Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated Nov-19-2018.
When it comes to effects which operate purely based on gain, distortions and overdrives are still the top choice of many guitar players out there. However, there is one branch of effects that precedes most of the stuff we are used to hooking up to our signal chain today.
Not a lot of people know this, but fuzz is actually a direct predecessor of distortion pedals and is quite a bit different. Compared to any of the already
popular models from this list, fuzz pedals are a bit less predictable.
This wacky effect was first created in the mid-'60s and has since been used with varying degrees of popularity. The truth is that fuzz effect offers a refreshing change compared to standard distortions and overdrives.
Top 10 Best Fuzz Effects Pedals
The Fuzz Effect
For a new guitar player, the whole classification of
overdrives, distortions and fuzzes can be extremely confusing. To an untrained ear, all of these tend to sound more or less the same. Strangely enough, the confusion is extended to seasoned players as well. This is why you will sometimes see distortions labeled as overdrives, vice versa and fuzzes labeled as distortions.
A fuzz box is very different than a
distortion pedal even though they loosely belong to a same group of effects. A regular distortion pedal takes the signal, clips it carefully and pushes it out the output lane. What you get on your end is a distorted sound that sounds the same at every volume.
In comparison to that, a fuzz pedal takes the signal and clips it extremely hard. So much so that you get a square signal. On top of that, fuzz pedals use transistors to add gain. What this does is infuse enormous amounts of gain, but also infuse the signal with plenty of noise. If overdrives were orderly pedals and distortions were somewhat unhinged, then fuzz boxes are pure savagery.
A fuzz pedal does what ever it wants to do, simple as that. With that said, something very interesting happens when you use a fuzz pedal. While it does scramble the signal hard, a fuzz pedal tends to preserve the core of said signal. The result is a tone where you can recognize an overdrive cone that is surrounded with a bunch of fuzzy, wooly overtones. Add a
chorus pedal to the mix and it can definitely surprise you.
Different Types Of Fuzz Pedals
When it comes to fuzz boxes, there are two opposing faction, each one heavily invested in one ofthe two types of transistors. As always, it is best to view the available options and see what best suits your needs. Before we dive into this categorization, it is worth saying that both types of pedals are great..
Germanium Fuzz Pedals
The first type of pedals uses germanium transistors, which are what was originally used in fuzz pedals. The benefit of using germanium transistors is their unique tone signature. Germanium fuzzes are warmer in nature, smooth and fairly organic. The issue with using germanium is that it isn't as available as silicon. This makes the pedals more expensive by default. Purists will insist that germanium is the only way to go with fuzz pedals and that nothing else comes even close. That is a discussion we won't get into. In our opinion, both germanium and silicon pedals have their applications.
Silicon Fuzz Pedals
Speaking of silicon fuzz pedals, lets find out what makes them different. These became popular when pedal manufacturers figured out it was much cheaper to use silicon instead of germanium.Aside from the obvious production cost reduction, there were some additional side effects. Most notable being the change in the way the pedal sounds. With silicon transistors, you are getting a much more aggressive fuzz sound that isn't as warm, and is rather raw.
To an untrained ear, both germanium and silicon fuzzes will sound more or less the same. However, those who are after that authentic Hendrix tone will undoubtedly go with germanium. As we have said before, it comes down to personal taste.
Application Of Fuzz Pedals In Modern Music
One thing you will learn about the fuzz effect is that it was mostly used back in the day of Hendrix, The Rolling Stone and similar bands. Because of that, many still see these pedals as a gateway to vintage rock tone. However, more and more modern bands are using fuzzes over the other two alternatives. Needless to say, fuzz effect still has its place on a pedalboard.
Fuzz As A Source Of Sustain
One of the side effects of a fuzz pedal is increased sustain. As a matter of fact, some of them come with a sustain knob which allows you to manually adjust sustain. This makes the fuzz effect a great tool to have when you are just looking for some light distortion in your tone.
On top of that, another cool thing about fuzz pedals is that their tone changes as you start increasing or decreasing volume on your guitar. As we have said before, fuzz is very dependent on the strength of the signal that is being fed into the pedal itself. In other words, if you keep your guitar's volume low, you will get a fairly clean sound with very little distortion going on. As you roll off the volume, more and more fuzz will kick in. From a purely practical point of view, this means that you can find a setting on the pedal that allows for several awesome tone profiles which you can access using the volume knob. With all of this being said, you need to be careful of how that change in input volume affects your other pedals.
Last little tip we would like to share is the pick response. Fuzz pedals are one of the rare effects that actually respond differently depending on how aggressively you pick your strings. Harder picks yield more fuzz while weaker picks tend to keep the tone fairly clean. In a way, you can use a fuzz pedal to see exactly how much your picking technique varies as you play.
Where To Put The Fuzz In Your Signal Chain?
Fuzz pedals, much like distortions and overdrives, are generally placed at the very beginning of the signal chain. With the other two, you have some leeway in this sense, but with fuzzes you have to be pretty careful. The reason for this is the fact that a fuzz pedal works best with a raw signal straight from the guitar. The moment you put something in front of it, the pedal could start acting up. As a matter of fact, most fuzz related issues can be solved by simply moving the pedal closer to the guitar if it isn't already the first thing in the chain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtoac9zRibM
Conclusion
Fuzz pedals are still here after so many decades of continuous use. They represent a window back in time when signal chains were much simpler, and guitar tones a lot less predictable. Not only do we have the opportunity to play the exact same models some of the most legendary guitar players known to man used in their personal rigs, but we also have a wide range of modern renditions that are every bit as good.
Getting used to fuzz takes some time, and you will definitely need to employ some finesse to your tone configuration, but the end result is simply too satisfying to ignore. Plugging into a good fuzz pedal will show you why going back to the roots is not always a bad thing.
We hope you had a good time joining us for this little rundown, you can rest assured that each of the selected items is simply choice you cannot regret making. Now it's only a matter of jotting down your personal needs and finding your perfect match. Rock on!