Full tone 69

liono9

New member
Guys any opinions on this fuzz.I'm almost making a purchase.I know it cant be ordered new , thats kinda make it special plus heard a whole lot good .
Buying it for $150.00.
Thanks
 
Re: Full tone 69

Its a good price, just depends if you like the Ge or Si type of tones in general or more specifically the 69 vs 70 tones
 
Re: Full tone 69

Back when I bought a 69 Pedal, I remember demoing the 69 and 70 side by side, and liked the 69 much more since it was warmer and more organic. I handed the 70 right back to the clerk after listening to it for a minute.

I wish I would have kept the 69 Pedal, but stupidly passed it along. That's one pedal I'd probably buy again, but you're right about them being discontinued. I have no idea why Mike Fuller did that. The 69 was a good seller. He should have discontinued the Distortion Pro, if any.
 
Re: Full tone 69

Mike has said he doesn't have good source of Ge transistors anymore, though seems plenty of other folks are still producing Ge fuzzes so who knows really. Maybe whats "good enough" for Mike Fuller and whats good enough for Analog Man, Sweetsound, Retroman, Euthmyia et al aren't the same thing (I don't mean that as a diss per say either though sometimes that guy comes off a bit cocky with his product descriptions and bashing other products on his site)
 
Re: Full tone 69

It's Mike Fuller's (Poor - copy) of the Jordan Bosstone circuit.

If you used the real Jordan Bosstone, then you would know what I mean when I state it's a poor copy!
 
Re: Full tone 69

a friend of mine has a 69 and i think it sounds pretty good. nice and fat
 
Re: Full tone 69

Guys any opinions on this fuzz.

I wouldn't NOT have one. I've been extremely pleased with it since day one out of the box for a good while now. Well worth it! I'm sure you'll like it if it interested you in the first place. And really, as much as I really love the FuZz FaCtOrY, I get more use out of the '69, and generally use the factory for the more sonically "tailored" situations.


So the Soul-Bender & '69 are on hiatus now? Tis a shame, or part of his game? Good stuff regardless.
 
Re: Full tone 69

HELP ME OUT HERE...

I tried a 69 that a store still has on its shelf here in LA.

It's been a while, but explain to me - can the contour be used to darken it? I am one of those people that wishes his fuzz pedals had a TONE control. I felt the countour was more of an EQ and modeler of the feel etc.

The other thing is, I am not sure if the battery was weak but it didn't get that ALL OUT fuzz, it got a warm OD-ish sorta fuzz.



So does the 69 have a tone control like the 70 or SoulBender?
 
Re: Full tone 69

-The 69 is NOT a Jordan Bosstone copy (you really shouldn't post things you're not sure about...thats how bad information gets started), it's a Germanium Fuzz face copy (the 70 pedal is also a Fuzz Face clone but it's based on the later silicon fuzz Face pedals...)


-The 69 was discontinued because Mike claims he can't find good quality transitors any longer, strange since he has always had them made for him but whatever...

-The Distortion pro was also discontinued as was the Soul Bender

-The contour control brings some mids into the signal

-My personal opinion is that it's a decent FF type pedal but like most Fulltone stuff it doesn't blow me away...I think there are "better" Fuzz face clones/copies out there but thats just my opinion.
 
Re: Full tone 69

About 2002 or so, Mike Fuller used to run ads indicating that 69 was his take off of the Jordan Bosstone...

Just to set that record right!
 
Re: Full tone 69

From Fulltone.com

Fulltone '69 Pedal

"This is how you wished your Fuzzface sounded... Fat and Harmonic. And it cleans up like a vintage Fender amp when you turn down your guitar's volume control. The Rolling Stones and the Black Crowes have discovered this trick.

If you love the first 2 Hendrix releases then you'll love this pedal, with 2 Germanium transistors hand-picked and tested for optimum performance. A Contour Knob lets you dial in Midrange, Harmonics and Sustain, also an Input Bias knob that takes out the "woofiness" and gives great Overdrive/Distortion sounds when its level is reduced. An Internal Trimmer allows for adjustment of Clipping Symmetry, Harmonics, and Tracking."
 
Re: Full tone 69

-The 69 is NOT a Jordan Bosstone copy (you really shouldn't post things you're not sure about...thats how bad information gets started), it's a Germanium Fuzz face copy (the 70 pedal is also a Fuzz Face clone but it's based on the later silicon fuzz Face pedals...)


-The 69 was discontinued because Mike claims he can't find good quality transitors any longer, strange since he has always had them made for him but whatever...

-The Distortion pro was also discontinued as was the Soul Bender

-The contour control brings some mids into the signal

-My personal opinion is that it's a decent FF type pedal but like most Fulltone stuff it doesn't blow me away...I think there are "better" Fuzz face clones/copies out there but thats just my opinion.


So what's an expressive and fat fuzz that cleans up, has a little overdriv-ish tendencies that way. Something that can have some balls when needed. Preferable with a tone control.

I hear David Gilmour had a Fuzz Face with a tone control for a hot while in the 70s.
 
Re: Full tone 69

About 2002 or so, Mike Fuller used to run ads indicating that 69 was his take off of the Jordan Bosstone...

Just to set that record right!

Hey AC, with all due respect I'm sure you saw something to that effect, but I've got to point out that I agree with the Fire Guy in this instance. Possibly you are getting two effects mixed up, or thought you saw an ad for one while crossing the wording with another. Here, this came on an addendum with the '69 pedal.

by Fulltone USA said:
Congratulations on your purchase of The '69 Pedal™

Your model is the PNP Germanium Transistor equiped Fuzz that is identical to early Arbiter Fuzzfaces and even includes a few mods that were done to Jimi Hendrix's units.
One of the desirable traits of the Germanium Transistors (when matched properly!) is their Tube-like responsiveness and thick, even harmonics....the other being they clean up incredibly by turning down the guitar's volume knob! Leave the Fuzz all the way up and use your guitar's knob to get everything you need.

So what's an expressive and fat fuzz that cleans up, has a little overdriv-ish tendencies that way. Something that can have some balls when needed.

Olin, everything that I just quoted from you previously sounds JUST like a '69 pedal dialed in properly. I don't know of any Fuzz unit with a tone knob like you are describing, but then again there are umpteen boutique Fuzz units made today that something is bound to be just what you imagine, are or wanting. *Actually there may be more than umpteen now that I think about it. I think the "pedal market" has saturated itself, but atleast there are more options today.., ha ha, as if there weren't enough Fuzz pedal options just from the '60s and '70s. If you can't find something like you want here >> http://filters.muziq.be/type/fuzz then I guess it isn't available. Prepare to be astounded by the #'s.

Some of that info I posted above may be benefitial to you in messing around more with a '69 pedal to see if it is your speed. Here are a few more points from the same insert.

by Fulltone USA said:
Features:
Volume: controls the output level of the device when the pedal is on.

Bias: controls input impedance...Full clockwise rotation gets stock Fuzzface sounds. Lowering this knob lets the pedal work with wah wahs better and removes the "woofiness" or bass that can somtimes muddy-up a Fuzzface-type circuit.

Contour: This very effective knob adds Midrange clarity and overall gain when turned clockwise, and is out of the circuit and stock Fuzzface-style at full counter-clockwise.

Fuzz: Controls amount of distortion/fuzz when rotated clockwise, usually best sounding at full clockwise. You can clean-up the sound by turning down your guitar's volume control!

liono9, use should get this info with your pedal, if not PM me and I'll type out the remaining info from the back of the sheet for you. There is a bit more info that's good to have while learning the ropes.

http://filters.muziq.be/model/fulltone/69
 
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Re: Full tone 69

I'll take a Crucible Ge fuzz over the 69 any day of the week. Being that its still in production is a plus obviously but the overall tone of the Crucible is just a bit thicker and warmer yet still pretty raspy which is great.

Erik took everything that was great about the classic Ge fuzz and kicked it up a notch.

Doesn't have a tone or contour knob but really I don't think you need one as it sounds just right where its at
 
Re: Full tone 69

I'll take a Crucible Ge fuzz over the 69 any day of the week. Being that its still in production is a plus obviously...

Pretty impressive in words there; seems like it would be a nice unit to mess with for sure. But even Euthymia states:

Erik said:
I took a leap and acquired a lot of 600 NOS AC187/01's. When these are used up, there will be no more Crucible GE's unless I find another good batch of transistors!


Obviously this has intrigued me enough to think about it some. Thus, the possibilities may be...

millsart said:
Maybe whats "good enough" for Mike Fuller and whats good enough for Analog Man, Sweetsound, Retroman, Euthmyia et al aren't the same thing.

I can believe that. I mean everybody has different ears, and holds different standards to the very equipment that they choose to use.

the guy who invented fire said:
-The 69 was discontinued because Mike claims he can't find good quality transitors any longer, strange since he has always had them made for him but whatever...

Just a guess but maybe the supplier who made the NKT275 transistors for Fulltone won't make them any longer, for some reason or another. ??

What it sounds like, across the board, is all of these guys prefer to use a specific transistor and most likely do buy in large bulk. No telling who has what hoarded away on their stock shelves, or who's stock is depleting. Fuller very well may be trying to base this on a marketing scheme, or not. As he states on the site.

mike fuller said:
6/07 This pedal has been discontinued due to the unavailability of decent sounding transistors. Nobody's making them anymore, and I refuse to use the re-stamped Chinese fake-assed NKT-275's that everyone's using. If I find a good batch, I'll build more, if not, have fun with the used ones, I had fun making them for 15 years so there are plenty out there..

Which further leads me to believe that his source is no longer able, or willing to make his ideal NKT275.
 
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Re: Full tone 69

So what's an expressive and fat fuzz that cleans up, has a little overdriv-ish tendencies that way. Something that can have some balls when needed. Preferable with a tone control.

I hear David Gilmour had a Fuzz Face with a tone control for a hot while in the 70s.

Well...here is the deal germanium fuzz pedals seem to clean up much better that silicon versions do plus the germanium Fuzz Face pedals really don't have that much gain so they tend to lean towards the OD/Distortion side of tone a little and if you use you're volume control you can get lots of different chades of OD/Distortion/Fuzz out of them. So it sounds like what you're asking for is a germanium Fuzz Face with a tone control...keep in mind David gilmour DID have a tone control added to his Fuzz Face pedals but David did and still does prefer the silicon FF pedals.

Now, Im not sure who makes a FF clone WITH a tone control as most builder and users say they don't really need the tone control but Im sure there is atleast one out there. The Fulltone 69 does havde the contour control which is pretty useful but it only effects the midrange so that might or might not do what you're asking...
 
Re: Full tone 69

I know the Soul benders, Ult Octave, Fulltone 70, Voodoo Labs Superfuzz and EH Big Muff Pi have tone controls but they don't ever offer that sweet break up or in between break up/fuzz when VOL is pulled back.

I have a couple of fuzzes - HBE UFO and a Custom Job that I love. The HBE is NOT sweet, it's nasty, and it has a tone. I wonder if I can add a tone to the cutom job.
 
Re: Full tone 69

I know the Soul benders, Ult Octave, Fulltone 70, Voodoo Labs Superfuzz and EH Big Muff Pi have tone controls but they don't ever offer that sweet break up or in between break up/fuzz when VOL is pulled back.

I have a couple of fuzzes - HBE UFO and a Custom Job that I love. The HBE is NOT sweet, it's nasty, and it has a tone. I wonder if I can add a tone to the cutom job.

Those are all pretty drastically different fuzz pedals...

The Soul Bender is based on the MK III Tonebender pedals and has a lot more gain that a germanium Fuzz Face, the Ulitmate Octave is based on a Foxx Tone Machine and is silicon the Fulltoen 70 is a FF style pedal but it like the later FF's and it's also Silicon, the VDL Supafuzz is based on the Jordan Bosstone BUT with the addition of tone and res controls and the Big Muff is just a completely different beast that all the above fuzzes...

Now, there are some FF clones out there with tone controls and on top of that it wouldnt be too hard to add a tone control to any NON tone control fuzz box...

What kind of fuzz is the custom pedal you have based on??
 
Re: Full tone 69

Those are all pretty drastically different fuzz pedals...

The Soul Bender is based on the MK III Tonebender pedals and has a lot more gain that a germanium Fuzz Face, the Ulitmate Octave is based on a Foxx Tone Machine and is silicon the Fulltoen 70 is a FF style pedal but it like the later FF's and it's also Silicon, the VDL Supafuzz is based on the Jordan Bosstone BUT with the addition of tone and res controls and the Big Muff is just a completely different beast that all the above fuzzes...

Now, there are some FF clones out there with tone controls and on top of that it wouldnt be too hard to add a tone control to any NON tone control fuzz box...

What kind of fuzz is the custom pedal you have based on??


Ohhhh I know. I will YouTube my Fuzz, its pretty cool. It's a Fuzz Face I guess. It cleans up like a Dream! Just wish I could darken it when I go into a bright amp.

I like being able to get some liquid tone, but also cleaning up. I know that means having 2 FUZZ boxes. The cleanup fuzz that can gain out like a FUZZ FACE is probably the most versatile, but thru the wrong amp it can be bright and raspy, thus I want a TONE.

The RAT seems to me like a GREAT choice for rock based on gigs I have attended and Jeff Beck lol.

BTW, I found a link to a Jordan Bosstone and WOW WOW WOW!

http://www.tonefrenzy.com/effects/jordan_boss_tone.html
 
Re: Full tone 69

I have one. It's the best Fuzz Face clone I've ever used. Plug a Strat into it and the 69 into a great Wah Wah and (if you can play like Jimi) you'll get instant JIMI HENDRIX. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Lew
 
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