The story behind the FreezeZone fuzz pedal.
After many years working in electronics, I started focusing on effects pedals, when I came across Michael Westbrook's video on how temperature affects germanium transistors. In his video he shows an Analog-Man Sunface pedal that he put in the freezer for 20 minutes and then demonstrates it's sound through three temperature ranges. I was amazed how much better the pedal sounds after being in the freezer for 20 minutes. A warmer, fuller sound with longer sustain.
After seeing Michael's video, I just had to find a way to cool down germanium transistors internally. After a year of R&D I came up with the FreezeZone Pedal using germanium transistors, a heat pump and a temperature controller. And was able to fit it into a 1590BBS enclosure. What began as a quest to cool down the germanium fuzz pedal for stability, also ended up being a method of increasing the overall tonal range.
What's to come? I am currently working on the FreezeZone Germanium Bender and the FreezeZone Germanium Mammoth .
Michael Westbrook demonstrates the sound of Germanium transistors through three different temperatures ranges.
The video
His channel
Owner, CoolPedal LLC
Building the perfect germanium fuzz pedal:
Assembling and tuning a germanium fuzz pedal is more difficult than other pedal projects. The primary challenges stem from the inherent characteristics of germanium transistors, which are inconsistent, requiring careful selection and precise biasing.
Why Germanium fuzz pedals cannot be built on an assembly line. During biasing to find the "sweet spot" from a germanium fuzz pedal is a balancing act between all the parts in the circuit. Adjusting the bias on the first transistor changes the bias on second transistor.
You can't just put the parts on the board and ship it out, and hope it sounds great.
At the FreezeZone we balance, tune, and sound check each pedal before it goes out