ThorpyFX's BC108C 250 Ltd Run Fallout Cloud Fuzz has a custom paint-job and subtly smoother textured output with a hair less gain

The Spiced Pumpkin paint job or more accurately sparkling Metallic Burnt Orange is almost a colourway homage to Halloween. It also has white knobs in place of the original’s black ones, and metal can BC108C Transistors in place of the original’s BC549C TO-92 style more modern plastic capsule types.

Interestingly BC547, BC548 and BC549 were modern replacements for the more vintage BC107, BC108 and BC109 Silicon Transistor varieties. The original Silicon type Fuzz Faces had BC108’s, then some US-made reissues had BC109’s - before the more Germanium-like BC183’s came into use. The BC109’s and therefore BC549’s are considered to be slightly sharper and have a touch more gain than the BC108’s.

In a simple Fuzz Face circuit those differences are more audible - while in the more complex circuit that is the Big Muff Triangle style variety - those differences are a lot less discernible. In a band mix you would likely hear very little difference - while with just you and your amp you can hear that lower down the gain scale in particular - the BC108C Fallout Cloud variant is slightly softer, smoother, more open and brighter sounding with just a hair less gain than the BC549C original. Some have said that it sounds a little more ’Vintage’ which is fairly accurate too in reference to the different source components used.

I fear that for some ears the differences will be relatively hard to perceive - but for those of us with a more sensitive palate it’s kind of worth owning both. In truth though they are very subtly different and some of the differential nuances might be near inaudible - there’s a slight feel component to it too. It still sounds very much like the Fallout Cloud - somewhat like a near identical twin with just a few behavioural character differences - which close family can easily discern - while most outsiders would be more hard-pressed to tell them apart.

The Fallout Cloud has long been one of my favourite Big Muff types - the original Triangle circuit is my favourite of all those key Big Muff flavours and Thorpy’s take on that format is one of the very best - with absolutely gorgeous harmonics up and down the gain scale.

To really feel the differences between the two variants you need to operate both at fairly low gain. For me those settings seem to be optimal with Gain around 8:30 o’c, Volume @ Max, Treble @ 11:30 o’c, and Bass @ 9:30 o’c. The higher up the Gain scale you go - the less discernible the differences.

For ThorpyFX completists like me it makes sense to own both - but I feel the differences might be a little too subtle for some of you - so for many - one Fallout Cloud will do the job perfectly well enough.

I actually prefer the look of the BC108C one - with its gleaming paint job and white knobs - so that could be a valid reason too - especially if you don’t have one yet. You need to be very quick though as only 250 were made - and a lot of those will be spoken for already.

Limited quantities will be available on the ThorpyFX Webstore for £239.99 - if you want one you need to react as soon as you see this!