Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Blue FX Devices launches the Fuzz Fields Ultimate Dynamic Modulated Fuzz on Kickstarter
So this is my first encounter with Archie Vasileiou’s Blue FX Devices, and it’s a fantastic time to get stuck into this fledgling Copenhagen-based brand as it launches its second pedal on Kickstarter.
You can see from the visual that this is a really unusual fuzz - developed for maximum appeal - across a wide range of player types - both guitar and synth. You have a number of CV In and Out ports for super Smart Control of the device - which mixes up Low Pass and High Pass Filtering with Oscillated and Phased Modulation - with a Smart Control topology to deliver at least 3 distinct voices - with some really clever footswitch actions - where both footswitches are multipurpose - depending on stomp-hold, double-click etc.
The core Fuzz circuit consists of 2 silicon transistor stages into a MOSFET topology for even more electrified sounds. It’s described as an always-in-motion Fuzz - which screams, swells, saturates and flutters. It’s designed to be highly interactive - and incredibly responsive to your playing style - courtesy of the envelope follower sensitivity. It’s essential an Analog Gated Fuzz | Phaser & Vibrato | Hi-Lo Octaver | and Harmonic Oscillator.
In short - this pedal should be fun for days - particularly for those prepared to experiment. And the various CV connections allow it to play with other devices in interesting ways too!
Controls - Level, Fuzz Frequency : Gain / Oscillation Tuner for Freq Mode, Filter : off in the middle LPF CCW, and HPF CW, Filter 1kHz Notch Switch, 3-way Low > High Gain toggle, Phaser / Vibrato Toggle, Envelope Sensitivity, Left Multi-Function Footswitch for Freq-Oscillater / Gravity / Hold Modes, Right Multi-Function Footswitch for Bypass and Modulation Engage - Phaser / Vibrato.
Ports - 1/4" TS In, 9V DC [-] 80mA, 1/4" TS Out, 1/8" CV In / LFO In, 1/8" CV Out / ENV Out, 1/4" CV / Expression.
The Kickstarter for this pedal launches at the same as time this article goes live - and as is usually the case - early birds get the possibility to acquire the device at a significant discount - or €329, vs the final RRP of €389! CORRECTION - today is the announcement - the Kickstarter launches on May 7th.
There are also further details available on the main Blue FX Devices Website, including a smart [Field Guide Manual].
It's a little oversized at 93 x 140 x 55mm vs 94 x 119 x 34mm for a 1590BB Enclosure - but not untowardly so really. I'm pretty cool with its size - and I'm very particularly about pedal practicality.
I really like this look of this - and it's a fair price - particularly at the Kickstarter level - I'm tempted for sure - but I rarely get out of bed as such without the offer of some kind of discount.
I feel that there is a lot of fun to be had here - and I do love my full-on fuzzes. And this one is distinctly different - if you stuck wooden sides on it - it's almost like something you would expect from Vongon.
Either way it's a highly innovative device - I wonder whether Henry Kaiser might be interested in one of these - as it certainly sounds like the kind of thing that might appeal to him.
I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands on one of these at some stage.
I do like a pedal that's had a tonne of smart thinking directed at it - this one looks pretty special!
Demos / References
