This article was actually inspired by the recent Fjord Fuzz SOL Fuzz-Vibe feature - where I got to thinking about extended range Fuzz Face style pedals. To my memory there is only the Carl Martin Purple Moon and Fjord Fuzz SOL in that compact Fuzz-Vibe format. I then recalled the Keeley Electronics Monterey - but realised there weren’t a whole lot of pedals in the extended format category - for Fuzz-Vibes - so I expanded the remit to cover ’Fuzz Face+’ pedals - essentially expanded feature set ...
In my recent review of the Kernom Moho Magmatic Fuzz - I already lauded it to the high rafters as the greatest Multi-Fuzz pedal ever created. It’s the perfect tool for proper fuzz fans - and in particular for those who have fully mastered the relatively tricky Zvex Fuzz Factory and similar - all those should get along with the Moho fabulously. Newbie fuzz fans may find the device a little tricky to dial in - as every knob impacts the texture and tonality of the output - so pretty much all 6 ...
CAVEAT EMPTOR! : Someone just did a breakdown of the Warm Bender - and alas - those are not NOS transistors - not even in the slightest - in fact rather more ordinary grey market knock-offs - not one of the Germanium Transistors has any sort of pedigree or provenance - which very much explains how Warm Audio could sell this at such a low price, For me this should be filed under ’False Advertising’. Weirdly I still have a vague desire to own this pedal - but it’s not nearly as...
This is far from Blammo’s first attempt at a Zonk Machine - where I covered its earlier Zonch Machine in a 2020 Zonk genre rundown. I had always intended to pick up one of those at some stage - but as is sometimes the case it’s as well that I held out as I feel that their newest variant is likely their best take yet.
It’s a properly authentic and wholly vintage inspired 3-Germanium Transistor construction - utilising Soviet MΠ38A flying saucer types. It has a few modern concessions - ...
I’m delighted to report that my friend and yours Vitalii Bobrov - of Drunk Beaver fame - at last has a proper website / webstore for his pedals - DRUNK-BEAVER.ROCKS - where his full current range of 19 pedals can be purchased - of course when in stock.
All these pedals are made in relatively small batches (20 or so at a time) and when there is high demand as there often is - then stock clears out very quickly and then there is typically a wait of around 3-4 weeks before more stock is ready ...
So 2024 is off to a pretty spirted start! I treaded myself to 2 pedals right at the tail end of the year - the Poly VERBS puts in an appearance in this month’s selection - while the Reeves Electro BHS-D is running a touch late and will be part of the February selection instead.
This time of the year has to be mostly about NAMM - while I feel that a lot of builders kind of took away from NAMM and launched / showcased their new release in advance!
I’ve still to make it to NAMM - timing’s ...
Danelectro owner Steve Ridinger was quite the Fuzz pioneer back in the 60’s - where two of the fuzzes featured here were his own original designs - the Liverpool Fuzz-Tone from back in 1966 (his very first pedal design), and and then the Foxx Tone Machine in 1972.
Danelectro released its first relic’d Vintage Style Fuzz - the Eisenhower back in 2019, then came the sort of Foxx Tone Machine reissue in similar compact enclosure - and now we have the earliest origin pedal in that trilogy - the...
This rundown has been a long time in the making - having been iterated many times over, and changed as recently as this last Tuesday - when Keeley brought out its Muse Driver - Super AT Mod replacement!
Readers will know that I’ve cited the Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2 Blues Driver as my favourite all-time overdrive pedal, and be extension - the Blues Driver circuit and variations of it are my own very favourite gain tones. Some gravitate towards Tube Screamer, others Blues Breaker, Timmy ...
I first featured the Dizzy Buzz back in June of last year and it’s taken this long to get into UK distribution - just recently arrived at my good friend Joe Light’s Joe’s Pedals Boutique. And of course where I got my Silver Sparkle Edition from. Joe also has it in standard silver finish - which looks pretty fine too. Both of those varieties feature 3 x Polish-made military spec Germanium Transistors - which are the exact equivalents of OC71’s. You can also special order a version of this pedal ...
The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!