Honcho

The boss tone of fuzz, without the awkward packaging

 

 

The Honcho fuzz rack effect module compares to the vintage Jordan Boss Tone and current Voodoo Lab Superfuzz.  You can choose either config, or switch between them.  Players with advanced degrees in fuzz know that both offer great fuzz tones.

 

Description

The Jordan Boss Tone was a great silicon fuzz, but it was a bit difficult to use.  It plugged directly into the guitar's cable jack.  Or rather, it was supposed to.  It didn't work well or at all with guitars that had recessed jacks, including Strats.  Despite it's unwieldy packaging, it is still a favorite among the vintage fuzz cognoscenti.  Voodoo Lab added some tone control to the end of the circuit and the result became their Superfuzz, not to be confused with vintage fuzz pedals of the same name.  The GT Honcho can be built to Boss Tone or Superfuzz specs, or if you can't choose between them, choose both.  Randy California of Spirit was an early Boss Tone user - yeah, Spirit - Led Zeppelin opened for them in Zep's first US show in Denver, back in '68, more than half a century ago...  You can see the Boss Tone in old Spirit videos, but other players either had them built into their guitars or built into custom pedals so they could use them more conveniently, or just use them at all.  Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys uses one in pedal form.  Apparently, they were also part of many steel guitar rigs in Nashville for a number years.  Sixties hippy rock to indie blues to country - that's some versatility.

 

Configurations

  • Honcho - compares to Jordan Boss Tone and/or Voodoo Lab Superfuzz, depending on choice of options.  By default, it is built to Boss Tone specs and comes with Attack and Volume controls.

    

 

Options

  • Voodoo Mod - build to Voodoo Lab Superfuzz specs instead of Jordan Boss Tone specs.  This adds Tone and Resonance controls.
  • JBT/VSF Switch -  This option builds the circuit to Boss Tone specs, but adds on the Superfuzz tone control section.  On one setting you get the Boss Tone, on the other you get the Boss Tone with the Superfuzz Tone and Resonance controls.  The Tone and Resonance controls will only work with the VSF setting.  The Superfuzz portion of the circuit will be slightly different from the original Superfuzz.  See info in other options below.
  • Custom Transistors - The Boss Tone and Superfuzz use different transistors.  We use the Boss Tone transistors by default and with the JBT/VSF switch option.  But if you prefer, we can use the Superfuzz transistors.  In that case, the JBT setting on the JBT/VSF Switch option will be slightly different from the original Boss Tone, but the VSF setting will be more like the Superfuzz.  The Boss Tone used 2N2222 and 2N3906 transistors, which are both OK transistors, but nothing special in the fuzz world.  The Superfuzz has MPSA18 and 2N2907, again, OK transistors.  We can use something else entirely if you have other preferences. 
  • Custom Clipping - By default, we use the 1N4148 clipping diodes used by the Boss Tone.  We can switch those to be the 1N4004 used by the Superfuzz.  Or you can choose something else entirely.  Diode choice doesn't have a huge impact, as long as you use silicon.
  • Clipping Switch - We can put two sets of clipping diodes on a switch.  You could choose the Boss Tone and Superfuzz diodes as your choices, but they will sound very similar.  You may not even be able to tell the difference.  If you want silicon choices, let us know and we'll see what we have in stock that can give you different clipping voltages.  Or maybe try some germanium, although you might lose a bit of volume.
  • Hi Cut Mod - The Superfuzz can be a bit bright for some, good for cutting through a band mix.  If you prefer a smoother, less aggressive sounding fuzz, we can add a capacitor to trim some highs out.  This only works with a Voodoo or JBT/VSF Switch mod.
  • Hi Cut Switch - Same as the Hi Cut Mod, but on a switch.
  • Carbon Comp Resistors - If you like your fuzz with a bit of carbon comp flavor, we can do that.
  • Custom Op Amp - The Superfuzz portion of the circuit (requires Voodoo or JBT/VSF switch option) uses a TL062 op amp in the tone stack.  We can use some other pin-compatible op amp if you prefer.
  • Components - We use metal film resistors and a selection of capacitors that provide good tone and low noise. 

 

Front Panel

  • On/Off indicator LED
  • Attack
  • Volume
  • (optional) Tone control
  • (optional) Resonance control
  • (optional) JBT/VSF switch
  • (optional) Diode switch
  • (optional) Hi Cut switch

 

Rear Panel

  • Audio In
  • Audio Out
  • On/Off Footswitch
  • On/Off Override
  • DC Power
  • DC Power LED

 

Module Width

  • 1.5" standard
  • 2" with options
  • 2" left wing module and 1.5" right wing modules are available for 2-4 control configurations

 

Power Consumption (aprox)

8 - 12mA

 

Base Configurations

Part # Description List Price
MOD-HONCHO Honcho module $215

 

Options

Part # Description List Price
MOPT-HONCHO-VDOO Voodoo Mod $29
MOPT-HONCHO-BTSFSW JBT/VSF Switch $39
MOPT-HONCHO-TRANS Custom Transistors $0 - TBD
MOPT-HONCHO-CLIP Custom Clipping $0 - TBD
MOPT-HONCHO-CLIPSW Clipping Switch $19
MOPT-HONCHO-HICUT Hi Cut Mod $0
MOPT-HONCHO-HICUTSW Hi Cut Switch $19
MOPT-HONCHO-CCOMP Carbon Comp Resistors $5
MOPT-HONCHO-OPAMP Custom Op Amp $0 - TBD
MOPT-HONCHO-CC Custom Components TBD