Best Fuzz of 2018

Fuzz pedals perform extreme clipping and heavily saturate the tone in order to create a very "fuzzy" distorted sound. Fuzz pedals can be placed at the beginning, middle, or even at the end of your effects chain depending on what fuzz pedal is being used and how it is being used.

#1
SolidGoldFX Sasori on RigShare
SolidGoldFX
SolidGoldFX

Sasori

Shin-Ei's FY-2 Companion Fuzz was born in a time when the East and West shared a hunger for fuzz, and all the fuzz pedals were being made that are now considered modern classics. As for the Companion Fuzz, let's just say the original needed some work. Despite this, it still had its devotees—lots of them—just ask Wata of Boris. We offer, as humble tribute, the Sasori. The Sasori—Japanese for scorpion—lives up to its name by delivering a punishing fuzz tone that checks all the boxes of a versatile fuzzbox, yet is still very much a Companion Fuzz at its core. The tremendous load of harmonics and bite that characterized the original still exist within the Sasori with none of the drawbacks. Anyone who's played an original Companion Fuzz can tell you about them—the fuzz isn't louder than unity, even when all the way up, the Fuzz control is extremely subtle and the enclosure is just plain huge. Fear no more, we've worked overtime in our lab and we have crafted an antidote to these maladies. Like any good fuzz, the Sasori excels at both chord and lead work, but with a venom-tipped buzzsaw-like edge that pierces through the densest layers of mix without sounding like an icepick. Looking for a harmonically rich, doomy fuzz that can sound like a synthy gated snarl on demand? Make way for the Sasori. The volume drop of the original Companion Fuzz has been properly dealt with, and we've included a tone control to change the character of the grind from dark and moody to brash and untamed. Like the original, the Fuzz control mixes between two different flavors for maximum versatility. This is one Companion Fuzz you'll want to keep close.

#3
Green Carrot Comfortably Plum on RigShare
Green Carrot
Green Carrot

Comfortably Plum

The ‘Comfortably Plum’ is our homage and a nod towards David Gilmour. The Plum brings together 2 classic circuits into one distinctive pedal. The first channel is the classic ‘Ramshead muff’ as used by David on a number of albums & tours throughout his career. We’ve added a 3 way tonal switch which allows you to switch between a10db’s & 4db’s boost to a classic scooped Muff tones. The second channel is based on the ’Colorsound Powerboost’ but we’ve tweaked the circuit in a couple of places and added a volume control to make the circuit more user friendly. The volume control allows you to dial in the pedal from a clean boost to an overdrive just by the interaction between the drive & volume controls. This circuit is another one favoured by David Gilmour especially as a tone sweetener after a muff. We’ve also added a voltage doubler meaning that the circuit runs at just short of 18v for more headroom but uses the standard 9v input so you don’t have to worry about a 18v power supply. Both these channels work independently of each other but the real magic happens when used together. The Ramshead cascades into the PB for tonal heaven. The Comfortably Plum is constructed in ‘true bypass’ removing the possibility of any tone suck from your original signal when the pedal isn’t engaged. All GCP pedals run on 9v via a standard Boss negative centre input Jack. The Comfortably Plum pedal should only be run at 9v & you should not attempt to use 18v.

#8
Vaderin Pedals HPX Harmonic Percolator on RigShare
Vaderin Pedals
Vaderin Pedals

HPX Harmonic Percolator

No Bullshit Rock Machine The HP-X is a harmonic percolator designed to capture the circuit’s signature even-order harmonic saturation without compromising stability or volume. It is designed to sound great on any setting anywhere in the signal chain and provide a super solid distortion/fuzz tone for any application. Stick to the Basics While other versions of the percolator circuit have a ton of knobs, switches and other options, the HP-X sticks to the basics and offers the traditional two controls plus a clipping selection switch. Despite its simplicity, this pedal is extremely versatile with a wide variety of tones that range from overdrive to distortion to fuzz with many versions of each in between. Whatever the settings, the HP-X always sounds aggressive, punchy and has plenty of output. Silicon and Silicon We A/B’d a ton of silicon transistors to replace the germanium transistor from the original circuit. Yes, this percolator has a silicon transistor instead of a germanium transistor in the PNP position. Both of the silicon transistors that make up the circuit are measured and carefully selected so the circuit biases right every time. There are no compromises in sound here. In fact, we like this version the best! The good news is you don’t have to worry about all the weirdness that might come with germanium and know this pedal is going to sound the same every time you kick it on regardless of temperature and playing conditions.

#11
SolidGoldFX IF 6 WAS 9 on RigShare
SolidGoldFX
SolidGoldFX

IF 6 WAS 9

Who among us doesn’t love a good Fuzz Face? If there’s one pedal that captures the soul of classic rock, the Fuzz Face is probably it. For those unfamiliar with Fuzz Face lore, as germanium parts fell out of vogue due to reliability issues, Dallas-Arbiter shifted to silicon parts. Both versions were used extensively on thousands of records. Our If 6 Was 9 pays tribute to all the players who contributed to the pantheon of rock, with specially selected components to get your mojo working. We put two BC183 devices in each one, which is widely regarded as a happy medium between the potentially mushy compression of germanium and the brash sawmill-like fuzz of silicon. The tone of the If 6 Was 9 is just that—smooth and refined without falling apart on chords, and with loads of sustain on single-note work. The specially-selected BC183 parts gives you a thick balanced bass response and a tight fuzz tone—just right. We supply a two-way tone toggle switch that adjusts the fuzz character to match with the rest of your rig. Fuzz Face tone has been whittled down to such a precise science that players now know what voltage at which they prefer their Fuzz Face to be run. Eric Johnson famously kept a box full of batteries drained to various degrees. Now you can harness this power with an external Bias control—set the voltage to whatever you wish for full-bodied fuzz or ripping splatty tones that explode when you dig in. The Fuzz and Bias controls work in beautiful synchronicity with your guitar’s volume control, bringing all kinds of flavors to the table. Anything from mild overdrive to almost envelope-like snarl is available with just a couple turns. Set the onboard controls just how you like and leave the heavy lifting to your guitar.

#12
SolidGoldFX 76 Plus on RigShare
SolidGoldFX
SolidGoldFX

76 Plus

Once, when on a junket through the American South, I stumbled upon a chain of pet stores called Pet Supplies “Plus” (emphasis theirs). This troubled me. Not because I don’t like pets, or pet supplies, it was the “Plus” that did it. I don’t cope well with uncertainty. Did it mean Pet Supplies “Plus” Zombies? Pet Supplies “Plus” a Smoothie Bar? Pet Supplies “Plus” John Travolta signing VHS copies of Swordfish? I couldn’t risk finding out. But in hindsight, I wish I had gotten to the bottom of it. Well, we’ve put you in a similar predicament with our 76 “Plus” (emphasis mine). If you stop reading here you may never know the true meaning of the “Plus”, and that may haunt you as it has me. So read on, friend, and all will be explained… Let’s start with the basics. The 76 Plus takes inspiration from the lauded Univox Super Fuzz, Shin-Ei Companion and Ibanez Standard Fuzz. It’s a powerful, cutting fuzz with a baked-in octave up that’s especially apparent the higher you go up the fretboard. Do you like fuzz? Then you’ll especially like this fuzz. Promise. But what reallymakes this pedal special is the inclusion of an independent wah-like filter that’s as tasty as it is useable—yes, this is that “Plus” I’d alluded to... The filter section of the 76 Plus offers a mind-boggling number of ways to add movement to your tone, from triangle and sawtooth waveforms, to 2, 3 and 4-step sequences. This filter speed can be dialed in perfectly via the speed knob or for you control-freaks, you can use an external expression pedal (not included) to give you infinitely variable control. We don’t like to “box you in,” so we gave you both options—do what you dig, cool guy.

#13
SolidGoldFX Lysis on RigShare
SolidGoldFX
SolidGoldFX

Lysis

If you’ve ever awoken in a cold sweat dreaming of synthesizers, we’ve got just the ticket: Lysis. There’s always been something about synth players for which guitarists and bassists alike have yearned. Though they’re essentially the same instrument, the onboard accoutrements are what makes all the difference—oscillators, filters, LFOs; these are the makings of true electronic synthesis, and these are all things we stuffed into the Lysis. All of the bells and whistles of synths are featured in full within the walls of the Lysis. For starters, the Lysis serves up a specially-designed wave-shaping fuzz circuit. This helps the Lysis sound more like a square wave or sawtooth wave. Our DSP-controlled polyphonic octave circuit takes all the clang you’ve cooked up and sends it south, to a rich two-voice octave-down synthesizer that tracks one note or 88, all at once. Serve Lysis your longest signal chain on a platter, and it will eat it for breakfast. The Filter section is where things get really interesting. For starters, the Lysis gives you the option to blend the octave/fuzz section with the filtering, so you can enjoy punishing octave-down fuzz, rich, goopy filter sweeps or anything in between. The Lysis also gives you a switchable high-pass and low-pass filter, along with the option to manually manipulate the filter’s cutoff or have it automatically modulate. If you choose the manual path, an expression pedal jack gives you hands-free control of the Freq knob, for a sound-bending filter-wah effect that can absorb the impact of the most well-equipped dirt section. Should you choose modulation, the Freq knob controls the rate of the effect. An expression pedal gives you foot control over the speed for some psychedelic guitar freakouts or smooth undulation. An onboard vibrato circuit finishes off the signal path of the Lysis. When in fixed mode, Lysis kicks in the vibrato, but in modulated mode, a filter LFO is engaged and Mod controls the rate of that. The two-position Warp switch works in tandem with the corresponding footswitch, either maxing or killing the Mod knob depending on the position. Much more than a mere effect Lysis is its own future forward entity, a cellular organism of the sonic variety bursting with possibilities.

#22
Spaceman Effects Sputnik III Standard Edition on RigShare
Spaceman Effects
Spaceman Effects

Sputnik III Standard Edition

Germanium fuzz has a long history in the world of musical effects. The nature of germanium, its variability and temperament, make it an interesting parallel to the musical mindset of the creators who utilize it. Sometimes smooth and warm, sometimes harsh and unpredictable, always sensitive and nuanced, germanium is an element of reflection. A mirror into its users. This range and scope is on full display with the newest version of our flagship fuzz pedal, the Sputnik III. Complex textures, gritty crunch, beautiful sustain and character. It’s all there waiting for you to discover. As with all Spaceman pedals, the Sputnik fuzz series is an homage to the golden era of electronics and is brimming with vintage soul. Utilizing a NOS Soviet germanium diode and transistors, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the Sputnik III lives up to the reputation of its predecessors. Characteristic of germanium fuzzes, all of the controls are quite interactive and a wide variety of sounds can be observed with experimentation. The Sputnik III incorporates the best features of both previous pedals. The transformer based pickup simulation of the Sputnik II ensures that the Sputnik III will behave anywhere in your signal chain. The footswitch actuated DRIFT mode has also been taken from the Sputnik II and enhanced with optional momentary functionality. DRIFT mode and SCAN control allow you to unleash the fury and unpredictability of the Sputnik III. With careful use of playing dynamics and control settings, DRIFT mode can yield a nearly infinite range of truly unique sounds. The tone control is a mix of both its predecessors. The toggle switch offers mid-scooped and flat settings in conjunction with the wide-range CALIBRATE tone control. Relay based soft-touch switching provides more durability and flexibility than ever before. Housed in a durable cast aluminum enclosure, the mid-sized form factor allows for an enhancement in function over the original Sputnik, and an enhancement in practicality over the Sputnik II. Step into your inner world and discover a new wellspring of creativity and boundless possibility with the Sputnik III. TRULY HAND CRAFTED Hand-wired and built in Portland, Oregon, the Sputnik III features true-bypass relay switching with soft-touch footswitches. On top of the cast-aluminum enclosure sits a durable, engraved vinyl faceplate and jewel indicator light. This pedal is built to last a lifetime, both on Earth or in the vacuum of space.

Thomas Rees

2 Rigs

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