treble booster and bc-108 fuzz

[wsaraceni]

i miss my analogman bc-108 fuzz, and really like what i've heard from the beano boost. anyone build either of these? this is what i was thinking of going with.

pigeon fx:
rangemaster kit - 15 squiggly L's
dallas arbiter fuzz face kit issue 1 - 15 squiggly L's
($49.12)


pedal parts plus:
1290 drilled for 1 knob no led - $9
1290 drilled for 2 knobs no led - $9
painting for 1290 - standard color - $2.60 x 2

small bear electronics:
Transistor - The Rangemaster OC44 - $8.95
Transistor - BC108 - SGS SKU: 2021U - $1.00 x 2
Switch - Alpha 107-SF12020-L DPDT - $4.95 x 2
9-Volt Battery Snap, Hard Shell T-Style - $.45 x 2

total - $94.07

what would be best potentiometers be and which could i get with an on-off switch built in like analogman offers.

also, what jacks are the ones to get that turn off the pedal when you remove the input.

Would you guys switch anything i have above out for something different?

just wanted to add. would it be better to use sockets for the bc108s to attach? that way i can swap at will. or is it better to solder direct? if so, which sockets would you use.

[crbowman]

I've built a couple of 'Rangemasters' over the years.
At least one was a straight up copy, and another was more like Brian May's version which is more of a mid-boost.
The catch on these (at least in my experience) is that they are really great for overdriving a dimed amp, but not very useful for anything else.
So if you have a small amp, or have the luxury of being able to play VERY loud they are a lot of fun. Otherwise it's like having an ice pick in a pedal.

The most useful variant I've found is the BYOC Tri-Boost, as it has a version of the basic Rangemaster circuit as well as two other clean boost options in one pedal. The Rangemaster option is also switchable for treble, mid, or full boost.

[cpollack]

I built a straight up Rangemaster last year. My experience is that it's not great with BF Fender style preamps, but it loves a cranked cathode-follower preamp like a late tweed, Vox, or Marshall. It really killed with my buddy's AC15 / Gibson SG; he calls it a "more" pedal. It didn't care much for my Strat with either a BF Twin of BF Bassman. Kind of ice-picky as crbowman says above. YMMV, of course.

[Structo]

I like using the 16mm Alpha pots in effects, smaller better fit.

You want a stereo input jack so when the plug is in it connects the power.

Most fuzzes sound better using zinc 9v batteries (the old kind, not alkaline)

For me, I like to power everything on my board with 9v adapter.

Check out www.Mammothelectronics.com

Good parts selection reasonable prices.
They have some killer enclosures that you can buy finished in 17 different colors and can also have them drilled.

BC108 transistors is a pretty good choice if you like a Silicon fuzz.
Plentiful and pretty cheap.

I would order at least 4 or 6 because they all sound different due to gain and leakage if any.