So it’s been quite a while since I last covered this subject - indeed you have to go back to a August 2018 feature, which covered just 6 pedals. And where the then mentioned 770 Circuits seems to have wholly gone to ground in the interim, and there is no sign of its Komparator Trem-Fuzz anywhere anymore!
This time around I cast a slightly wider net - do note that these are a mix of LFO-assisted - therefore more Trem-Fuzz, and more natural feedback fuzz-oscillation. Essentially these are are wobbly or pulsating fuzzes to some degree. Some with a lot of depth of character, with others being rather more subtle in their output. Two of these are circuit-bending types also - the Evil Pumpkin and Super Oscillo Fuzz.
This article has been on the cards for a while - and I keep chopping and changing and iterating the selection - until I finally ended up with a version I felt was representative. I wasn’t sure whether I should also include my inbound Mattoverse TremStortion here, but decided in the end to treat that separately.
A few of these are discontinued or hard-to-find now, but most are more generally available - albeit often as part of periodic small-batch manufacture.
So here is my Selection of 15 for this occasion :
Of those 15 I own the Ayahuasca, Evil Pumpkin, Filtremulator, Antichthon, Hedda, Super Oscillo Fuzz, Violet Oscillation, a V2 Mad Robot (vs V3 featured), the DFST-1, Rise & Shine, and Harmonic Antagonizer - so around 10 1/2 of the 15.
Those most likely to be added in the near-ish future include the Basic Audio OSCIX, and MadValleyFX Mad Robot V3. As mentioned up top - I also have a Mattoverse TremStortion inbound currently - which is in a very similar ballpark!
Here follow the usual individual pedal details :
Controls - Output (Ramp), Input (Fuzz), Color, Rate, Depth, Balance (Mix), Mode / Tap : Standard | Both | Harmonic + 1 / 2 / 4 or 3 / 6 / 8 Tap Divisions, Left Wave : Sine / Triangle / Square, Right Wave : Square / Triangle / Sine, Presets : 1 / Manual / 2, Bypass Footswitch, Tap Tempo Footswitch.[+16 Dip-switches]
This is essentially a combination of El Musico Loco Wee Beaver Fuzz (Regulus VIII) plus a choppier version of the core Gravitas Harmonic Tremolo. I was very fortunate to be in on the first run of these which was made available to overseas buyers - which was actually the 8th run - #71-80! This is wonderful benchmark TremFuzz with really richly flavoured core Fuzz in combination with a choppier Gravitas - which all-round just sounds magnificent. These are long since discontinued now - but the occasional one does turn up on Reverb.com - while there don't seem to be any available anywhere right at this very moment!
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Controls - LFO Rate, Tone, Level, Distortion, LFO Switch, Light Sensor, 3-way Circuit Node switches #2 - #12 (switch #1 is the LFO one).
So a Boss DS-1 Distortion at its core, but circuit-bent to the next level - via those 11 (#2-#12) Circuit Node Switches. Those switches are off in the middle position, and connect different nodes in either direction for literally thousands of possible combinations! So with all switches off - you pretty much have a standard Boss DS-1 at your disposal, but are then able to take it in myriad interesting directions. The output that you are able to generate here - includes Bitcrusher, Distortion, Fuzz, Glitch, LFO / Oscillation / Tremolo, Overdrive, Sample & Hold, Synth and Theremin style voicings / actions. It's like the Lastgasp Super Oscillo Fuzz - on acid! A hugely impressive device, more recently replaced by its larger Ghazala sibling.
Controls - Vintage : Off/On, Fat : Off/On, Level, Starve, Fuzz, Gate, Pinch, OSC.
Essentially - a Germanium Fuzz Factory - with extras - including Oscillation! I'm a huge fan of Basic Audio's John Lyons - and it's the brand which has the most fuzzes to date in my collection. I've long been contemplating this OSCIX - there's about 4 or 5 Basic Audio fuzzes that are on my wishlist - with this one probably the priority acquisition among those!
Controls - Filter Type : Ramp / LFO / Mad [PAR - X - BEE], Buzz : Dry / BZ (Overdrive) / BZZ (Fuzz), Parasite (Wet Signal) : Level / Mix / Tap Division / Ramp Up Speed, Wingspan : Depth, Bee (Dry Signal) : Level / Mix / Rate / Ramp Down Speed, Filter Mode : Octave / Off (Amplitude) / Honey, Presets : 1-5 + Live, Tap Tempo / Ramp / Momentary Expression Footswitch, Engage / Alt / Invert / Stop Modulation Footswitch.
A touch of an outlier here - as a sort of Filter / Wah / LFO / Tremolo / Fuzz and then some! Where a TremFuzz output is just one of numerous possibilities. Possibly the most complicated one to use here, and one that really needs the manual to be handy - to get the most out of this - as there is so much going on - plus alternative and secondary Parameters! If you get the dial-in just right though - this sounds magnificent!
Controls - Gravity, Time, Volume, Space.
A cool quirky highly sensitive fuzz - where you really need to work both your guitar controls - volume and tone - to deliver the full range of what this fuzz is capable of. A pretty unique fuzz, and one which requires some pretty series hand-to-eye coordination.
Controls - Fuzz 1 Level, Fuzz 2 Level, OSC 1, OSC 2.
A smart dual blended fuzz with twin Level and Oscillation controls. Really simple but also pretty potent! This is long since discontinued now - but you get the occasional one turning up on Reverb.com every now and again - definitely worth a punt!
Controls - Master Volume, Bias : Classic/Fat > Brassy/Thin, Feedback Footswitch, Engage / Bypass Footswitch.
Another sensitive type - this is Fjord Fuzz's Daniel's main always-on gain voicing - where he wholly controls the level of gain from his guitar volume control. Depending on how you set the Bias - the Feedback Footswitch can generate a lot of natural feedback oscillation when you crank the Bias up.
Controls - Level, Adjust (Tone / Gain / Pitch / Feedback), 6 x Node Switches (Tone / Character / Oscillation / Feedback), CV Pedal Input on left side.
A fantastic journey into circuit-bending with a very responsive oscillating fuzz - each of those 1-6 switches - switches in a different node of the circuit - and you combine 2 or 3 of those in very interesting ways. You need to be careful about not generating too much feedback / squeal - while you have some incredibly tonal and textural possibilities with this fuzz.
Controls - Volume / Output, Fuzz [Glitch / Gating], Bass [Pitch], Treble [Octave Down / Oscillation], Oscillate Footswitch, On / Fuzz Footswitch. Oscillate Params in [parenthesis].
Internal Controls - Twin Dip-switches Latching / Momentary modes per footswitch, and Trim-pot for Oscillate Channel Output Level - can boost if required!
Beautifully engineered Shoegaze style fuzz - with exceptional output capabilities. A great concept really brilliantly executed - this one also has extensive range on each of tis controls.
Controls - Master, Low, Gain, Octave, Tone, OSC, Mad Footswitch, Robot Footswitch.
I have the V2 edition of this, while the new V3 is really where it's at - these are now properly UV-printed and have more refinement in their finish - to match the improved quality of output. The V2 was already hugely impressive - while the V3 is even more so - really flavourful!
Controls - Shape : Smooth / Choppy, Speed, Depth, Fuzz.
It's great to see that one of my original 2018 recommendations is still going strong. This one is incredibly easy to use, and has a great sounding choppy output fuzz texture!
Controls - Altitude (EQ), Overtone (Harmonic Overtones), Speed (Modulation Rate), Silence (Output), Awareness (Envelope Sensitivity), Pad : Guitar / Line-in, Mode : Step Modulation / Envelope.
Very much a cool mini take on the legendary core Dr Freakenstein Chop Fuzzz with some slight differences - really potent though, but sadly a limited run, and so long since discontinued. The form factor for this pedal is absolutely unique with blue 'wing' lights which really elegantly back-light the pedal.
Controls - Gain, Volume, Choke, Oscillation Switch.
One of the great unsung Greek brands - I have 2 superb pedals from this imprint - the Il Mostro Multi-Drive / Distortion, and compact Woolly Mammoth 7 take. I've been contemplating adding this one too - based on how great my existing ones sound. Another really simple but extremely potent / flavourful TremFuzz.
Controls - Volume, Tone (See-Saw EQ), Dry>Wet Mix, Fuzz Saturation, MODE : Fuzz - Standard / Latching [orange] | Fuzz- Momentary Octave [green] | Fuzz - Momentary Bypass [cyan] | +Trem - Standard Division [magenta] | +Trem Custom Division [white], VOICE : Bright Tone [orange] | Fat Tone [cyan], Bypass / Fuzz Engage Footswitch, Analog Octave / +Tremolo Engage Footswitch, Expression / Tap Tempo socket on side.
The newest kid on the block here - and definitely the smartest execution in many ways. Beautiful intricate enamel facia here, and some really smart controls - which help you move up though the gears from plain glorious fuzz, to octave fuzz, and onto pulsating Octapulse Fuzz. Plenty of range on all the controls - and the perfect marriage between modern function and richly textured vintage sounds.
Control - Frequency, Sense, Volume, Blend, Sustain.
Actually my earliest acquisition in this selection - dating back to 2017 I believe. A somewhat extended range OscilloFuzz in many ways - this pedal has featured a lot on this site over the years - in so many different categories. Obviously well-loved as it's still going strong!