I recently picked up a couple of vintage fuzz pedals to restore—a Mica-Tone Deluxe Fuzz and this Univox Super-Fuzz —from the same seller. Both had their share of issues, but after some elbow grease, they are working and looking great again! This is the earlier version of the super fuzz before the more colorful and iconic re-housed version came out in 1970. It’s basically the same circuit so they should all sound very similar with minor tweaks likely between them.
I replaced all of the bad electrolytic capacitors in this fuzz. My online research showed this circuit as having only 10µF electrolytic capacitors, just like the Mica-Tone version I previously restored. However, this unit contained a mix of 30µF and 10µF capacitors. In an effort to preserve its originality, I kept the same capacitor values and locations. It sounds great, so I’m leaving it that way.
I also spent a considerable amount of time on the enclosure, thoroughly cleaning it inside and out. It arrived with the badge detached and significant rust underneath it. I carefully removed as much rust as possible while preserving the somewhat fragile original paint. Once cleaned, I applied a coat of flat lacquer to help protect and preserve the finish. I’m very pleased with the results, as I believe it strikes a good balance between restoration and preservation—maintaining the pedal’s originality while retaining the character that comes with its age and wear.
