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Harmonic Clipper [message #3615] Sat, 31 January 2004 16:48 moogyboy Messages: 9 Registered: January 2004 Junior Member Okay, another question for the techs. I've already stated my wild guess that the Harmonic Clipper circuit is basically a fuzz circuit rather than the overdrive you usually find on guitar amps. It sure sounds that way to me, the way it breaks up as a note decays. I'm thinking one of those two- or three-transistor fuzz circuits, like a Fuzz Face or a Tone Bender, cuz I sure don't see any dag-blasted ICs in there. Question: am I correct or are my ears full of $#!t? Also, on mine the HC knob basically just changes the overall volume of the fully-fuzzed signal (from quite soft to full volume) rather than the intensity of the fuzz effect itself. Is *this* a problem? Whatever it is, it is a totally wicked distortion! AFAIC it blows those weenie heavy metal amps back to the crib. I bet no one else playing the OSU campus circuit has anything like my Harmonic Clipper at their beck and call. I can't wait. regards Billy S. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3617 is a reply to message #3615] Sun, 01 February 2004 00:04 QModer Messages: 413 Registered: June 2003 Senior Member I've only heard it one time and I have the opinion as you. I have also heard it in a peavy too. But of course I don't like the peavy one as well. But interestingly enough the peavy was a 400 watt bass amp. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3623 is a reply to message #3617] Tue, 03 February 2004 07:47   stevem Messages: 4739 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member Hi. Of all my K200s I have only one has the full package, and that section of the amp has to be looked at and I have not had the time yet. So I as of yet have not heard what it should sound like. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3629 is a reply to message #3615] Tue, 03 February 2004 22:33   pleat Messages: 1452 Registered: June 2004 Location: Belding, Mi Senior Member I have had a few of the #4 heads in both the A and B series, and I do remember years ago getting the #4 head with the clipper, it just sucked so bad, and even the ones I have had in the near past reminded me that it is the most ragged sounding fuzz, no sustain, the notes just cut out. My 1965 dallas arbiter fuzz face will still out perform anything I have hear today in the fuzz market. The new reissue fuzz face still sounds cheap comparing it with my original. Of course sound is a personal thing, but I wouldn't buy a #4 head just for that feature. Don Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3634 is a reply to message #3629] Wed, 04 February 2004 01:47 QModer Messages: 413 Registered: June 2003 Senior Member I've got two of the old Fuzz face dallas arbitor fuzzes. One red and one blue. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3635 is a reply to message #3629] Wed, 04 February 2004 11:16 Anonymous But that's what's so charming about the Harmonic Clipper, is that balls-out nasty, crude buzzsaw fuzz sound. Terrific for power chords! Regular old amp overdrive is just so boring. The HC is UNIQUE. Isn't uniqueness one of the things that makes Kustoms special? I sure didn't go with Kustom so that I could sound like Stevie Ray or Hendrix. :-D I'd liken this fuzz sound more to something like a Maestro Fuzz Tone, a Fuzzrite, or one of those other early, less-refined devices. The Fuzz Face is definitely a smoother, more singing tone; this one is more a shouter. :-) cheers Billy S. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3636 is a reply to message #3635] Wed, 04 February 2004 11:18 Anonymous I realize I just contradicted myself there. First it is a Fuzz Face, then it's not a Fuzz Face. Doh. I'm not stupid, just careless. Ha. Ha. Billy S. Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3638 is a reply to message #3615] Wed, 04 February 2004 16:07 JB Messages: 32 Registered: January 2003 Location: Maryland Member Billy your right tho' it is and it ain't. I like using two or three distortion sounds (not at the same time ; ) and the Kustom is pure pyscodelic, yea baby, yea! I have the Harmonic Clipper, "Hot cake" and an old Ross distortion and they are all great for a variety of sounds. Just a note, if you're not getting sustain from you're Harmonic Clipper then it may not be working properly or you're not pushing the main/master channel volume enough. At first I had trouble getting a good sound till I cut back on the clipper volume and pushed the master past half way, try it. John Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3654 is a reply to message #3615] Fri, 06 February 2004 11:23 Anonymous The harmonic clipper control does just set the output level. The amount of clipping can be varied slightly depending on the volume control level and input level of the guitar. The circuit itself is very simple - a single transistor with a single diode between the base and collector. Two other transistors are used to switch it in and out of the circuit. If you search the web and look at some of the DIY effect sites, look for a circuit called "BAZZ"... like at this URL for a rough idea how it's put together: http://www.runoffgroove.com/bazz.html Report message to a moderator

Re: Harmonic Clipper [message #3663 is a reply to message #3615] Sat, 07 February 2004 02:22 QModer Messages: 413 Registered: June 2003 Senior Member Thats and interesting post that anon LOL.. I've always wondered how those things were set up. Report message to a moderator

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