Twilight MK1 - twilight's favorite fuzz modded to the nines.

Because this is my favorite fuzz circuit, I wanted to make it the ultimate one stop fuzz solution, to get any possible fuzz sound of the 3 germanium cans inside this unit.

the oldest fuzz circuit, made with a modern, maximalism mindset.

every single toggle, knob, is a window, a pathway into an entirely new world, of germanium fuzz goodness. The combinations are almost limitless, for a world of never ending branches of choice.

These are two V2 units. Still not quite the fully finished product, in my head these are prototypes but still the best that this variation could be.

What kind of effect is this?

at its core, this is a vintage germanium fuzz. But, its got so many modernized features its like being in the present, but having half your body in a portal to the 60s.

Germanium vintage fuzzes have unique characteristics from unit to unit. No two are the same.

How does it feel?

like pure magic. I disowned germanium transistors for a long time at the very start of my career. Until I built a real, proper MK1 tonebender and started learning what they actually are supposed to sound like.

Now I am addicted to germanium fuzz. Especially the tonebender series.

It just roars and textures like no other. It is by far the highest gain germanium transistor circuit I have come across.

It feels like what I imagine amps about to explode sound like.

How does it sound?

Tons of volume on tap.

Stock, the circuit has a cut below 150hz, lacking low end. I left it like that in past builds, but in almost all new MK1 builds, I modify the circuit so no low end is lost. Because I love low end.

It mainly feels like it roars. Certain tonebenders can be smoother than others. But generally, they all roar like some 60s cranked marshall addicted rock star is having a second go at life through your amp.

With all the mods, there are tons of windows of opportunity with this circuit.

What mods did I include?

More low end than the original.

A 2nd and 3rd transistor bias to dial in the perfect texture and operating characteristics. Sort of helps with temperature fluctuations tone variability that happens with germaniums as well.

A bypassable tone control- for a neutral fuzz tone like the original, or a low pass/high pass tone filter knob. Helps to cut highs and boost lows or cut lows and boost highs.

A mini Swell knob- controls the pre gain control, which in turn, controls how deep the swell/bloom becomes with your pick attack. 

Don't know what bloom/swell means? think of it like a flower, you hit the strings hard, the note compresses, then blooms into its full, rich body. It is controlled via your pick attack, and you can reduce the bloom by dialing the guitars volume down, effectively making your guitars volume knob a sort of compression control.

A bypassable or engageable octave up toggle, to turn this fuzz into the biting, clanging, harmonically complex fuzz similar to an octavia, foxx tone, etc.

mode (bottom left)

zonk- brightest, least low end. Lots of top end bite.

MK1- stock mk1. Fatter and thicker.

Swell- gives the most amount of low end, swell/bloom, and just generally sounds the most massive.

Crunch toggle- bypasses or engages an extra silicon saturation stage to squeeze even more gain out of this circuit.

what kind of player would like this fuzz?

If you have ventured into germanium fuzz, you will appreciate this.

If you are a connoisseur of fuzz, you will enjoy this fuzz.