PROJECT NAME

ARGENT
BASED ON BUILD DIFFICULTY
BOSS® FZ-3 Fuzz Easy
EFFECT TYPE DOCUMENT VERSION
Silicon fuzz 1.0.0 (2021-11-26)
PROJECT SUMMARY
An all-transistor silicon fuzz with similarities to the Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Big Muff.

Actual size is 2.3” x 1.86” (main board) and 1.78” x 0.87” (bypass board).

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Project Overview 8 Drill Template
2 Introduction & Usage 9 Enclosure Layout
3-5 Parts List 10 Wiring Diagram
6 Build Notes 11 Licensing
7 Schematic 11 Document Revisions

INTRODUCTION
The Argent Silicon Fuzz is based on the BOSS® FZ-3 Fuzz, originally released in 1997. Although it was
discontinued after only a couple of years, today they routinely sell for USD$250 or more. Notable users
include John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins).

While it was marketed as a successor to the FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, in reality the two circuits share nothing
whatsoever in common, either in tone or in the underlying circuitry. The FZ-3 is loosely based on the
Fuzz Face and Tone Bender circuits, while the FZ-2 is derived from the Superfuzz with an input boost
and tone stack added.

The FZ-3 has been traced on two prior occasions by the DIY community, but both schematics have
several incorrect values and would not result in a workable fuzz effect. We traced an original unit
ourselves in 2021 to come up with a definitive schematic, and as a result, the Argent is the first accurate
clone of the FZ-3.

Aside from the conversion to true bypass, the Argent is the same as the original unit with no
modifications or substitutions. And while the input JFET’s type is not terribly important, Aion FX does
offer the 2SK209-GR (the SMD version of 2SK184-GR) pre-soldered to through-hole adapter PCBs.

USAGE
The Argent has three controls:

• Fuzz increases the gain of the middle transistor gain stage, a sub-circuit that resembles a silicon
Fuzz Face.
• Tone is a Big Muff-style balance control with a bass emphasis on one side and a treble emphasis on
the other, with the center position being roughly flat.
• Volume sets the overall output of the effect signal.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 2

PARTS LIST
This parts list is also available in a spreadsheet format which can be imported directly into Mouser for
easy parts ordering. Mouser doesn’t carry all the parts—notably potentiometers—so the second tab lists
all the non-Mouser parts as well as sources for each.

View parts list spreadsheet →

PART VALUE TYPE NOTES

R1 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R2 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R3 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R4 12k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R5 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R6 220R Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R7 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R8 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R9 2k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R10 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R11 6k8 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R12 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R13 22k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R14 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R15 3k3 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R16 150k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R17 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R18 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R19 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R20 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R21 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R22 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R23 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R24 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R25 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R26 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R27 22k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R28 22k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R29 220R Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R30 2k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

RPD 2M2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W Input pulldown resistor. Can be as low as 1M.

LEDR 4k7 Metal film resistor, 1/4W LED current-limiting resistor. Adjust value to change LED brightness.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 3

PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
C1 47n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C2 220n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm Original uses 1uF + 330n for a series value of 248n.
C3 27n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm Paralleled with C2 for 247n total.
C4 10n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C5 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C6 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C7 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C8 18n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C9 8n2 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C10 47n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C11 10n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C12 10n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C13 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C14 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm
C15 47uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Reference voltage filter capacitor.
C16 47uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C17 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C18 47uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C19 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C20 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor.
D1 1N5817 511-1N5817
Q1 2SK209-GR 757-2SK209GRTE85LF Original uses 2SK184-GR. 2SK209-GR is the SMD equivalent.
Q2 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-LG. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q3 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-LG. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q4 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-LG. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q5 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-LG. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q6 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-LG. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q7 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-GR. 2N5088 is equivalent.
Q8 2N5088 610-2N5088 Original uses 2SC2458-GR. 2N5088 is equivalent.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 4

PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
FUZZ 1kC 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

TONE 100kW 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot Can substitute 100kB instead if you can’t find W-taper.

VOLUME 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

LED 5mm LED, 5mm, red diffused

IN 1/4" stereo 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent.

OUT 1/4" mono 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent.

DC 2.1mm DC jack, 2.1mm panel mount Mouser 163-4302-E or equivalent.

FSW 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT

ENC 125B Enclosure, die-cast aluminum Can also use a Hammond 1590N1.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 5

BUILD NOTES

Using SMD JFETs

The 2SK184-GR JFET is no longer available in through-hole format. This PCB uses a hybrid through-
hole/SMD outline for each JFET. An extra “G” (gate) pad is included to accommodate surface-mount
devices without the need for adapters.

SMD JFETs should be oriented as follows:

All surface-mount JFETs use the same pinout, so this configuration will fit any type that we’re aware of.
However, always check the datasheet if you’re uncertain—they’re difficult to desolder.

Using through-hole adapters

If you’re not confident in your ability to work with SMD parts, Aion FX offers 2SK209-GR JFETs (the
SMD version of 2SK184-GR) that come pre-soldered to adapters for use in through-hole designs. These
are from the same manufacturer as the ones used in the original circuit and will perform identically.

Using old-stock transistors

Toshiba has not manufacturered through-hole transistors and JFETs in many years, but it’s still possible
to find the 2SK184-GR and 2SC2458-GR transistors used in the original. However, be aware that these
follow the Japanese pinout conventions, whereas the PCB layout is set up for USA conventions since
there are a lot more widely-available substitutes in this format.

For those using original Toshiba through-hole JFETs or BJTs, an extra pad has been added to the left of
the transistor outline (drain for JFETs, emitter for BJTs) so that the Japanese pinout can be easily used
without needing to twist the legs around. In both cases, the transistor should be rotated 180 degrees
from the silkscreen and shifted over one pad, as shown:

BJT JFET

C2/C3 values
In the original FZ-3, the JFET switching comes after the input buffer. When the effect is engaged, a 1uF
and 330n capacitor are in series, giving an effective value of 248n. Since this is partway between two
standard capacitor values, we added a second capacitor in parallel. This way you can use 220n + 27n,
which is within 0.5% of the original value.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 6

SCHEMATIC

+9V VA VC
Q8
D1 2N5088 R29

1N5817 C17 C19 220R C16

C20
VB
R30

R27
2k2

22k
100n 100uF 100uF 47uF

GND GND C18 GND GND

C15

R28

22k
47uF
47uF

GND VA
GND GND

R15

3k3
VB VC VA VA
VA
VC
VA VC VA

R14

3k3
C9

R13

R19
33k

22k

10k
1M
R2

R8

C10

C11
47n

47n

10n
8n2
47k
C1

R1
R5

Q1

330k
Q3 Q5

R17
IN VB
10k 2SK209-GR 2N5088 2N5088

18n
1uF

C4
220n

C5

C8
R11
Q4 Q6

R20

47k
C2

R6

3
Q2 10n 2N5088 2N5088 VA
6k8

100kW
TONE
220R 2N5088

150k

100k
2
R10

R16

R23
15k
27n

C6
100k
R12
2k2
10k

12k
C3

3
R3

R4

R9

GND

C13

1uF
1

VOLUME
R18

10k
GND

100kA
1n Q7
10k

R21 R22
R7

2N5088

2
GND GND 47k 47k

10uF
C14
1
3
GND GND GND C12
GND OUT
FUZZ
1kC
GND 10n
2
C7 GND

100k
R24

R25
10k
1

10uF
GND

GND
GND GND GND

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 7

DRILL TEMPLATE
Cut out this drill template, fold the edges and tape it to the enclosure. Before drilling, it’s recommended
to first use a center punch for each of the holes to help guide the drill bit.

Ensure that this template is printed at 100% or “Actual Size”. You can double-check this by measuring
the scale on the printed page.

Top jack layout assumes the use of closed-frame jacks like the Switchcraft 111X. If you’d rather use
open-frame jacks, please refer to the Open-Frame Jack Drill Template for the top side.

LED hole drill size assumes the use of a 5mm LED bezel, available from several parts suppliers. Adjust
size accordingly if using something different, such as a 3mm bezel, a plastic bezel, or just a plain LED.

INCH
125B

0.385”

0 1 0.625” 0.625”

ø3/8” ø3/8”
ø1/2”
CM
OUT DC IN

0 1 2

VOLUME FUZZ

x: -0.65, y: +1.71 x: 0.65, y: +1.71

ø9/32” ø9/32”

TONE

x: 0, y: +0.66
ø9/32”

CENTER (0,0)

LED FOOTSWITCH

x: -0.775, y: -1.20 x: 0, y: -1.20

ø5/16” ø15/32”

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 8

ENCLOSURE LAYOUT
Enclosure is shown without jacks. See next page for jack layout and wiring.

125B

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 9

WIRING DIAGRAM

IN GND +V N.C. N.C. OUT

PCB GND +V +V JACK GND JACK GND GND PCB

IN IN OUT OUT

125B

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 10

LICENSE & USAGE
No direct support is offered for these projects beyond the provided documentation. It’s assumed
that you have at least some experience building pedals before starting one of these. Replacements and
refunds cannotbe offered unless it can be shown that the circuit or documentation are in error.

All of these circuits have been tested in good faith in their base configurations. However, not all the
modifications or variations have necessarily been tested. These are offered only as suggestions based
on the experience and opinions of others.

Projects may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless specifically noted. No
attribution is necessary, though a link back is always greatly appreciated. The only usage restrictions
are that (1) you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior arrangement, and (2) you cannot
“goop” the circuit, scratch off the screenprint, or otherwise obfuscate the circuit to disguise its source.
(In other words: you don’t have to go out of your way to advertise the fact that you use these PCBs, but
please don’t go out of your way to hide it. The guitar effects industry needs more transparency, not less!)

DOCUMENT REVISIONS
1.0.0 (2021-11-26)
Initial release.

ARGENT SILICON FUZZ 11