What is original on this (maybe) 60's Fuzz Face

[jondanger]

I have a chance to get this in a trade. Missing the bottom plate, missing the "beard," and some of the components on the board look too new. Small body resistors, and that poly cap in particular. Can anyone verify that what is on the board is vintage '60s? You can see the nkt275 on the transistors, and the chassis top looks right . . .

[vjf1968]

Originally Posted by jondanger

I have a chance to get this in a trade. Missing the bottom plate, missing the "beard," and some of the components on the board look too new. Small body resistors, and that poly cap in particular. Can anyone verify that what is on the board is vintage '60s? You can see the nkt275 on the transistors, and the chassis top looks right . . .

My first reaction is that this is a Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face in a Dallas Arbiter case. The JHF on the board is the red flag.

[Seasicksailor]

Originally Posted by vjf1968

My first reaction is that this is a Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face in a Dallas Arbiter case. The JHF on the board is the red flag.

Hahahah!! I was just about to ask what the F stands for in the JHF... so instead of embarrassing myself by asking the question, I actually post the thought! :-D

[PsychedelicTrip]

I'd ask the trader if he has a Jimi Hendrix Fuzz with Dallas Arbiter guts for trade as well ;)

[zombiwoof]

That is not a original vintage Fuzz Face at all, it's all Dunlop (even the case).

Al

[greggorypeccary]

But it's relic'd!!!!!

[vjf1968]

Originally Posted by zombiwoof

That is not a original vintage Fuzz Face at all, it's all Dunlop (even the case).

Al

I had a D/A Fuzz Face. It was grey, not red.

[PsychedelicTrip]

The phrase is called "passing off". Many other fuzzes in the deep blue sea though....Also many kinds of fuzzes. You have to first determine what kind you want. Then you can narrow things down. I like my London Fuzz it's an NKT 275 type but was excellent for the $120 or so I paid. Check out Gearmandude on youtube he reviews a lot of cool fuzz pedals.

[tele salivas]

If are interested in a Fuzz Face that uses period correct components and gets that sound, its hard to beat DenTone's 1967.

[vjf1968]

Actually I read that the Eric Johnson Fuzz Face is pretty good. 11 Gauge had some good things to say about it.

[zombiwoof]

Originally Posted by vjf1968

I had a D/A Fuzz Face. It was grey, not red.

Vintage D/A Fuzz Faces came in various colors, but this one is just a Dunlop reissue FF. The NKT275's in the Dunlops are not the same ones used in the vintage FF's, the old good ones have the larger case. Dunlop just uses some modern germaniums that are close to the specs of the old ones stamped with the NKT275 designation, they are nothing like the originals in sound, and they are the skinny can type. That is what I see on the board in the FF in the OP's pics, and the board has a Dunlop part number on it. To sum it up, it is not a vintage FF, and I wouldn't pay a dime for it in the condition it is in, unless you could get it cheap and use the case and board to rebuild it to original specs. Just my 2 cents.

Al

[jondanger]

Hey y'all, sorry I started this thread and bailed. Major storms here in Baltimore. We lost power Friday night and just got it back this morning around 6:00.

Anyway, yeah, this thing looked all wrong to me, but the condition of the box, and the "Dallas-Arbiter England" thing threw me. I passed on the deal, but the guy might be up for a cash purchase of my part. He was cool about it. Thanks for all the tips.

I am interested in a new Fuzz, but I am kind of more into the creamy Big Muff sounds. Honestly, if this was real vintage, I probably would have sold it and bought like 3 other things that I really wanted.

One million without power at the peak of it here in MD. Here is the carnage up the block from me:


photo (4) by thejonathanmoore, on Flickr

[zombiwoof]

Originally Posted by jondanger

Hey y'all, sorry I started this thread and bailed. Major storms here in Baltimore. We lost power Friday night and just got it back this morning around 6:00.

Anyway, yeah, this thing looked all wrong to me, but the condition of the box, and the "Dallas-Arbiter England" thing threw me. I passed on the deal, but the guy might be up for a cash purchase of my part. He was cool about it. Thanks for all the tips.

I am interested in a new Fuzz, but I am kind of more into the creamy Big Muff sounds. Honestly, if this was real vintage, I probably would have sold it and bought like 3 other things that I really wanted.

One million without power at the peak of it here in MD. Here is the carnage up the block from me:


photo (4) by thejonathanmoore, on Flickr

The older Dunlop red FF reissues used to say "Dallas-Arbiter England" on them, they had to change that when a series of Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Faces were reissued in England a few years ago, I guess the English company had the rights to that name. For a while Dunlop got rid of the "smiley" label completely, then they brought it back, only with a Dunlop label in the smile). I have one of the older red "D-A" Dunlops (which has been modded to sound good, which it didn't in stock condition).

Al