Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Fjord Fuzz beautifully combines authentic Throbbing Uni-Vibe and Swirling Reslytone Rotary style Tones in the singularly vibrant Frøy Resly-Vibe device, perfectly complimented by the new V4 Odin Octave Fuzz
The new style of enclosure has come a long way since the original gloss black and copper face-plate early devices. I’ve enjoyed every era of Fjord Fuzz, and the new standard is every bit as striking - and as instantly recognisable. You can still spot a Fjord Fuzz pedal from a mile off. And Daniel typically removes all brakes and limitations for each circuit - so you always guarantee a fuller flavour!
This is the 4th or 5th iteration of Vibe circuit - where the last 2 iterations (Frei & Midnattssol) were made with OTA’s, as the core Light-Dependent Resistors / Vactrols contained traces of Cadmium Sulphide - which had become a banned RoHS substance.
Both Thorpy and Daniel had to really go to down with the OTA’s to get them to sound as good as the Vactrols. And in fact JAM Pedals’ latest MKIV Retrovibe still uses OTA’s - while Daniel is ahead of the game - with a new RoHS-compliant variety of Vactrols - which either entirely minimises the Cadmium Sulphide element or dispenses with that entirely. There’s one or two manufacturers now that make RoHS-compliant Vactrols - while brands are desperate to keep that something of a secret - to maintain their competitive advantage / edge!
So the new Frøy is sporting RoHS-compliant Vactrols / Light Dependent Resistors! In fact Daniel has also made a somewhat experimental prototype Sommer larger Stereo variant of the Frøy - with individual Ins and Outs per Uni-Vibe and Reslytone channels - so each channels is split across the L/R Channel. While Daniel prefers the Mono Frøy - which blends Uni-Vibe and Reslytone in series - for a more textured output! The Prototype Sommer is avaiable in very limited numbers - if you’re on the Fjord Fuzz mailing list - while that more expansive Stereo take on the Frøy will not be out on general release - it’s a very limited special order sort of prototype edition just intended for Fjord Fuzz aficionados and completists like me!
I talk about swirling rotary style sounds when you blend both channel voicings together - while this is still kind of its own thing, and for me is distinct from Leslie / Rotary tones (which are more Hammond organ-like) - while said mix still delivers a close enough facsimile - but with some textural differences! But definitely with the Resyltone up you get somewhat aquatic swirly / rotary style tones. The Reslytone and Uni-Vibe voicings really complement each other - and are beautifully paired with the recent V4 Odin Octave Fuzz.
For my various trial runs - I combined my recently landed Mad Professor Sky Blue Overdrive (Dumble ODS HRM) and V4 Odin - with the Frøy Resly-Vibe. I’ve still to get properly stuck into the Sommer - which as mentioned won’t be an official release - but will be a limited edition special order item for those on the mailing list.
Both featured pedals here are available from the Fjord Fuzz Webstore - and at Andertons respectively - where they each go for $229 / £229! A handful of international dealers have the Frøy and V4 Odin in stock already, and the others will be stocked up imminently - that’s Daniel’s current priority - getting those to the dealers!
Here follow the further individual details! :
Frøy combination Swirly Reslytone and Throbbing Uni-Vibe Modulator - $229 / £229
Controls - Swirl (Reslytone Speed), Thump (Uni-Vibe Speed), Master Depth, Master Level, Add Reslytone Left Footswitch, Engage Vibe Right Footswitch.
A fantastic full-fat throbbing and swirly modulator - where the two sides of the circuit combine beautifully. Both Daniel and I really love this pedal - with the Vibe on a lower speed, and the Reslytone more full throttle and swirly fluttery.
As mentioned - the resultant output is reminiscent of a Leslie / Rotary simulator - but with some textural differences. For me it has some burbly aquatic qualities - where Depth and Level tend to be set quite quite high - around 4 o'c each, with the Resltone Swirl at around 3 o'c, and the Vibe Speed / Thump / Throb - around 9 o'c. Update! Actually I prefer the Reslytone Speed on Max now - with the Vibe at a slower 09:00 o'c speed.
You occasionally need to dial in the last bit by ear - to get those 2 sides to perfectly sync up - which delivers a fantastic swirly-throbby texture. Some might find that a little fiddly - as you're operating with safe-cracker tolerances - to get that perfect synced interlaced rhythm and texture.
Much like with JAM Pedals - Fjord Fuzz always delivers a fuller flavour - and the output - singular and combined - is beautifully and richly textured. A really fantastic combination vibe take!
Daniel very much enjoys playing this one with the Vibe Speed set all the way back, and the Reslytone Speed all the way up. For me it's more Max Resly, and the Vibe at 9 o'c!
Odin V4 Upper Octave Fuzz - $229 / £229
Controls - Master Level, Octave Gain, Fuzz Gain, Fuzz / Octace Fuzz Toggle Footswitch, Engage/Bypas Footswitch.
Internal Dippers - 2 x 1] (Level Boost), and 2] (Schottky Clipping) - I tried all variants - preference to have both Octave dippers off, and just the clipping dipper on for the core Fuzz. No need for Boost as output is already high! There is some mismatch in levels between Fuzz and Octave Fuzz - while engaging the Boost doesn't fix the mismatch - but rather just makes thing a lot loader - but still with that marginal divide!
I have loved the Odin Octave Fuzz from the start - and own 3 different Iterations of said Fuzz. As there have been a variety of variant editions too over the years - besides the major iterations. The Odin has always been one of my favourite Octave Fuzzes - it is simple but really potent - and wonderfully harmonically searing. I love both core Fuzz and Upper Octave Fuzz textures - and the recent the Odin V4 is also in this one article - is down to how fantastically it pairs with the Frøy. The very first demo I heard of the Frøy featured the Odin V4 - and it sounded amazing - so I was determined to feature them both together.
This is one the best loved, if not out and out the most enduringly popular Fjord Fuzz pedal all through the years. It's featured plenty in my past - and remains a solid seller for many a dealers still - including Andertons - where it's one of their favourite fuzzes too!. It's the epitome of elegance - with those 3 controls and dual footswitches - and is more potent than ever now with further Boost and Schottky Diode clipping options - for both Fuzz and Octave Fuzz voicings.
I experimented with the dip-switch selections extensively - where I felt that the Fuzz was already plenty loud enough - it gets pretty ridiculously loud with the Boost option/s on. I tried the Clipping option on both Fuzzes too - where I settled with it just on the Core Fuzz voicing - adding it to the Octave did not particularly enhance that profile for me. While Daniel likes his Odin V4 with both clipping options applied.
In any case you have several options to get the most out of this device. There's only a slight niggle here in that the Octave is always slightly louder than the Fuzz - would have been great to have had individual volumes to better balance that out - but it's very marginal really. And doesn't get in the way of the brilliance of this fuzz - you can also just consider that a sort of solo boost too - which typically would have a little more volume about it.
It's a superb pedal on its own - and next level when combined with the Frøy - both of those are fully essential for me. Beautifully made, and well-priced - and really quite smart and versatile too!
Further Fjord Fuzz Vibe & Reslytone Demos
Finale
Bonus Round!
