Electric Machine Fuzz — R2R Electric Zonk Machine
R2R Electric returns to the channel with the Electric Machine — Chris Vincent's NOS Zonk Machine-style fuzz, dialed in to his own exacting tastes. He nailed it. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the R2R Electric Electric Machine Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Josh Williams Guitars Mockingbird with Tone Specific Bloombucker Humbuckers, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 07:45.
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The Hornby Skewes Zonk Machine is one of the rarest and most sought-after British fuzz circuits of the 1960s — a close relative of the Tone Bender MKI, but with a distinct input capacitor value that rolls off low end before the fuzz stage, producing a more angular, midrange-forward, and characteristically gnarly character. The Zonk was made in extremely limited quantities and commands significant prices when originals surface.
The Electric Machine is Chris's take on the Zonk Machine circuit, built in his Professional format — the same full-size wedge enclosure and construction standard used across the R2R lineup. In Chris's own words: "This guy is spot on to my full size wedge Electric Machine fuzz." Transistors are Texas Instruments, OC75, and OC44 — the same NOS transistor set as the full-size version. Mustard caps throughout. Hand-wired point-to-point with NOS vintage components as with every R2R Electric build.
Two controls: Attack (gain) and Level (output). Low Attack settings with Level pushed well above unity produce a particularly compressed, angular fuzz character explored in depth from 09:40. High Attack into a pushed amp from 04:08. The Level has substantial output range — more than enough to slam the Monarch's front end hard.
As with all R2R vintage fuzz builds: place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals.
Get on the R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com/how-to-order Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/
🎸 Josh Williams Guitars: https://joshwilliamsguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
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🎸 Josh Williams Guitars Mockingbird | Tone Specific Bloombucker Humbuckers | Pressed Maple Semi-Hollow 🎛️ R2R Electric Electric Machine | NOS TI + OC75 + OC44 | Mustard Caps | Zonk Machine Topology | Attack + Level 🎛️ Also: Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
