PEDAL BENCH
by Stompbox Labs
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Fuzz1966· Dallas Arbiter (UK)Pro

Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face

Two-transistor germanium fuzz — Hendrix in a smiley-face enclosure.

About

A direct-coupled two-transistor amplifier (Q1 common-emitter, Q2 emitter follower with collector feedback to Q1's base) that overloads its own gain stage to produce thick, octave-tinged fuzz. Cleans up beautifully with guitar volume — a hallmark of the circuit.

Signal chain preview

6 stages
Input
Input cap to Q1 base
Q1 common-emitter stage (no emitter resistor for max gain)
Output
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Quick facts

  • Only two transistors and a handful of parts — one of the simplest fuzz circuits ever.
  • Original germanium NKT275 transistors require hand-matching for gain (hFE ~70 and ~120).
  • Loves a humbucker straight in — buffered pedals before it kill the interaction.
  • Silicon BC108/BC109 versions (later '60s) sound brighter and more aggressive.

Controls

  • Fuzz (1k linear pot)
  • Volume (500k log pot)

Mod recipes Pro

4 mods
Sun Face germanium build
Bias trim pot
Pre-gain pot
Silicon for stability
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References

Community-sourced (ElectroSmash, R.G. Keen / GEOFEX). Germanium transistors require matched gain and leakage measurements.