1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

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Bigfoot2000
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1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Bigfoot2000 »

Hey. I just bought this.

Sounds killer, really surprised how quiet it is too. Can anyone help date it and let me know how original the parts are?
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Last edited by Bigfoot2000 on Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Doc Holliday
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Re: 1960s JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Doc Holliday »

I’m throwing a guess out at 69
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simonm
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Re: 1960s JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by simonm »

I have one of these and it’s a v close serial: 49286 :cheers:
Even so, mine has diff transistors.
Last edited by simonm on Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Handmade, high-impact, great-looking radical queer germanium fuzz. A different approach to 1960s-inspired fuzz pedals, no clones, check them out at https://goodfuzzysounds.com or on YouTube https://tinyurl.com/GFS-YT
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simonm
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Re: 1960s JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by simonm »

btw I’ve assumed they are more like early 70s, but don’t know
Handmade, high-impact, great-looking radical queer germanium fuzz. A different approach to 1960s-inspired fuzz pedals, no clones, check them out at https://goodfuzzysounds.com or on YouTube https://tinyurl.com/GFS-YT
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Bigfoot2000
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Bigfoot2000 »

Doc Holliday wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:36 pm I’m throwing a guess out at 69
simonm wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:17 pm I have one of these and it’s a v close serial: 49286 :cheers:
Even so, mine has diff transistors.
simonm wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:19 pm btw I’ve assumed they are more like early 70s, but don’t know
Thanks for the replies

Cheers Simon, very close serial no :cheers:

The seller said they thought it might be 1967 but ebay shops will always try and make things seem as old and as mojo as they can. I’ve changed the thread title for now.

When did JEN stop making these? Wondering if any components have been changed, looks fairly original to me but what the fuck do I know :hihi:

Anyway it sounds fucking cool into a dirty amp, guitar volume rolled back to 9
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Doc Holliday
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Doc Holliday »

Well like the Vox wahs it’s speculated that the early Vox 2 transistor fuzz boxes ( not 1.5’s ) were made in the U.K. Before being sent over for mass production in Italy. My guess is due to the bankruptcy of Vox around 69.
Obviously Jen pescara Italy were making all the Vox/crybaby wahs for the European & American Market.
Jen continued to make the European wahs after the bankruptcy with Thomas Organ taking over the production for the American market in California. These wahs were the TDK inductors.
Here this fuzz is Jen branded. I’m guessing Vox models would still be running into 69 before the deal breaker between Vox, Thomas Organ & Jen.
Although like the wahs they had these serial numbers on the bases. These serial numbers look similar to the European trash can models.
Which with the wahs at 50000would have ended that era.
Moving onto non serial bottom bases in 1970.
I’m guessing also at 50000 these fuzz pedals would have stopped the serial numbers also. Presumably around the same time.
Just a guess.
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Electric Warrior
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Electric Warrior »

Doc Holliday wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 12:18 pm Well like the Vox wahs it’s speculated that the early Vox 2 transistor fuzz boxes ( not 1.5’s ) were made in the U.K. Before being sent over for mass production in Italy. My guess is due to the bankruptcy of Vox around 69.
Who's speculating about them being make in the UK? The earliest units I've seen (serial numbers in the 500s) all have "Made in Italy" stickers.
Everything is transitional.
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Doc Holliday
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Doc Holliday »

Hmm interesting, don’t know where I read or heard it.
Could be inter web rubbish but I was under the impression that it’s a possibility the first few (could be 10’s ) were built UK pre serial before being sent over with Gary to oversee with the wahs.
Pre SFT337 & OC76. Like the one Stu owns with the different trannys.
Again a guess.
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Electric Warrior
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Electric Warrior »

Stu's is serial number 1092 and has the Made in Italy sticker.
Everything is transitional.
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Doc Holliday
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Re: 1960s? JEN Fuzz, help dating it etc

Post by Doc Holliday »

Thanks for the clarification.
Stus being a model 50 early 66 version?
I thought the AC107 and an AC135 pre dated the SFT337 & OC76 but then it seems then they were made around the same time.
I don’t know where the UK part part came from. Muddled memory.
This one was an early unit. Earliest I’d seen. Still had been played with as that’s a NTE transistor I believe if my memory serves me correct.
I didn’t see a made in Italy sticker but maybe it had come away over time.
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