PROJECT NAME

BINARY
BASED ON BUILD DIFFICULTY
Darkglass® Duality Intermediate
EFFECT TYPE DOCUMENT VERSION
Bass fuzz 1.1.0 (2022-01-19)
PROJECT SUMMARY
A bass fuzz with two distinct voicings that can be blended together in any ratio, from vintage warmth to
searing, gated chaos.

Actual size is 2.3” x 2.42” (main board) and 1.78” x 0.86” (bypass board).

BINARY DUAL 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 Binary Dual Fuzz is based on the Darkglass® Duality Dual Fuzz Engine, a bass pedal first released
in 2013 that features two parallel fuzz paths that can be blended together in any ratio for a variety of
textures. It was traced by Aion FX in 2021.

The first path is similar to the Microtubes B3K, a series of CMOS hex inverters that provides a warm,
vintage-flavored drive.

The second path is devilishly simple, though extremely rare in guitar circuits. It uses a single op-amp
stage configured as a comparator: signal to inverting input, non-inverting input tied to reference voltage,
and no feedback path. As the input signal swings above and below the threshold set by the reference
voltage, the op-amp converts this to the maximum and minimum voltage (a process called hysteresis),
resulting in a heavily distorted and nearly synthesized square wave. The comparator is followed by a
primitive two-diode noise gate to keep it quiet when no signal is coming through. These diodes also add
crossover distortion.

In addition to the blended fuzz paths, there is also a tone control and volume control that are applied to
the fuzz after the two paths have been blended. This is followed by a clean blend that balances the fuzz
(after the tone and volume) with the unadulterated clean signal. It’s more complicated than the average
drive pedal, but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.

The Binary is a direct clone of the Duality based on our own trace, which is documented at length in
our tracing journal. Some extra power filtering has been added, but otherwise everything is true to the
original.

USAGE
The Binary has four controls:

• Duality blends between the vintage-flavored fuzz and the aggressive, gated sawtooth fuzz.
• Filter is a 5kHz shelving treble filter after the two fuzzes have been blended.
• Level sets the overall output of the blended fuzz signal.
• Blend pans between the buffered clean signal and the blended fuzz signal.

BINARY DUAL 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 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R4 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R5 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R6 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R7 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R8 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R9 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R10 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R11 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W Not present in earlier Duality units.

R12 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R13 15k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R14 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R15 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R16 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R17 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R18 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R19 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R20 33k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R21 2k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R22 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R23 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R24 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R25 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R26 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R27 1k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R28 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R29 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

RPD 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W Input pulldown resistor.

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

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 3

PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
C1 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C2 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C3 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C4 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C5 22n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C6 47n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C7 680pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C8 220pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C9 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C10 10n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C11 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C12 2n2 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C13 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C14 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C15 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C16 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C17 1n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm
C18 680pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G
C19 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm
C20 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Reference voltage filter capacitor.
C21 220uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Power supply filter capacitor.
C22 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor.
D1 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41
D2 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
D3 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35
IC1 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC1-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC2 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC2-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC3 CD4049UBE CMOS hex inverting buffer, DIP16
IC3-S DIP-16 socket IC socket, DIP-16
IC4 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC4-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC5 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8
IC5-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8
IC6 TL072 Operational amplifier, DIP8

IC6-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 4

PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
DUALITY 100kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

FILTER 100kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot Reversed from original unit in v1.0. See build notes.

LEVEL 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

BLEND 100kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot Reversed from original unit in v1.0. See build notes.

LED 5mm LED, 5mm, red diffused

IN 1/4" mono 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.

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 5

BUILD NOTES

Filter and Blend knob rotation

The Filter and Blend controls were inadvertently reversed in the original run of the Binary. This was
fixed in version 1.1 which began shipping in January 2022.

If your PCB does not say “v1.1” in the upper right then you have the earlier reversed version. In this
version the blend knob goes from full effect at CCW to full clean at CW, and the filter control will act as
a treble cut as you turn it up rather than adding treble as in a normal tone control.

This has no impact on the sound of the unit, so it’s fine to leave it as-is, but if you do want to correct
the rotations then it’s a simple fix. All you have to do is reverse lugs 1 and 3 of both potentiometers—in
other words, connect lug 3 to pad 1 and lug 1 to pad 3. The middle lug is left as-is.

If you’re using the recommended PCB-mount potentiometers, it’s easiest to clip the two outer lugs at
the bend of the “L” shape and then solder wires that cross over the center pin. Keep the center pin in
place as an anchor so the pot has a rigid connection to the PCB.

R11 resistor
R11 is a 1M resistor from the input of IC2A to the bias voltage. Of the two Duality units that have been
traced, Revision 4-K does not have this resistor and Revision 7 does.

It’s good design practice to include it, and will have no impact on the tone other than improving the
stability of IC2A if it’s used, so it’s recommended to use it in all cases.

Filter control midrange mod

Douglas from Darkglass shared a modification that can change the character of the Filter knob. By
default, it’s a 5kHz shelving filter, but it can be turned into a 1kHz midrange boost/cut control by using
2.2n for C18 and soldering a 22n capacitor across lugs 1 and 3 of the filter control.

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 6

SCHEMATIC
+9V VA VB

D1 R28

1N5817 C21 10k C20 VB

C22

R29

10k
100n 220uF 100uF
VA
D2

R13

15k
GND GND
GND GND

C10

10n
R12 1N914

8
2 IC4B
R14 TL072P
1 5
470k
3 7
470k D3
IC4A C11 6
TL072P

4
VB 1n
VB GND
VB VB

3
DUALITY
VA GND

100kB
VA VA

2
1M
R2
100n

1M
R3
IC1A

1
R11
C1

R1

1M
8
TL072P IC2B IC3F IC3E IC3D

1uF
3

C2
IN

1
VDD
TL072P IC2A

22n
CD4049UBE CD4049UBE CD4049UBE

1uF
1 5

C5

C9
10k R7 R9 TL072P
2 7 14 15 11 12 9 10 3
6 1
10k 10k
C6
4

VSS
4

8
R8 R10
47n

15k
GND R5
GND GND 470k 10k

C3 1n R6 GND C7 680pF C8 220pF

C4
330k
100n
R4

VA 330k
VB
IC3C
7 6

CD4049UBE
VA VB

IC3B VA IC6B

C17

1n
C15
5 4 5 TL072P

1n

8
2 7
IC5A R22
CD4049UBE 6
R19 R20
1 6
8

C12

3 TL072P 2n2
7 3
R17 R18 220k

3
1 5 IC6A
10k 33k R23

100kA
LEVEL
IC3A IC5B TL072P

4
2
10k 33k
3 2 TL072P C16

2
220k
C14 C18
4

330k
R15

R16

33k

1n GND
CD4049UBE

1
R21

R24
2k2

1k
1n 680pF
GND
2
C13 GND 1 3
GND VB
1n FILTER
100kB

GND
BLEND
100kB
3 1
2

VB
R25

1M

IC1B
C19

TL072P
1uF

5
R27
7
OUT
6
1k
100k
R26

GND

BINARY DUAL 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

FILTER DUALITY

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

ø9/32” ø9/32”

LEVEL BLEND

x: -0.65, y: +0.41 x: +0.65, y: +0.41

ø9/32” ø9/32”

CENTER (0,0)

LED FOOTSWITCH

x: -0.775, y: -1.775 x: 0, y: -1.775

ø5/16” ø15/32”

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 8

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

125B

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 9

WIRING DIAGRAM

IN GND +V NC NC OUT

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

IN IN OUT OUT

125B

BINARY DUAL 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
1.1.0 (2022-01-19)
Corrected Blend and Filter controls working backwards compared to the original unit.

1.0.2 (2021-11-28)
Added build note about Blend and Filter controls being reversed from the original unit and how to
change it. This will be corrected in version 1.1 of the PCB.

1.0.1 (2021-11-15)
Corrected value of C18 (was listed as 68pF) and added build notes on midrange mod.

1.0.0 (2021-11-12)
Initial release.

BINARY DUAL FUZZ 11