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DOD FX33 BuzzBox

Posted on 17/10/201317/10/2013 by mirosol

DOD-FX33-BuzzBox

What is it?
DOD FX33 BuzzBox, made in USA around 1995.

Now here’s something you won’t see everyday. When something is worth overdoing, let the DOD engineers show you the real way of the beast. Design is just sick. The America’s Pedal article on the history of the design is a very good read. There is a schematic available online, named Leafblower. It’s drawn by Celadine and it is spread accross two pages. It’s not that complicated, but still a big design.

DOD-FX33-BuzzBox-guts1

So in fact the design has distortion and octave divider in parallel, which is nothing too special when compared to other low octave divider circuits around. But this time the voicing and gain are set quite perfectly for extreme buzz. The controls work well, even though the names are gibberish. Heavy is controlling the mix between distortion and low octave output, Buzz acts as distortion control, Saw as tone and Thrust is your overall output level.

DOD-FX33-BuzzBox-guts2

As a nice curiosity, there’s a sticker inside with ” Dana B 232″ printed on it. These units usually sell for a lot. I happened to be quite lucky and got one from a friend in a trade that was good for both of us. Thanks Markus.

Due to the circuit being more complicated than its peers, it’s not your average suspect for cloning. After all, there are three dual opamps and a CD4013 flip-flop in addition to a few transistors and clippers. But from economical point of view a reissue should be welcome.

How does it sound?
Massive low octave noise monster. Some folks claim it to sound like a Rat driving a Bluebox, but to my ears it’s not even close. Think of two DOD Grunges in parallel and blasting the resulting hyper distorted signal through quadruple bass booster that has all the frequencies divided into lower octaves ála Bluebox. Yes. It is that sick. in the same time this sounds like a mash of a leafblower, a vacuum cleaner and a demon possessed NES system on speed.

4 thoughts on “DOD FX33 BuzzBox”

  1. Mikael Al Azif Hyeenanlaulu says:
    23/06/2014 at 11:58

    Audible Disease has a remake/tribute/clone in production
    http://www.effectpedals.us/product/thirty-three_tt-1

    MASF also has released such tribute, with the same target sounds though apparently different
    http://masf.figity.com/pedals/kidnapper

    Reply
    1. mirosol says:
      23/06/2014 at 12:08

      I was aware of Audible disease box, but like stated, the circuit is rather big for being a DIY favourite. I think there’s a chance of seeing a stripboard layout at some point. Maybe we should email Madbean to produce a run of PCBs :)
      +m

      Reply
  2. Dennis Pyo says:
    28/03/2017 at 01:20

    Hi
    I stupidly removed the input/output/power jacks, led and switch from this pedal. Now I need to put it back together but I can’t read a schematic.
    Does anyone have a photo of the guts that show the wires leading from the board to the jacks?
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Wade Thoren says:
      23/09/2024 at 06:12

      Do you still need the information on the buzz box? I’ve been messing with mine and came across your post. I can try and send you a picture of the pin out

      Reply

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