JRR Pedals GeSi Face

Utilizing a New Old Stock (NOS) MP36a germanium (Ge) transistor and a modern BC549C silicon (Si) transistor, the GeSi Face is a new kind of hybrid fuzz pedal that blends the best characteristics of classic germanium and silicon Fuzz Faces. The combination provides the warm, soft sound of germanium with the stability and higher gain of silicon, a very nice combination.

Breaking from tradition

The Fuzz Face circuit is one of the most copied guitar pedal circuits of all time. The GeSi Face differs from traditional circuits in three significant ways:

Mismatched Transistors

By purposefully mismatching a vintage, super low gain MP36a transistor with a modern, super high gain BC549C transistor, we get the warm saturation of germanium with the stability of silicon, making it the perfect pedal for gigging musicians.

Hard before beer, you're in the clear

Thanks to the extra high gain first transistor stage, the GeSi Face is highly sensitive to pick attack and volume changes, going from over-the-top fuzz to crystal clear with the turn of your volume knob.

Drastically under-biased silicon transistor

A silicon transistor sounds bright and aggressive. Under-biasing it smooths the attack and is especially effective when followed with a germanium transistor. Also, under-biasing the silicon transistor makes the GeSi Face work better with active electronics and buffered pedals. A lot of classic silicon Fuzz Face tones can be coaxed by running a Tube Screamer before the GeSi Face.