What is germanium fuzz?
The Germanium Fuzz is a fuzz pedal. The knobs change the sounds. This pedal is designed around two germanium 2N527 OR 2N404 Germanium Transistors. They have been graded for gain and leakage and carefully matched to sound their best.
Did Jimi Hendrix use germanium or silicon fuzz?
It’s obviously one of two signature fuzzes, but this is more accurate to the standard Hendrix Fuzz Face that’s on most of his recordings, which is why it’s called the Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face. He definitely favored silicon over germanium tonally and for consistency.
What is the difference between silicon and germanium diodes?
A Silicon Diode is a semiconductor that has both positive and negative charge polarity and can allow an electrical current to flow in one direction whilst restricting another. A Germanium Diode works in the same way but has a low forward voltage which results in it being a low power loss and an efficient diode.
Why is silicon better than germanium in transistors?
The variation of the collector cross-section temperature is lower in silicon than in germanium. This means that silicon has a much smaller collector and thus a higher power output. The structure of germanium crystals is destroyed at high temperatures, but silicon crystals are not easily damaged by excess heat.
What is the difference between germanium diode and silicon diode?
What fuzz face did Hendrix use?
Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face
For achieving his super-gnarly fuzz sound, Hendrix’s initial weapon of choice was the Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal. Powered by a pair of germanium transistors, this stompbox allowed the legendary axeman to attain the aggressive, broken-up sound that defined many of his tracks.
What’s the difference between germanium and silicon fuzz pedals?
All that said, when using a controlled environment and really just comparing the pedals, you will notice some differences. Fuzz pedals with germanium transistors tend to be a little more amp overdrive like. They’re smoother and warmer and can have a mid range boost.
Which is better for sound silicon or germanium?
Despite that, it still offers the best way to achieve certain, especially smooth distortion, fuzz, or overdrive characteristics. Germanium will sound a tad different than silicon in a given circuit, but it’s also worth pointing out that a great many excellent sounding pedals uses silicon components.
What’s the difference between silicon and germanium transistors?
The creation of the silicon transistor is directly responsible for the creation of the Integrated Circuit or IC chip, which ushered in, and is the heart of our Computer Age. Many guitar players prefer germanium over silicon transistors for their pedals because of the slightly smoother fuzz that’s produced by their more quickly-moving electrons.
What kind of transistors are used for guitar fuzz?
You can hear some great-sounding fuzz using silicon transistors, by listening to a Big Muff Pi, Tortuga Sasquatch Silicon Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal, Pro Co Rat 2 Distortion/Fuzz/Overdrive Pedal, and many more. Of course, the debate over germanium and silicon is a subjective preference. At the end of the day, kind of sound works for you?