Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Ananashead's new Spirit Fuzz is a superb take on the 2 earliest models of the Jordan Boss Tone Plug-in Fuzz - as used by Spirit's Randy California
A cool take on the Jordan Boss Tone, as deployed by Spirit’s Randy California, and assumed to be the fuzz on the 1969 classic ’Spirit in the Sky’ track by Norman Greenbaum.
Controls - Volume, Attack.
This take is an enhanced version of that original plug-in fuzz - the Jordan Boss Tone. Its output has been improved with less hiss, and more low end in the signal - which is then really cleverly filtered for an improved output.
The 1967 Jordan Boss Tone is rightly one of the celebrated classic fuzzes, and has been used by a number of luminaries - including Randy California - to which this fuzz is largely tributed to here.
Pedro at Ananashead makes some incredible gain pedals, fuzzes in particular - at fantastic prices. I’ve fallen a little behind on that brand - but there are several of those that I want in my reference collection - including this Spirit Fuzz (€100), the Mark 2 Fuzz (€110) [as below], V2 Superfuzz (€110), and GT73 Preamp (€140). All 4 are available for orders on the Ananashead Webstore, and mostly on the Ananashead Reverb.com Store.
Key Features :
- Selected NOS Silicon transistors
- Shielded inputs/outputs to avoid RF
- Alpha reliable and robust footswitch
- Alpha potentiometers
- Metal film caps and resistors for lower floor noise
- Filtered and protected 9VDC input
- Daisy-chain friendly
- Enclosed jacks
- Popless True Bypass switching
- Current draw: 1mA
Spirit Fuzz Demos
Mark 2 Tone Bender style Fuzz
Another great Ananashead pedal that I had still to cover is the most recent edition of the Mark 2 Tone Bender style / Jimmy Page Fuzz - hence the Zeppelin in the background of my visual!
This is an evolution from the 2-knob MKII type - here using a Hybrid mix of Silicon and Germanium Transistors, with additional Bias and Lows-Boost switch - compared to the original. A further beefed up and improved circuit with extended output.
Mark 2 Controls - Low Boost Switch : On/Off, Level, Bias, Attack.
A superb take on the TB MKII for sure - so beloved by Jimmy Page - and featured extensively in Led Zeppelin's output in particular - I always associate this with 'Whole Lotta Love'. Albeit Jimmy used the Tone Bender also in his earlier Yardbirds band. I't pretty much indelibly liked to peak-time 70's classic rock - and was the sound of so many records from that time. People who profess to not like fuzzes - are mostly ignorant to how much of Led Zeppelin's output was fuzz-based!
This is another fabulous innovation, and for sure one of the most appealing from that range currently. Superbly well priced - and with a great knobs selection! I've always liked the MKII Tone Bender, and this unique take on that is every way excellent - and @ only €110 - it's an absolute steal!
Key Features :
- Selected NOS transistors
- Shielded inputs/outputs to avoid RF
- Alpha reliable and robust footswitch.
- Alpha potentiometers.
- Filtered and protected 9VDC input
- Daisy-chain friendly
- Popless True Bypass switching
- Current draw: 4.5mA
Mark 2 Demos
