Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
The Fuzz Imp Furia Chainsaw Distortion takes you well beyond its HM-2 origins into new exquisitely textured territory
I’m not stranger to the HM-2 Heavy Metal format - in fact I’ve celebrated that circuit over the years across several different variants - and I really enjoy adding further new and interesting varieties to that growing collection. There are already a number of blistering takes in that capsule - including the Klrrton Grindstein, KMA Guardian of the Worm, and Lichtlaerm Medusa, not to mention the recently Boss HM-2W. I think I’m over 20 now!
And this Furia I distinctly different again - with those added 2 extra switches and that central Dry-Blend control. All those together give you a prety unique ’bark’ of a distortion - with a fantastic evolved texture - and more complex output profile.
I really like he core sound of this effect - where it’s as well that it can take 9V-18V on the input - as at 9V the volume doesn’t got quite load enough for me. Where the 18V input works a treat!
It’s obviously quite a hard-clipping device - for that distinctive Twin-Peaks Frequency Output Shape - which in this instance at 9V involves some noticeable volume drop. I don’t get that on any of my other HM-2 - which are all incredibly fierce @ 9V. So for me the 18V option is really essential for this device in raising that level.
It’s a great circuit construction - possibly not quite as exciting as my other 2 Fuzz Imps - the Adventure and Creature. Those two devices are pretty much perfect for me - while for the Furia - I would have preferred a little more volume at stock 9V power input. I’m having to ride the Loud control at Max - on the 9V input - and it never goes quite loud enough for me - while it does on 18V.
Controls and Top Mounted Ports
Controls - Loud, Dry Blend, Gain, Bass, High, Gate : HM-2 / Tighter, Voice : HM-2 / Mids-Shift.
Ports - TS In, 9V DC [-] 50mA, TS Out.
The Controls are really simple and intuitive here - you have the 4 classic HM-2 controls in the corners - with an additional central Dry Blend knob.
And then you have 2 switches - the first of which is a gate which tightens and crunchifies the output further - makes it sound even more texturally complex. And the he right switch accentuates the Mids - which gives you more Sear and Cut-Through.
I generally prefer to have both switches On - as they significantly enhance the output profile of the Furia!
My favourite settings are with - pretty much everything at Max - which is kind of mostly the Classic Chainsaw settings - while with the two switches applied also - you're better off winding down the gain a little to around 3 o'c - to shave off that slightly excessive compression that is otherwise generated as a result.
The Furia has a really smart topology to level up or down - and many have used the HM-2 as a somewhat milder effect over the years - and you can do that even more so on this variety - with loads of wonderful in-between textural settings - it has that in common with is Adventure and Creature siblings.
Each of those 3 is entirely commendable and worthy of your attentions. Overall the Adventure has ended as my favourite - while all 3 are capable of producing superior tones. And for HM-2 collectors the Furia is sufficiently different to make that a worthy addition to your Chainsaw selection.
The Adventure and Creature fuzzes are both pretty much perfect - while I would have liked a little more volume from the 9V input on the Furia - it's a tiny niggle - but as part of my 52-strong pedal-chain arrangement - balancing volumes across all those pedals is a key consideration - and it's very evident as soon as you add a lower output variant. I deploy several boosts in the circuit to aid with upstream and downstream tone-enhancement - which often means raising the output level somewhat via one of those cleaner boosts!
The Furia is slightly more highly priced that the Adventure and Creature - at $169 vs $149 for the other two. I feel all 3 are very fairly priced - available to order of course from the Fuzz Imp Webstore. Most of those come in 1 or 2 alternative colourways - and typically include a hammered copper variant. At the time of acquisitions it made sense for me to have all 3 of mine stealth-black - which I'm broadly very satisfied with - while I also really like the hammered copper variants - so I could have gone either way. I often let the brand decide on what's the most standard and easiest to roll-out. I prefer having the standard versions - so most people will know what they will be getting!
Demos
