Cool Item ALERT (guitar oriented)

[Harry Bissell]

Hi Greg:

yes Guitar Center is in the USA, and the price is at local stores. They have
musiciansfriend.com who they are affiliated with, but the price is higher on the
net (like $99 - too high) You might try contacting them at guitarcenter.com and
talking them into selling you one...

The "Hex" Big Muff is something I built... it is 6 Big Muff II circuits (from
the electro-harmonix design) but modified to run on +-12 volt supplies. There is
one fuzz for each string. It sounds surprisingly mellow. I expected fireworks
and got a "string chorus". But it is cool in that you can do double bends,
chords etc. without the IM distortion of a single fuzz.

I think that there are sites on the web with the original schematic... like DMZ,
Lepers effects, GEO (guitar effect oriented), Jack Orman... search for these
sites. If not I can probably find my original...

The six fuzzes are on two pcb's. There are trimmer outputs for each tone
(hipass, lowpass, straight fuzz and bypass) Hipass sucks. Lowpass and straight
fuzz are cool. Bypass is very cool... mixed with regular guitar it sounds kind
of like a 12 string as the hex pickup (super close to the bridge) gives an
unusually edgy sound. I panned each separate string to the opposite channel... a
mistake in my book (too wierd sounding) If I did it again I'd place each string
panned from hard left to hard right.

The fuzzes are very noisy. A noise gate per channel would be a good idea... this
could be as simple as a VCA which could restore the envelope to each fuzz.

It would also be cool to put a whole "effect pedal" on each string... but by
that time you could afford the V-Guitar from the "empire"

Lemme know if you can't find the Big Muff II and I'll post it (my version...)

:^) Harry

gregory joseph wrote:

> Hi Harry,
>
> I suppose "guitar center" is in the USA? would there be any way to send that
> itm to Belgium?
> And about that Hex Big Muff fuzz?? does it sound like the pedals some
> guitarist use (Weezer...) ? Is there any doc schems or (i'm dreaming) pcb's
> somewhere on the net? or could you tell?
>
> Thank you very much for your time
>
> greg
> (belgium)
>
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Harry Bissell <harrybissell at prodigy.net>
> À : efm3 at mediaone.net <efm3 at mediaone.net>
> Cc : efm at elroy.xavax.com <efm at elroy.xavax.com>; synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl
> <synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl>
> Date : mercredi 1 décembre 1999 5:53
> Objet : Cool Item ALERT (guitar oriented)
>
> >Guitar Center has the G-VOX guitar to computer interface for $49.95
> >
> >This is an excellent source for the coveted Hex Humbucking Guitar
> >Pickup...
> >At this price I cut the cable, throw away the computer interface, and
> >resurrect my
> >360 Systems Slavedriver Guitar to CV interface (which did not work due
> >to lack of humbucking pickups at the time of its design...
> >
> >And my Hex Bigg Muff II fuzz...
> >
> >Get em' while there hot !!!
> >
> >It is very interesting to note that G-VOX has succeeded in marketing a
> >Hex pickup while not infringing the Roland Patent. If you look at their
> >patent... it is for a guitar teaching device... NOT a musical
> >instrument. The G-VOX does not make a SOUND. Also note that MY use does
> >make a sound. FOAD Roland !!! (this in memory of ill treatment of one of
> >our own...) And I got a Hex Humbucker without greasing the Evil Empire
> >!!! Long live the Rebellion. (victory dance)
> >
> >:^) Harry (this hex humbucker might not look like much but it'll do 1.2
> >LIGHT) Bissell
> >
> >