Fuzzrite Facts - Q&A

Just recently I asked my friend xxx xxxxx from Japan to trace the battery door from his original Fuzzrite so I could make one to finish my restoration. His model is very close to mine in age. During our conversations by email, xxx asked me some interesting questions. I forwarded these questions to Ed Sanner... The best person to answer them. Because xxx and I believe that any information about Mosrite is precious, we would like to share this information with you. Here the answers to xxx's questions from Ed Sanner [my comments will be in brackets]:

Q: How many versions of the Fuzzrite exist ?
A: There were three circuits.
(1) The original 250 units with germanium transistors.
(2) Many thousands were made with discrete parts on a paper phenolic circuit board, using silicone transistors.
(3) 20,000 were made with the orange module. But there was only one case made for all of them. [Ed told me that the first units using germanium transistors would malfunction if the Fuzzrite was placed on a very cold concrete floor. Subsequently the circuit was modified to accept the silicon transistors which were not affected by the cold temperature.]

Q: When was the first version released?
A: Some time in the middle of 1967. But it took almost a year for them to catch on.

Q: Was it requirement from The Ventures?
A: No, it was my idea at the request of a friend that was a steel guitar player. The Ventures didn't know anything about it until it was ready for market, as far as I know.

Q: Did The Ventures actually use the Fuzzrite at their recording session?
A: I don't know positively, But I'm sure they did. [I believe The Ventures used the Fuzzrite on the "Wild Things" album for the first time. The first fuzztone that Nokie Edwards used was designed and built by a man named "Red" Rhodes (now deceased). He also made a compressor that Nokie used back then and still uses to this day. Red's fuzztone had lighter harmonics than the Fuzzrite and actually made the Mosrite guitar sound more like a saxophone. The original fuzztone was eventually stolen from Nokie.] 

Q: How many Fuzzrites were sold in total during the period of 1966-68?
A: I don't know for those two years, but look at answer number one. That covers through, maybe, the early 1970's.

Q: Some have gold plated finish, some have silver (mine). Was there any intention for it?
A: All were a brushed chrome plating on a steel can when new. But the clear lacquer finish over the lettering turned yellow with age, on some of them.  This information is to the best of my remembrance. It has been more then thirty years. [Mosrite guitars were finished in nitro-cellulose lacquer and it follows that the Fuzzrite silkscreen graphics would be spray coated with the same. After removing the black paint from my Fuzzrite during the restoration, my housing also exhibited a golden cast. My 1963 Mosrite guitar restoration was finished with original lacquer Bill Gruggett said was from the original Mosrite factory, still workable, sealed in gallon cans all these years. My guitar in low light does not show the yellow in the sunburst very well... No doubt due to the aged lacquer. Place it in bright sunlight and the yellow jumps right out!