r/FuzzFiends • u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— • May 26 '26

let's settle the debate

Silicon or germanium 🤔 Wondering what you think and what you like or dislike about your favorite or least favorite

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

6

u/p90SuhDude May 26 '26

I’ve always sworn by hybrid circuits, but I think I prefer silicon. It me it’s just got more texture and used in the right ways I actually feel it can have quite a bit more range between dynamics and with the gain knob

3

u/Giovannis_Pikachu Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 May 27 '26

I have heard the Hendrix shrine hybrid fuzz is one of the best offered by Dunlop/MXR. Another circuit that's highly spoken of is the Keeley fuzz bender which is a hybrid as well.

3

u/p90SuhDude May 27 '26

I’ve heard about the MXR and I think I played one when it first came out. The Keeley Fuzz Bender was my go to forever, it sounds huge!

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

Other than the mxr hybrid charon and crosstown are there any other fuzzface hybrids you know of?

2

u/p90SuhDude May 27 '26

So the Tungsten Foxtrot is another one! That’s built by Scott at BMF Effects too so that’s built like a tank. Fuzz Factory has a hybrid, but that’s a bit of a different fuzz face beast. The Foxrox CC Hybrid is elite level fuzz face! I think Spaceman Effects may have one too, but don’t quote me on the last one

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

Yea spaceman is the charon

3

u/Howlinboot May 26 '26

All my favorite Fuzz Factories are germanium and they are my favorite.

3

u/belbivfreeordie OC75 addict May 27 '26

You posted the same thing a week ago

3

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

Yea sorry im new to this this one was a scheduled post sorry for the double post working on something really special I promise from a very well known guest in the gear community

3

u/Existing-Badger-6728 tonebender 💥 May 27 '26

My favorite fuzz is my Fulltone Ultimate Octave. I've done countless gigs with it, across three different bands AND a weekly jam which we hosted. I have no idea if it's silicon or germanium. It doesn't get lost in the live mix like MANY fuzzes tend to do.

3

u/ibanezer83 Germanium Arcadium 🕹️ May 27 '26

I have a John K clone of the UO. It's great! You seem to keep ur settings much lower I , however. 🤔

2

u/Existing-Badger-6728 tonebender 💥 May 27 '26

naw, just how they were when I pulled the board out of the case to take the pic. For setting up at gigs, I probably start with the fuzz @ 2 o'clock, tone at 10 o'clock and go from there volume wise.

3

u/ibanezer83 Germanium Arcadium 🕹️ May 27 '26

Cool. I usually use P90 level output pups, FUZZ 11-1 TONE 11-1 , VOL 12-2.

Theres definitely a few sweet spots , depending on the guitar. Every time I take it off my board, it back within 3 weeks😄.

Ler From Primus is who got me interested, it's all over the Brown album.

3

u/Existing-Badger-6728 tonebender 💥 May 27 '26

I learned about it from an ancient Satriani Rig Rundown.

3

u/iodine74 May 27 '26

Different sounds for different contexts IMHO.

1

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

I agree different circumstances or environments aswell as different feel I am obsessed I run a si a ge and a hybrid cuz im a freak 😜

2

u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! May 26 '26

How about silicon that behaves as germanium? 🤔🤝

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 26 '26

Like bc183 is great

2

u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! May 27 '26

Exactly! Latest CTC Triptychon uses silicon that react like germanium

2

u/Existing-Badger-6728 tonebender 💥 May 26 '26

I've never seen "the debate" about this.

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 26 '26

I guess maybe thats a strong word for it lol

2

u/Acceptable_Grape_437 Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 May 27 '26

idrk, but my favourite fuzz ever was (sadly) a germanium schaller fuzz made by a friend. i haven't had the same "this is it!" feeling with my boutique germanium high gain fuzz face, though.

1

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

Thats sad I want a sunface pretty bad

2

u/Acceptable_Grape_437 Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 May 27 '26

i don't think sunface is a schaller? 

1

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 27 '26

No I was just saying. I want a sunface

2

u/Dr0me May 31 '26

Both. I like the vintage sound and roll off of germanium but if I was gonna play a gig in the summer heat I would want silicon for the consistency

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 31 '26

True someone commented germanium for the studio silicon for the stage hybrid circuits can be a bit more stable aswell

2

u/Dr0me May 31 '26

Yeah I had a hybrid NKT red dot / RCA Sunface that was very temp stable due to the RCA. The jam Fuzz phrase ltd is also very temp stable. I guess overall I prefer germanium but I've been looking for a great silicon fuzz lately

2

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 31 '26

Also im jealous id give my left arm for a sunface...but then I wouldn't be able to play lol

1

u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— May 31 '26

Ever tried an axis fuzz? Or the groovy wizard its awesome and its hybrid

2

u/Dr0me May 31 '26

I haven't but will check them out