Chase Bliss Audio Bliss Factory Fuzz Pedal

Instructions and Features

Overview

The Chase Bliss Audio Bliss Factory is a five-knob, two-transistor fuzz pedal, described as a souped-up Fuzz Factory™ with digital control and a resonant low-pass filter. It offers extensive control over various operating levels and biases to shape a personalized fuzz tone. Like other Chase Bliss Audio pedals, it allows settings to be stored in presets, ramped, or controlled via an expression pedal. The guitar signal remains 100% analog, while a digital brain handles control functions.

Controls

The pedal features five primary knobs:

VOLUME: Sets the overall output level of the pedal.
DRIVE: Increases distortion and affects feedback pitch and tonal thickness. This control may become less effective when the COMP knob is set fully clockwise.
GATE (RAMP): When no dip switches are assigned for ramping, this knob controls the gate. Turning it clockwise reduces squeals, hiss, and buzz. It can also be used to tune in exact feedback pitch. Turning it counter-clockwise opens the gate. When a dip switch is set for ramping, this knob can control any of the five parameters (VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, LPF) individually or simultaneously, setting the ramp time for modulation (bounce) or ramp-and-hold (rise/fall) effects.
STAB: Set fully clockwise for classic fuzz and to prevent squealing. Turning it counter-clockwise yields a softer, squishier fuzz and can create self-oscillation.
COMP: Adds an attack characteristic when turned counter-clockwise, becoming softer towards the right. When fully clockwise, it pinches the tone. Adjusting the STAB knob can influence the behavior of the COMP control, particularly for fat feedback fuzz.
LPF: Sets the cutoff frequency for a low-pass filter. Fully clockwise allows all frequencies. Turning counter-clockwise removes high frequencies. At its maximum counter-clockwise position, most or all high frequencies are cut, depending on the LPF toggle setting.

Toggles and Switches

The pedal includes several toggles and footswitches:

AUX FUNC TOGGLE: Determines the function activated by the AUX stomp switch. Options include:
- STAB: Maxes out the STAB control when the footswitch is pressed.
- LPF: Allows switching between the maximum LPF setting and the knob-defined LPF setting each time the footswitch is activated.
- GATE: Closes the GATE (sets it to maximum clockwise) when the AUX stomp is pressed.
FAT TOGGLE: Selects the amount of sub-frequencies and influences self-oscillation pitches. Options are:
- NORM: Standard Fuzz Factory™ configuration.
- FAT: Increases sub-frequencies.
- FATTER: Further increases sub-frequencies, allowing for lower register oscillations and a synth-like quality, suitable for bass guitar and guitar.
LPF TOGGLE: Selects the type of low-pass filter for the LPF control:
- Left Position: One-pole, gentle low-pass filter.
- Middle Position: Two-pole, resonant low-pass filter.
- Right Position: Two-pole, low-pass filter with resonance, capable of self-oscillation.
BYPASS STOMP: Activates or bypasses the effect. Can be configured as momentary bypass or momentary active via a dip switch.
AUX STOMP: Activates the auxiliary function defined by the AUX FUNC toggle. Can also be set to latching or momentary active via a dip switch.
LOWER TOGGLE: Recalls saved presets.
- Right Position: Recalls preset #1.
- Left Position: Recalls preset #2.
- Middle Position: Live mode, reflecting current knob and toggle positions.
To save presets: Hold the right stomp (BYPASS) for 3 seconds, then hold both stomps for another 3 seconds to save to preset #1. For preset #2, hold the left stomp (AUX) first, then both stomps.
When a preset is recalled and a knob is moved, the LED above the toggle dims to indicate a change. To save the modified preset, it must be saved again.

Connectivity

IN / OUT: Standard 1/4" mono jack for instrument input and amplifier output.
EXP / CV: 1/4" TRS jack for expression pedal or 0-5V Control Voltage (CV). The tip connects to the expression pedal's wiper. The ring should be left floating for CV. Parameter selection is done via dip switches.
MIDI/AUX: 1/4" TRS jack for interfacing with a Chase Bliss Midibox. It can also serve as a secondary switch to activate/bypass the AUX FUNC control with a momentary normally open (NO) switch.

Power & Other Info

The pedal consumes approximately 50mA and requires a standard 2.1mm 9V DC center-negative adapter with at least 100mA current supply capability. Input impedance varies with fuzz settings, and output impedance is less than 1kΩ.

This device complies with FCC Part 15 rules, ensuring it does not cause harmful interference and accepts any received interference.

Expression / CV Control & DIP Switches

The Bliss Factory offers extensive control via expression pedals or CV signals, managed through DIP switches.

DIP Switch Banks:

There are two banks of DIP switches:

Left Bank (Parameters): Switches for VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, and LPF. When enabled (ON), these parameters can be controlled via an expression pedal or CV. If no parameters are selected, the GATE knob defaults to expression/CV control, behaving as if the 'rise' dip switch is engaged.
Right Bank (Behavior): Switches that control the direction of parameter changes (rise/fall) for ramping or expression/CV, and other specific behaviors.

DIP Switch Functions:

Parameter ON/OFF (Left Bank): Turns expression/CV or ramping capability on or off for each parameter (VOLUME, DRIVE, STAB, COMP, LPF).
Rise/Fall (Right Bank): Controls whether parameters increase (rise, clockwise) or decrease (fall, counter-clockwise) during ramping. It also dictates how parameters behave with an expression pedal.
BOUNCE: When ON (and no expression pedal is connected), parameters will modulate back and forth. When OFF, parameters will ramp and hold.
MOTAUX: Configures the AUX stomp switch for momentary engage or bypass. Its behavior (engage/bypass) depends on the pedal's state (active/bypass) when the switch is changed.
MOTBYP: Configures the main BYPASS stomp switch for momentary engage or bypass. Its behavior depends on the pedal's state (active/bypass) when the switch is changed.
SHAPE: Allows selection between triangular/linear ramping (default) or square ramping.
AUXPOL: Controls the polarity of the AUX switch function. 'U' (UP) means the AUX switch starts with the knob position and snaps to max CW when engaged. 'D' (DOWN) means the selected AUX FUNC setting starts at max CW and snaps to the knob position when AUX is activated. The default position is 'UP'.
SWEEP: Determines the range of expression/CV sweeps. 'T' (Top) means the control occurs between the current knob position and the maximum (fully clockwise) position. 'B' (Bottom) means the control occurs between the current knob position and the minimum (fully counter-clockwise) position.

Setting Expression / CV Range:

The range of expression/CV control is set by the parameter knob's position and the 'SWEEP' dip switch. For example, to control VOLUME from zero to unity gain, set the SWEEP dip switch to 'B' (bottom) and the VOLUME knob to unity gain. Turning the VOLUME knob up slightly increases the maximum range, allowing fine-tuning of the expression pedal's effect.

Important Note: Ramping resets when bypassing the pedal. The current knob position determines where ramping starts or stops.

Presets

The Bliss Factory allows users to save and recall custom settings as presets. The manual provides visual examples of knob and dip switch configurations for various presets, such as "TURBO TEAM", "SUNDAY FUNDAY", "MUD PIE", "FRIDAY NIGHT", "TAFFY LEE FUBBINS", "BART HARLEY JARVIS", "PLASTIC MEATBALLS", "MP PORKINS", "CERTIFIED TOAD", and "NOT A JOKE SHIRT".

Hear example presets created by Andy Othling at: soundcloud.com/chaseblissaudio

Find video tutorials and more at: www.youtube.com/ChaseBlissAudio

Support and Contact

For questions or further information, contact Chase Bliss Audio at: chaseblissaudio.com/contact

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