We Build A Fuzz Face With Markus Reeves [Germanium & Silicon]

Jeorge Tripps gave us the bits, so let’s put them together and GET FUZZY!

Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.

In this video we assemble one ready-prepared Dunlop Fuzz Face, before soldering a board for another from scratch, then compare the two pedals with a bunch of guitars.

Welcome to the show! Here’s a blast from the past. Waaaay back in 2018 we had guitar FX leg-end Jeorge Tripps on the show. Jeorge is the man behind Way Huge and also works with Dunlop / MXR and that whole catalogue of cool stuff. His contribution to the guitar pedal world is massive to say the least and we were thrilled to have him on.

Anyway, dear Jeorge kindly bestowed upon us Ye Olde Bag O’ Fuzz Face, containing all the parts we’d need to build our very own circular distortion device. And as we discovered, Jeorge had gifted us some //potentially// rare and magical germanium transistors, perhaps swapped for the family cow, with a giant, up a fuzzstalk.

Fast forward to the end of 2021 and moving at the typically glacial pace of That Pedal Show, we have finally got around to building it, largely because our friend Markus Reeves offered to school us in the ways of kit-type builds, thus creating a scintillating viewing experience for the hallowed and beloved TPS community.
As fans of the show will know, Markus is a newer name to the world of effects pedals, garnering great praise from pretty much everyone with his meticulous point-to-point creations.

Massive thanks to Markus for doing this with us.
Massive thanks to Jeorge Tripps and Dunlop for the parts.

• What’s the music over the PCB wiring sections?
These excerpts are from our recent Octa Fuzz Jams and Band Context videos.
Dan and Mick on guitar or bass, Dougie Mussard on drums. Links as follows…

Enjoy the video!

Pedals & stuff in this episode…
• TheGigRig QMX2
• Two Custom Dunlop Fuzz Face Distortions
• 1970s Roland Space Echo
• Marshall 1987x with 1960AX cabinet / Celestion G12M Greenback speakers

Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Intro & welcome
0:34 Jeorge & The Bag O’Fuzz Face
2:03 What’s in the bag?
4:29 Assembling the ready-made fuzz
5:55 Does it work?
7:02 The Fuzz Face circuit explained
13:40 Populating the fresh PCB
16:03 Soldering basics
23:00 Why is the NKT275 so renowned?
24:45 Time to solder in the transistors
29:45 Donor Fuzz Face for the new board
33:15 The other, off-board wiring
37:00 More soldering advice
39:05 Does it work?
40:44 To the studio to hear them properly
41:50 Marshall and Space Echo
43:35 Faces Faces compared, Dan Telecaster
46:30 Markus Telecaster
47:47 Mick Gold Stratocaster
50:07 Reactions so far
51:56 Dan Les Paul
53:50 Mick ES-335
57:29 Dialling the fuzz back a bit
59:00 Dan ’61 Les Paul Junior
1:01:00 Makus Epi Casino
1:02:35 Mick Blue Stratocaster
1:05:10 Closing thoughts

Guitars in this episode:
• 1965 Fender Telecaster - no video yet
• Fender Custom Shop ’62 Relic Stratocaster - no video yet

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[ryanhillclimber]

You guys have breathed new life into my musical world. I’ve since joined a band, built a couple of boards, and have even made a couple of pedals I’m very proud of. I know others have benefited at least as much as I have. Cheers boys!

[Foxes]

Mick: "Joe Bonamasa gave me this"
Markus: "honk"

I loved that part 😄😄

[janniklasjansen]

First Johnny building a guitar, now Markus building a Fuzz - what a way to start the year.

[smelltheglove]

Dang, forgot it was Friday!!! These “hands on” episodes are f’in

[Gniff]

Please bring Markus back sometime. What a quality guest, and an incredibly fun show.

[aaronnickell]

Wonderful episode, gentlemen. It'd be great to see Markus build one of his point-to-point fuzzes!

[tareum]

Jeorge Tripps has been kind with you guys !!!! I really like the way he improved the fuzz faces at dunlop. Peace and Love to You !!!! (and thanks Jeorge & Markus !)

[neilmeansneil]

Just lost an hour playing with my £20 "Fuzz Face" pedal that a built last year, I hadn't realised how much I could control the Fuzz with Volume and Tone controls on my guitar, a true revelation! Great Vid, thanks guys!

[cesarpicco]

Absolutely love it when Markus makes it on to TPS! This episode is pure gold!

[chriscottguitar]

I’m loving this maker bent you guys are on. I really love to technical aspects of the instrument and effects. Would love to see more of it!

One of the best episodes ever!! A huge delight to watch the whole process! Cheers, guys!!

[davedavem]

Fantastic play-throughs! The difference even between the two telecasters through them was amazing.

[mgiliberto]

Both episodes with Markus are great. Thanks for having him on. Btw, it appears TPS is now at 300K subscribers, or near enough. Congrats, D&M.

[spencerfreed]

Thanks gents and Marcus!!! Been waiting for this episode since you got the kit...brilliant! And man, you guys have two new spectacular sounding fuzz pedals. Looking forward to your visit to Reeves Electro!! Happy new year and thanks for all you do to inspire!

[timchalmers]

Fascinating and instructive, as always !!

[lucasmccarthy]

What a gracious and insightful guest this episode! 👏

[cass]

Always a delight to see an expert in their field, to listen to what they have to say - even the bits said in passing are really good to hear. And to see how they avoid and (with respect) correct errors.

[GiovanniBottaMuteWinter]

As an amateur diy pedal builder and a TPS aficionado, this video was a double whammy of fun and pleasure for me! Thanks guys!

[gargantula]

I'm so happy to see Marcus on the show. Between the acid etched enclosures and the point to point wiring, his pedals are somewhere between fine art and dark magic.

[er_matze]

huge joy and inspiration to watch this episode.
Kudos to Markus !!
..and you guys !!