The two sides of the circuit are mirror images and their combined signal creates crossover distortion which gives it that distinctive buzzsaw tone. There are a lot of clones available.
The Third Man Fuzz-a -ron kit (a Jack White named product) lets you build an interesting variation on the mosrite, I built one myself and it does its job very well
Excellent stuff. I got to researching the Third Man, and stumbled upon this little guy on ebay:
After shipping and tariffs it comes out to about $70. It ships from Azerbaijan - off the northern border of Iran. It claims to be a Fuzzrite with a clean boost at the output to give it modern volume levels.
For the record, the type of Fuzz used on "Spirit in the Sky" has never been disclosed. It was installed directly in Greenbaum's guitar, and he has yet to tell people what it was.
This subject came up a long time ago. I can't remember if it was this forum, or another. I emailed him. He answered right back. It wasn't so much a secret, as it was that he just couldn't remember what it was.
The build quality of this thing is great, and every component is correct down to the funny value of the pots! The only issue I've discovered with it is I don't like the sound of a Fuzzrite! Oh well!
The build quality of this thing is great, and every component is correct down to the funny value of the pots! The only issue I've discovered with it is I don't like the sound of a Fuzzrite! Oh well!