All tagged vintage fuzz

The Rush Pepbox: Unveiling the Holy Grail of Early Fuzz Tones

The Rush Pepbox: Unveiling the Holy Grail of Early Fuzz Tones

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Reviews, Guitars

I've dedicated considerable time delving into the intricacies of classic fuzz tones. To my discerning ears, one fuzz pedal doesn't cover all the sonic ground I seek. I'm meticulous about embracing the diverse characteristics inherent in each era and circuit of fuzz, strategically pairing them with the specific session or gig at hand.

What has captivated my attention is the void in the reproduction of early-era fuzz pedal circuits. In particular, the resonant allure of the original Maestro FZ-1 has enchanted me. My 90s Gibson reissue, crafted during a limited run, has become a rarity to procure.

Unbeknownst to me, amidst this quest, another early fuzz circuit has quietly continued production—the Rush Pepbox, conceived by the circuit designer Pep Rush's daughter, Lucy Rush.

A familial collaboration, Lucy worked alongside her father until his passing, making the Pepbox a testament to generational craftsmanship. In an industry where legacy businesses are a scarcity, this connection to the roots is noteworthy.

Seeker Electric Effects Tonebender MKI

Seeker Electric Effects Tonebender MKI

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Gear, Reviews

The Tonebender MKI circuit is one of my favorite fuzz circuits and one of the rarest fuzz pedals. Luckily for us, builders such as Seeker Electronics are making the circuit in modern times, as finding a vintage pedal is highly unlikely, especially without a price tag that would make even the avid collected blink.

Knowing how many original tone benders inventor Gary Hurst made is impossible. The first run of them was made in wooden enclosures. Gary then switched to metal-pressed sheet metal enclosures that were painted gold.

The MKI as we know it only existed for about a year, from 1965-1966, before the MK1.5 came out, which had a considerably different sound.

Speebtone Harmonic Jerkulator Fuzz

Speebtone Harmonic Jerkulator Fuzz

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

Every so often, a truly distinctive gem emerges amidst the sea of fuzz circuits that pay homage to the iconic Fuzz Face, Tone Bender, and Big Muff designs.

These moments, however, are far rarer than one might imagine. The prevailing trend often leans towards replication rather than innovation. Admittedly, this has its merits; I find solace in the likes of Analog Man, artisans who meticulously breathe life into vintage fuzz circuits.

Yet, how refreshing it is to encounter a breath of contrast. The Speebtone Jerkulator pedal, a revelation upon my first encounter through a video demo, stands as a prime testament to this refreshing departure. It refused to tread the well-trodden path of traditional fuzz pedals, carving its own niche.

FSC Fuzz

FSC Fuzz

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Reviews, Gear

FSC Guitars has recently introduced their latest pedal, the What The Fuzz (WTF), based on a germanium Fuzz Face circuit (although using silicon) with some unique modifications.

While the WTF retains a silicon circuit's stability and standard power capabilities, it is designed to exhibit the sound qualities typically associated with germanium fuzz pedals. In addition, this innovative approach allows for increased stability and eliminates the need for specialized power supplies.

One notable addition to the WTF is the bias knob, a feature not commonly found on traditional silicon fuzz faces. This knob enables you to adjust the spiciness and gated characteristics of the sound by effectively starving the circuit.

Analog Man Sun Face BC108

Analog Man Sun Face BC108

Mark Marshall
Gear, Reviews

The Fuzz Face circuit is the most well know of the fuzz circuits alongside the Big Muff. This largely in part by the usage of the Fuzz Face by Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmore. David Gilmore eventually moved to a Big Muff, which made that pedal well known.

Although Hendrix used other fuzz pedals from time to time, he became associated with the Fuzz Face. Likely because of his performance at Woodstock. I actually got to hold the Fuzz Face, and wah-wah Hendrix played at Woodstock. I was thoroughly pattered down, leaving the location where they are stored.

The term Fuzz Face has become a generic term for fuzz among some guitarists. Some major manufactures don't help in their marketing either. You're often led to believe there is one basic Fuzz Face, which is not valid. I'm not saying Dunlop is lying to you. I'm saying they're making a vanilla Fuzz Face with hopes it fits all.