Extended Boss Pedals Fuzz-ology

Controls - Level, Mode : Vintage / Modern, Fuzz, Tone.

This is essentially a much better behaved sort of version of the FZ-3 with somewhat similar coverage but slightly smoother tonality and not so raw. The Classic voicing is more Type II/III Silicon Fuzz Face while the more Mids-Forward Modern voicing gets more into the Tone Bender side of things. It beautifully rich sounding, warm and versatile - and if you can only have one Boss Fuzz - then this is probably it! Beautifully balanced and with a fairly predictable dial-in.

Controls - Level, Tone : Active Bass & Treble, Gain, Mode : Fuzz I / Fuzz II / Gain Boost.

Undoubtedly the most popular and most copied of the Boss Fuzzes - there are myriad takes on this circuit - which itself is a take on the Univox Super-Fuzz circuit with additional EQ and Range. Famously used to great effect by Electric Wizard, and seemingly has 1000 uses - everyone loves this one. It's a mystery Boss hasn't reissues it yet as a FZ-2W Waza Craft - Boss would sell a tonne of these - I really can't understand why this isn't on the release schedule already - seems like a really odd decision. Moreover Boss have been unusually quite this year on the release cycle. Hopefully things pick up in the second half. It's odd that Boss have been quiet for so long. There is some activity around the 30th anniversary of the BD-2 - while apparently the only commemorative edition of that to-date is not for sale. It all strikes me as a little odd - I guess we're feeling the loss now of not having Yoshi at the helm - he obviously set the standard, and there seems to be something of void since his retirement!

Controls - Level, Tone, Fuzz.

This one is probably the most underrated of the Boss Fuzzes - it nicely straddles both Fuzz Face and Tone Bender tones - and is sharper and spikier than say the FZ-1 - also a lot less predictable and therefore a lot more tricky on the dial-in. You can get some fantastic sounds out of the FZ-3 - but it needs a lot more patience and due diligence than the FZ-1W. The new one is for everyone at all levels, while the FZ-3 is definitely for the more experience players and fuzz enthusiasts. The FZ-3 is alike a punkier / rawer cousin to the FZ-1W. And some don't get along with it at all alas!

Controls - Level, Mode : Fuzz Face / Maestro FZ-1A / Octavia Octave Fuzz, Fuzz : Gain > Boost.

Boss's FZ-5 is its only COSM - Composite Object Sound Modeling Fuzz - which tends to get very mixed reactions. It does need some due diligence and patience on the dial in - and it's all to easy to dial in unconvincing sounds - particularly for the Fuzz Face voicing. I've actually never liked the voicing on the FZ-5 - the FZ-1W and FZ-3 are far better at the Classic Fuzz thing. While the FZ-5's Maestro and Octavia Octave voicing can sound quite decent. You do need to dial them in carefully - but you can get pretty authentic and cutting tones - which sound significantly better than the first voicing option! This is he Marmite of Boss Fuzzes - probably more so even than the FZ-3 - while there are plenty of players who disparage both of those. I always attribute that to the particular player's lack of skill in that area!

Controls - Output : Buffer / Thru, Level, Battery : < More Sag and Harmonics / authentic MKII / More Headroom and Dynamics >, Attack : Fuzz Gain > Oscillation.

A fantastic collaboration between Boss's Yoshi and Macari's Ant Macari - the current owner of the Sola Sound and Colorsound Brands. This is Boss's only Germanium Fuzz - using 3 x 2M404 types. It's a really decent sounding MKII Tone Bender based on one of the reference Macari's ones. It's relatively bright and sharp sounding - wiry even - where I mostly prefer my Tone Benders a little warmer and slightly smoother. It's still a really great sounding MKII Tone Bender - and obviously a must for both Boss and Sola Sound fans. I really like it - but I do have some other varieties that I slightly prefer. It does have a very richly textured and distinct voicing - with tonnes of range!

Controls - CRUNCH } Level, Tone, Drive, LEAD } Level, Tone, Drive, Mode / Remote : Crunch / Lead / Crunch <> Lead.

This is my one controversial choice here in my approximating its Lead voicing to a somewhat smoother Rat style Fuzz / Distortion, As mentioned earlier - this is closer to the 1981 Inventions DRV and Jam Pedals Rattler MKII - it has something of a sear to it, but none of the raspiness of the original ProCo Rat. For me there are certain aspects of that Lead Channel voicing - that are somewhat Rat-like! You're of course welcome to disagree!

Controls - Controls - Level, Fat (Lows), Muscle (Mids), Drive.

There is no argument here that this is Boss's closest take to a Big Muff style Fuzz. Weirdly its least popular / successful pedal - with had a very short circulation. There are many who profess this to be their favourite of the Boss Fuzzes - while I've always thought the EQ controls were a little off the pace. Vitalii at Drunk Beaver has a few of its own takes on the PW-2 - which are all superior to the original as far as I'm concerned - where he's made the EQ controls much more useful and predictable.