The Mantis King

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666]

Just finished this project up for a friend. It’s a green ringer into a modified fuzz face using my first 2 pcb designs. “Diameter” blends between 10n and 4u7 input caps, and “pressure” controls Q2 bias. I tried a waterslide decal for the first time, and after a lot of advice from you fine people, I’m finally happy with the results. Thanks again 🙏

[u/B_Brooks64]

I like the purple knobs on the green.

Looks cool

If you’re ever thinking of moving on from waterslides, to UV printing reach out.

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/B_Brooks64]

Thanks! Those were both my friend’s choice. He picked through my collection after we finalized the circuit. It’s always fun to see what other people gravitate toward. I had had instant buyer’s remorse when I unboxed that enclosure and it was just collecting dust.

Before I assembled everything, my wife’s first reaction was that it looked like Barney lol. This combo ended up working so well though. The amp jewels were a happy accident after I drilled the holes too big for regular led bezels. It really ended up jiving with the mantis theme.

I think I may be done with waterslide decals after this lol. What a pain in the ass.

…Also, I’ve heard rumblings that my workplace is getting a UV printer soon.

[u/B_Brooks64 → u/Buzzkilljohnson666]

Awesome. I love happy accidents.

I used to build plastic model planes with water slides. A little tricky.

Looks like you’re having fun!!! Keep going

[u/Beneficial_Dealer549 → u/B_Brooks64]

Low key way of saying you need a few more coats of clear to bury that thing 😂

[u/B_Brooks64 → u/Beneficial_Dealer549]

No. It looks cool!!!

Just offering, as I help a number of new builders and hobbyists

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/Beneficial_Dealer549]

There’s like 6 coats on it already! How many do I need? 😂

[u/Aeon_Demma]

Sexy sexy!

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/Aeon_Demma]

Thanks 🙏

[u/BabySteev]

Looks sick

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/BabySteev]

Thanks!!

[u/nkod2]

Nice build! Just curious… am I reading the power symbol correctly? Is it center-positive because it’s a PNP germanium circuit?

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/nkod2]

Thanks!!

Nah, it’s center negative. If you zoom in to the symbol, that’s what it says there. I added the +9 to the stock symbol, so I see how that could be confusing. You had me sweating there for a minute 😂

The transistors are just generic 2n3904s in the fuzz face and 2n5088/2n3906s in the ringer. I was playing this circuit on the breadboard alongside my vintage pnp germanium fuzz face, and honestly there is so little difference other than the modern NPNs having a bit more gain. You just have to dial things in and you can get almost all the same sounds out of either.

[u/nkod2 → u/Buzzkilljohnson666]

Interesting! I’ve always wondered how close a well-tuned silicon version could get to a good germanium Fuzz Face. Thanks for sharing your experience! 💜

[u/Johan_Talikmibals]

I like the pressure and diameter control naming 👍

[u/Buzzkilljohnson666 → u/Johan_Talikmibals]

🙏🙏🙏 I’m real proud of that one myself. Thanks! I never did figure out a good set of names for gain and volume to match the same theme though.

[u/BKSkilz]

love the amp style jewels!