I Built a Fuzz to Beat This Cheap Pedal
This £99 Funny Little Boxes “Caught By The Fuzz” might just be the best budget fuzz pedal in the UK right now. So I gave myself a challenge: could I build a boutique fuzz pedal using vintage silicon, hand-wired tagboard, and every bit of tone knowledge I’ve got — and beat it?
This video shows the full process, from sourcing rare parts to explaining how layout and parasitic inductance affect tone in plain English. Plus, you’ll hear both pedals side-by-side — and at the end, I’ll give you my totally honest verdict.
???? Whether you’re into DIY guitar pedals or chasing the perfect fuzz tone, this one’s packed with A/B comparisons, build insights, and some surprising conclusions.
Huge thank you to Mr Crazed Fandango for the intro music.
???? Purchase your own here → https://hellosailoreffects.com/shop/
Fluke 101 Multimeter – https://amzn.to/4gBsFq7
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Components tester – https://amzn.to/3DNqJwd
KNIPEX Snips – https://amzn.to/3ZOtAOf
Solid core wire – https://amzn.to/4l0sGqo
Silicone wire – https://amzn.to/4fiML7c
*UK Affiliate links:*
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Solid core wire – https://amzn.to/4hFcpEo
Screwdrivers – https://amzn.to/3DEZHHV
Components tester – https://amzn.to/42aqvtl
Atlas DCA55 Transistor tester – https://amzn.to/41UNRmr
KNIPEX Snips – https://amzn.to/3CDFSQm
Silicone wire – https://amzn.to/4j3IVBY
Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
0:24 – This is the FUZZ
0:56 – The plan
1:56 – Tagboard
24:30 – Transistors
34:45 – Why Tagboard?
36:13 – The Enclosure
37:06 – Wiring
43:54 Can you believe it!
44:17 More Wiring
48:22 – What’s inside?
50:19 – Biasing transistors
57:16 – Sound sample Strat
1:02:10 Sound Sample Les Paul
1:05:29 – Sound Sample Tele
1:08:26 – Final Thoughts
#Built #Fuzz #Beat #Cheap #Pedal
Originally posted by UCuJLugw0PI3HKWjMeAVxSEA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQV9MjPwhD0
???? 20% OFF – AUGUST ONLY! ????
To say thanks for all the support, I’m running a site-wide 20% OFF SALE for the whole of August!
????️ DIY kits, pedals, merch – all discounted this month only!
???? USE CODE: HELLOSAILOR20 at checkout
???? Offer ends 31st August – no extensions!
???? Grab yours here: https://hellosailoreffects.com/shop/
???? Let me know what you get
I have to say, Joe, with reference to your discussion of biasing (around 53:00) your explanation and on-screen demo is brilliant. I'm not an electronics expert, but I am working to improve my electronics knowledge and your commentary "pitch" is just right – spot on – accessible to the novice but detailed enough for someone (like me) who is fairly advanced with this stuff. Amazing quality videos and (obviously) a lifetime's experience in the trade! Thank you! ????
Hi Joe – Another great video – thanks! Quick question: Around 42:45 you talk about the switched jack socket. I think you said it was switched on the ground wires. Is there a technical (electronics) reason for this? I've seen this done on both live wire and ground wire… but not sure which is better? TIA ????
???? 20% OFF – AUGUST ONLY! ????
To say thanks for all the support, I’m running a site-wide 20% OFF SALE for the whole of August!
????️ DIY kits, pedals, merch – all discounted this month only!
???? USE CODE: HELLOSAILOR20 at checkout
???? Offer ends 31st August – no extensions!
???? Grab yours here: https://hellosailoreffects.com/shop/
???? Let me know what you get
No contest mate, in my opinion. Your fuzz is just in a different league Joe, great work. That sounds like oscillation happening also with the other fuzz? I’m voting Hello Sailor on this one! Great idea with the LEDs though on the other!
You could call your fuzz pedal 'Chief Stoker', (pun intended).
Huzzah for tagboard and ridiculously oversized goodness! I can't afford either pedal, but your overbuilt specials really do seem to have more vibe and mojo – they're less tamed.
A little off topic, but how do you use the headphones as a moniter ?
The caught by the fuzz is just awesome with the strat, your Abbey Rd was way better with the humbuckers. Both awesome!
Clipping the leg off an expensive component in the wrong spot. Been there done that, but at least I learned from it.
I think your build is more harmonically rich and the fuzz is under better control. Perhaps I missed it, but it would have been interesting to A/B them with the guitar going straight in. I find the impedance issues (with any fuzz face circuit, really–and buffering really nerfs them) can cause the squeal. Nice show, as always. Cheers.
Man… I started busting up when you started talking about the phone and wallet in a certain pocket thing. I do the exact same thing. I even go to the extent that certain things go into my pockets in a particular order. ???? my wife thinks im crazy, good to know im not alone
The Caught By The Fuzz sounds awesome for the cost, that's stuch a cool Idea with the lights too!
I can't speak to the finger feel with the Funny Little Boxes effect, but I know that your Abbey Road has a dimentionality and feel under the hands that's unmatched. Is that huge components or skilled biasing dunno, but keep doning what you're doing man. Bringning the love of the tone to the world. ????
Thank you to everyone who buys pedals from HSE. Here's a link to the pedal in this video: zoh and remember theres 20% off all pedals with code SAILOR20 https://hellosailoreffects.com/product/abbey-road-fuzz-2/
The Caught By The Fuzz pedal can be purchased below for £99 – The one i purchased at the Brighton Guitar Show was on sale!
Caught By The Fuzz – Funny Little Boxes Ltd. https://share.google/h29163BA3uYaqTWtT
Nice seeing you demo the pedals with the tele you built on the channel. NIce video!
I was selling stuff I made for like 40-50 but I wasn't making much with that, I was thinking of asking closer to 70 lol
if the fuzzy little box transistor based or is it an IC?
Rumour has it that Duane Allman liked his fussface with the battery nearly expended. Have no idea why but he always found tones nobody else did. Weren't the originals germanium too?
Hopefully Andy sees this. It is an excellent pedal and not just excellent for the price.
Another fantastic video and pedal. Amazing work per usual.
I'd love to see you do a dual effect pedal like a fuzz into a modulation effect.