Fuzz fault?

Jode · June 21st, 2008, 08:38 AM

I recently bought myself a Biyang Tonefancier fuzz pedal off ebay... loved the sound, but there appears to be a fault; when the pedal is off, a very faint fuzz comes through in the background, separate from the clean sound. This sound increases with as the 'level' knob is turned up, and the LED partially lights up, relative to the amount of signal coming from the guitar.

I've tested every variable - guitars, leads, batteries/9v supplies etc, and nothing makes any difference.

The problem is, I returned the pedal, but the guy who sold it says he can't find any fault. I'm not suggesting that he's dodgy, because he's happy to replace/refund and has been very helpful, but I'm worried that the replacement will be the same.

Is there anything anyone can think of that would cause this problem? thanks.

Axis29 · June 21st, 2008, 10:10 AM

Bad switch? Or is it not true bypass? I mean obviously it's not now, but is it supposed to be? If not the buffered bypass sounds bad...

Jode · June 21st, 2008, 10:20 AM

it is true bypass, supposedly. i just find it really strange that the seller couldn't hear it... hopefully the replacement will work. here's a link to the same pedal on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIYANG-FZ-7-AN...QQcmdZViewItem

surfoverb · June 21st, 2008, 11:38 AM

weird...The seller says he "triple tests" each pedal. Maybe it's just a characterstic of the pedal and they all do that? There are so many good fuzz pedals available I say just go with a different one altogether. He may not return your money the second time around even.

Jode · June 21st, 2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfoverb

weird...The seller says he "triple tests" each pedal. Maybe it's just a characterstic of the pedal and they all do that? There are so many good fuzz pedals available I say just go with a different one altogether. He may not return your money the second time around even.

The guy seems pretty genuine, so I don't have too many worries on that score. I'm just miffed that i might not end up with a crazily cheap fuzz pedal.

Any other good fuzz pedals that won't cost the earth? Guess i'm aiming at a dinosaur jr, pavement, lemonheads sort of sound... except with a tele. I'm also trying to scrape money together for a pedaltrain 2, and a power supply... these things aren't as cheap over here unfortunately!

surfoverb · June 21st, 2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jode

The guy seems pretty genuine, so I don't have too many worries on that score. I'm just miffed that i might not end up with a crazily cheap fuzz pedal.

Any other good fuzz pedals that won't cost the earth? Guess i'm aiming at a dinosaur jr, pavement, lemonheads sort of sound... except with a tele. I'm also trying to scrape money together for a pedaltrain 2, and a power supply... these things aren't as cheap over here unfortunately!

Dinosaur Jr? Any of the MILLIONS of Big Muff clones, I dunno what you consider cheap, for me cheap is around $100USD so BYOC 'triangle era' big muff Large Beaver.

Jode · June 21st, 2008, 12:08 PM

...or, if J. Mascis's rig is anything to go by, ALL of the millions of Big Muff clones

. So should I just get a reissue Big Muff, or are there better treasures lurking in that field?

surfoverb · June 21st, 2008, 12:13 PM

[quote=Jode;1298821]...or, if J. Mascis's rig is anything to go by, ALL of the millions of Big Muff clones

.

Somewhere there's a pic of his closet filled with triangle Big Muffs like 30 of them...lol

Jode · June 21st, 2008, 12:16 PM

I have to be honest, and admit that the prospect of constructing an effects pedal myself utterly terrifies me.

surfoverb · June 21st, 2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jode

I have to be honest, and admit that the prospect of constructing an effects pedal myself utterly terrifies me.

Oh yeah well it's not much more than soldering-by-numbers...But if you're not comfortable soldering you may want to start with something easier. I say just get an EH Original Big Muff, they sell for $50 used all day and I've heard great things about them, but I can't speak for one myself.

BTW I've been meaning to get a Big Muff for sometime now...One of my favorite albums is the Dwarves 'Lick it' and I wanted to know what fuzz 'He Who Can Not Be Named' used on that CD so I emailed him and asked and he actually responded with just two words, "Big Muff!"

June 21st, 2008, 08:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jode TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow Age: 26 Posts: 37	Fuzz fault? I recently bought myself a Biyang Tonefancier fuzz pedal off ebay... loved the sound, but there appears to be a fault; when the pedal is off, a very faint fuzz comes through in the background, separate from the clean sound. This sound increases with as the 'level' knob is turned up, and the LED partially lights up, relative to the amount of signal coming from the guitar. I've tested every variable - guitars, leads, batteries/9v supplies etc, and nothing makes any difference. The problem is, I returned the pedal, but the guy who sold it says he can't find any fault. I'm not suggesting that he's dodgy, because he's happy to replace/refund and has been very helpful, but I'm worried that the replacement will be the same. Is there anything anyone can think of that would cause this problem? thanks.

June 21st, 2008, 10:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Axis29 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 40 Posts: 1,065 1 Photos	Bad switch? Or is it not true bypass? I mean obviously it's not now, but is it supposed to be? If not the buffered bypass sounds bad... __________________ John F. TDPRI # 1764

June 21st, 2008, 11:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	weird...The seller says he "triple tests" each pedal. Maybe it's just a characterstic of the pedal and they all do that? There are so many good fuzz pedals available I say just go with a different one altogether. He may not return your money the second time around even. __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

June 21st, 2008, 12:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	[quote=Jode;1298821]...or, if J. Mascis's rig is anything to go by, ALL of the millions of Big Muff clones . Somewhere there's a pic of his closet filled with triangle Big Muffs like 30 of them...lol __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

June 21st, 2008, 10:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jode TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow Age: 26 Posts: 37	it is true bypass, supposedly. i just find it really strange that the seller couldn't hear it... hopefully the replacement will work. here's a link to the same pedal on ebay... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIYANG-FZ-7-AN...QQcmdZViewItem

June 21st, 2008, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jode TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow Age: 26 Posts: 37	...or, if J. Mascis's rig is anything to go by, ALL of the millions of Big Muff clones . So should I just get a reissue Big Muff, or are there better treasures lurking in that field?

June 21st, 2008, 12:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jode TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow Age: 26 Posts: 37	I have to be honest, and admit that the prospect of constructing an effects pedal myself utterly terrifies me.