Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

[PFDarkside]

Well, mostly. I've loved these pint sized Fuzz Faces since they were introduced. Thanks to a sale at PGS I completed the collection (opting for the Chrome version of the Band of Gypsys Fuzz Face)

Here they are in their glory:


From left to right:
FFM1 - Germanium
FFM3 - Hendrix BC108 Silicon
FFM4 - Bonamassa Russian Germanium
FFM6LE - Band of Gypsys Chrome edition
FFM2 - BC108 Silicon

The true standouts are the signatures, but I love all of them. The Bonamassa is great for Humbuckers (I especially like it with my Injector loaded Strat) and the Hendrix BC108 is probably most people's ideal Silicon Fuzz Face. That being said, the red germanium is awesome for bassy, stoner type riffs and the Blue Silicon can rip your head off with treble. Something I find cool is to use both the Hendrix (fuzz rolled back a little, rhythm) and Silicon (fuzz maxed, lead) for two different flavors of fuzz. Same goes for the red + Hendrix or Bonamassa + blue. Now of course the BOG is a completely different vibe, you've got to play Machine Gun and Power to Love on it.

I'm kind of feeling like picking up another Red and Blue to modify, Red to AC128 transistors and Blue to BC183 Eric Johnson specs.

Anyway, Jeorge Tripps did a wonderful job on these, unless you are going for the true vintage NKT275 or AC128 Ge tone, one of these should fit most player's needs for a Fuzz Face.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

They never made an Eric Johnson mini, huh?

I think I bought my full-size Jimi FF from you. I wish they'd make a full-size chrome Band of Gypsies.

That's a cool FF collection. Some of those will be rare finds in the future. I wish companies would discontinue stuff sooner, and never make them in such huge quantities, but for them it's about the money, not our collection hobbies.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Sweet!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

thats awesome, i applaud your fuzzy accomplishment! i havent even tried one of the little buggers but id like to get one that sounds the fattest

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

I think the Bonamassa is the fattest and most polite. The Eric Johnson is gainiest and has the most of that blatty/sputtery thing going on.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Good to know. I'll see if I can find one to try out

 

[ex-250]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Thats pretty badass.

One of these days I'll pick up the Hendrix (teal one). Hopefully.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

They never made an Eric Johnson mini, huh?

I think I bought my full-size Jimi FF from you. I wish they'd make a full-size chrome Band of Gypsies.

That's a cool FF collection. Some of those will be rare finds in the future. I wish companies would discontinue stuff sooner, and never make them in such huge quantities, but for them it's about the money, not our collection hobbies.

Thanks man! I used the GJ approved method of scouring ebay, craigslist, GC used, etc. All except the chrome BOG was deeply discounted and still in like new condition.

I still have the copper Bonamassa fuzz for collectibility, but the mini is so much more pedalboard friendly with the smaller size, LED and 9V power jack. Now I can pop in the one that suits my fancy and guitar for the night.

The FFM5 Mini Eric Johnson only exists as a supposed prototype on Jeorge Tripps' twitter feed...

Tough to say if I should modify a blue for that tone or just get a real EJ big box.

thats awesome, i applaud your fuzzy accomplishment! i havent even tried one of the little buggers but id like to get one that sounds the fattest

Personally I think the red Germanium one is the "fattest", it's higher gain than the Bonamassa and "woofier" on the bottom. It's a little less polite and a bigger bottom than the NKT275 Sunface.

Thats pretty badass.

One of these days I'll pick up the Hendrix (teal one). Hopefully.

I really feel like it's the every-man's fuzz face, it sounds good with a multitude of guitars and amps.

 

[devastone]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Nice collection!

 

[DankStar]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Cool! Someday they should make ones that are 10 times the size with a lot of extra space inside.

That chrome one is crazy

 

[DinoTrousers]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

I'm jealous! I've got the Hendrix one myself. It really is exactly what I want a fuzz face to sound like (not that I wouldn't mind having a germanium around!)

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Cool! Someday they should make ones that are 10 times the size with a lot of extra space inside.

That chrome one is crazy

Have you seen inside a fuzz face?

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Very cool. Do they sound the same as their bigger brothers?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Very cool. Do they sound the same as their bigger brothers?

I'd say that within tolerance they do. Same transistors, same capacitors, just the resistors are SMT, but they are tighter tolerance than resistors used on old pedals. They have internal bias trimmers to set the transistor bias as well. Basically whatever fluctuations in transistor spec, but that's the same for any fuzz.

So yeah, pretty darn close! Plus the LED, 9V and right to left signal path make them super pedalboard friendly, easily swapping out one for another.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Cool, thanks for that. I'd like a Hendrix and a JB so will keep my eyes open for any deals.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

They are all nice, but none are a match for Wampler Velvet Fuzz!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

I respectfully disagree. I have a Velvet Fuzz as well, but I'm thinking of unloading it. Brian Wampler makes some incredible drive pedals, but the Velvet is underwhelming for me. The Tight setting is a safe Big Muff type tone and the Big mode is a very safe Fuzz Face type tone. It is a decent fuzz for clean amps, but I prefer to run fuzz into either an amp that is breaking up a little or an overdrive. That being said, I'm glad you like yours, and your Wampler board is quite impressive!

 

[stilwel]

Re: Fuzz Face Mini collection complete!

Awesome FF collection!

I have the FF Mini Blue Silicon, FF Mini Red Germanium, MXR Classic 108 Fuzz, and an EJ FF. I had the red BOG FF mini for a while but it didn't work out for me.

Here's mine: