ElectroHarmonix

122 Guitarist November 2009
FUZZ Pedals £59-£275
EffEcts
The Bottom Line
We like: Versatile range of
tones; compact size
We dislike: Four screws for
battery access
The Bottom Line
We like: Versatile; capable of
sounding out of control
We dislike: Careful knob
positioning is required
GUitarist ratinG GUitarist ratinG
T
he Big Muff has achieved
legendary status in some
circles but it was always a big
cumbersome box underfoot, so
Electro-Harmonix has fitted
the circuitry into a smaller case.
Sounds
E-HX doesn’t call it a fuzzbox
but a distortion/sustainer, and
there’s certainly bags of both
distortion and sustain here.
There’s plenty of gain to drive
an amp hard, but the key
control is the tone knob, with
a wide range that will take you
from bright edgy fuzz to
creamy-smooth liquid sustain
and all stations in-between.
Verdict
It’s a classic Big Muff, but in a
more manageable form. What’s
not to like?
A
lthough it makes use of
two highly prized New
Old Stock sixties Germanium
transistors, the Fuzz Factory
isn’t a revamp of any classic
fuzz pedal design. Instead
what you get is a wild beast of
a fuzzbox with five knobs to
tame it (or not!).
Sounds
While it can still amply do the
conventional thing with
harmonically rich edgy fuzz,
the Fuzz Factory’s true forté is
unbridled sonic terrorism,
with staccato-gated fuzz,
squeals, howls and resonant
droning feedback that you can
tune to pitch. Very cool.
Verdict
The ideal tool for the sort of a
player who is on his knees at
the end of the set manipulating
knobs to create a cacophony.
Electro-Harmonix
Little Big Muff Pi
ZVex Fuzz Factory
CONTACT: Sounds Great Music PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.soundsgreatmusic.com
CONTACT: Manson’s Guitar Shop PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.mansons.co.uk
A classic gets smaller for your convenience
Fuzz on an industrial scale!
Spec
PriCe: £59
OriGin: USA
Fe atUres: LED
COntrOls: Volume, tone, sustain
COnneCtiOns: Input, output
POWer: 9V DC adaptor (not
supplied) or 9V battery
diMensiOns: 119 (l) x 102 (w)
x 60mm (h)
ranGe OPtiOns: Big Muff Pi (£59),
Big Muff with Tone Wicker (£69),
Double Muff (£39)
Spec
PriCe: £199
OriGin: USA
Fe atUres: Two NOS Germanium
transistors, LED
COntrOls: Volume, gate, compress,
drive, stability
COnneCtiOns: Input, output
POWer: 9V DC adaptor (not supplied)
or 9V battery
diMensiOns: 62 (l) x 120 (w)
x 50mm (h)
ranGe OPtiOns:
Vexter Fuzz Factory (£129)
GIT322.rev_fuzz 122 8/10/09 15:50:03