4 of the Best Mozztronics Compacts

Mar 9, 202608:00 by

Stefan Karlsson

BoostBoost and OverdriveDistortionDriveFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMozztronicsMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveSilicon FuzzTubescreamer Style OverdriveVox Style Distortion+-

So this is the formalisation of a previously introduced theme - where I pick out 4 potential targets per new . mostly new brand to me. This is the first in a new series!

I have featured Mozztronics on the site before - for their FZ-1 Maestro take - as part of the ’2020 Key Fuzz Categories Edition’ feature. While I’ve not done an overview before.

I recently came across the GD-1 Bone Breaker and was intrigued enough to order one in (should land within a couple of weeks) - it delivers 5 different classic overdrive voicings in the one pedal. I then thought I should probably cover off a few more Mozztronics pedals at the same time, as I haven’t featured them much to-date - and picked out the MD-1, HGF-1 and GF-1 at the same time - which I will likely spring for later.

All of these have 5 controls, with 3 having all-knobs, and the 4th having a 2-way compression switch as its 5th control.

Here is my selection Mozztronics selection of 4 :

GD-1 Bone Breaker 5-in-1 Drive - $219
MD-1 JFET Mu Amp Mew Drive - $249
HGF-1 High Gain Fuzz - $249
GF-1 Gain Fecker High Gain Distortion - $249

The largest selection of Mozztronics I found was on the Peerless Music Site, while my GD-1 was acquire from Found Sound via Reverb.com.

There don’t seem to be many dealers currently - and the vast majority, if not all of the ones I found are seemingly in the brand’s native Australia. This means I will likely be acquiring more via Reverb.com - which is the most convenient option as the appropriate shipping fee is aways fully visible. I’ve had a number of challenges recently where in attempting to acquire certain pedals those dealers did not have a UK shipping option - and when contacted stated they would absolutely not ship to the UK!

I will be doing a full review feature when my GD-1 arrives and then decide how I proceed from then - so it’s in part reliant on Found Sound’s customer service. Several good intentions often go astray as later priorities take precedence!

Further details on each below :

GD-1 Bone Breaker 5-in-1 Drive - $219

Controls - Tone, Body, Gain, Clipping Mode : TS808 / OD-1 / Guv'nor / OCD / AC30.

Really cool 5-in-1 Overdrive based on different Clipping Modes around a classic Screamer circuit. Each of those diode arrangement delivers a significantly differentiated output profile which emulates 5 killer classic drive pedals. Sure the most versatile of Mozztronics' pedals.

MD-1 JFET Mu Amp Mew Drive - $249

Controls - Treble, Bass, Purr (Gain), Mid, Volume.

A tube amp emulation featuring dual stacked Mu Amp JFET circuits. Delivers fantastic tube-amp-like dynamics and sensitivity. I have a love for Fetzer style circuits - and this sounds like a great version of that.

HGF-1 High Gain Fuzz - $249

Controls - Treble, Compression : Tight / Loose, Fuzz, Bass, Volume.

High Gain Output Silicon Transistor Fuzz inspired by the early Gilmour Dark Side of the Moon 'Time' Fuzz tones - similar to the Skreddy Lunar Module Mini Deluxe - which I already have and love.

GF-1 Gain Fecker High Gain Distortion - $249

Controls - Treble, Bass, Feck (Gain), Mid, Volume.

Very much the bête noir of the Mozztronics range - the heaviest of high gain distortions - and you all know that I love my multitude of killer high gain types - this is surely another great candidate for that collection.