Gitec chapter on the circuit design of overdrives and fuzzes

[antigua]

(EDIT: fixed the link below, using reTrEaD's correction in the following post.  sumgai, 2/1/18)

A German research group, called Gitec, that dedicates itself to the science of electric guitar has been translating portions of their work into the English language in order to reach a broader audience, and they have just published a translated chapter on the circuitry of "Overdrive, Fuzz & Distortion" stomp boxes. Here's a link to the PDF: Gitec's treatise on distortion


The PDF covers the a little history of distorted guitar, discusses the circuit topography, and resulting clipping characteristics and frequency response of the Range Master, the Fuzz Face and the Tube Screamer. While this isn't a great number of pedals, it makes for a fine introduction as to what's happening on a technical level with fuzz boxes in general. The illustrations are of top notch quality, it's well written and well translated.

[reTrEaD]

That link went all 404 on me.

Is this what you intended? gitec-forum.de/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/z06e-overdrive-fuzz-distortion-rangemaster-and-tube-screamer.pdf

[ashcatlt]

I haven't yet gotten to read through that.

geofex has had the definitive analysis of the FuzzFace and TubeScreamer in english for years and years. They've also got about everything you'd ever want to know about Wah pedals over there, too.

[musogreg]

Some really interesting reading in those links for someone like me that knows enough to mess around (and usually mess it up at least once or twice lol!)