Build - Pedal Project: Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz Tone

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There are few pieces of music gear that had a larger influence on the guitar and rock music world than the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone. Though it was predated by effects like the DeArmond tremolo, The FZ-1 is credited as the first widely-available fuzz unit and the first widely-available effect in a pedal format. It is most well-known for its use in the Rolling Stones’ legendary hit “Satisfaction”, as the FZ-1 is responsible for the distinct sound of the classic riff that repeats throughout. Early FZ-1 marketing materials described the effect as capable of producing the sound of brass instruments among others - “organ-like tones, mellow woodwinds and whispering reeds, booming brass and bell-clear horns, growling basses, plus many more.”

That may have been what Keith Richards had in mind when first using his, as Richards wanted to redo the riff in “Satisfaction” with a horn section, with the guitar riff in recordings meant as a placeholder for the final recording. Instead, the band voted to release the current version of “Satisfaction” as a single, which cemented that iconic FZ-1 riff into music history. After the release of “Satisfaction” in 1965, three years after the original release of the FZ-1, its popularity took off.

The success of the FZ-1 kickstarted the ‘60s fuzz trend, leading to a variety of musical instrument manufacturers creating their own units or licensing the work of an existing fuzz manufacturer. Certain legendary fuzzes that followed were based on the same circuit topology as that found in the FZ-1. Gary Hurst created the Tonebender Mk1 by modifying the FZ-1 to operate from a 9V supply, giving the circuit more headroom. The Tonebender line of pedals has its own wide-reaching influence, but they owe their inception to the FZ-1.

Unlike most pedals that followed, the FZ-1 operated off of two AA batteries for a 3V supply. A 2x AA holder is provided with this build. It can be mounted using epoxy (S-F570) or rivets (S-TRIVET).

Most germanium fuzz circuits can vary a lot depending on transistor specs. Three transistors are included in the BoM. We have chosen a transistor type which tends to fall into a similar range and tends to have similar leakage to 2N270s for proper bias, but as always with germanium transistors, the specs can be inconsistent. You may need a larger batch of transistors you can try out in the circuit.

This is a PNP germanium build which should be run on battery power only. For more information, see our PNP "Positive Ground" Pedal Considerations tech article.

Figure 1: Eyelet board layout of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

Figure 1: Eyelet board layout of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

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Figure 2: Schematic of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

Figure 2: Schematic of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone

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See Figure 4 in our Guitar Pedal Footswitch and Jack Wiring article for the recommended footswitch and I/O wiring. Note that the drawing shows a 9V battery, but the wiring is the same with the AA batteries. The pictured build here includes a battery disconnect switch for disabling battery power. This switch is optional and not included in the BoM. If you would like to build this with a battery disconnect switch, the pictured rocker switch is P-H518.

If using a battery disconnect switch, see Figure 5 in our Guitar Pedal Footswitch and Jack Wiring article for the recommended footswitch and I/O wiring.

Parts List