Superfuzz?

Nyarlathotep · #1 08-01-2009, 08:04 AM

I know a few people have at least a clone of this.

What was the original Superfuzz?
Is there any clips anywhere?
What current in-production clones are there?

RCCollins · #2 08-01-2009, 08:08 AM

i'll handle the first question - copied from wikipedia btw, lazy!

Quote:

The circuit was designed in the late 1960s by the Japanese company Shin-ei, (who also produced another well known fuzz box, the Shin-ei Companion FY-2) and manufactured in Japan by Unicord. The first Super-Fuzzes were made in 1968, and production continued until the late 70s.

Although the Univox is the most well known incarnation of this circuit, Shin Ei licensed this circuit out to dozens of manufacturers, including Ibanez, Apollo, Companion, Shaftsbury, Mica, JAX, Kent, Teisco, Marlboro, Royal, and many others. Sometimes it was packaged with a wah pedal, or with the tone switch being a footswitch, or both. This circuit is also very similar to the famous Fender "Blender", and Roland "Bee Baa". More recent applications of this circuit type can be found in Guyatone's TZ-2 Fuzz, MJM China Fuzz, Prescription Electronics' Outbox, Boss's Hyper Fuzz, and others, although most agree the newer versions do not sound quite the same.

This unique fuzz tone is an octave fuzz using two germanium diodes to produce the square wave clipping. The controls are 'Balance' (volume), 'Expander' (fuzz amount), a two position 'tone' switch, and an on/off footswitch on top. There are two unique features of this device that set it apart from other distortion and fuzz pedals. The first is that the full-wave rectification of the circuit produces an upper octave as well as a slight lower octave. This also gives the sound a lot of compression and gives a mild ring modulator effect. The second unique feature is a tone switch that engages a 1khz filter that "scoops" the mids, giving a very fat, almost bassy tone, unique to this circuit.

and isn't the katana sound super bass fuzz a superfuzz clone? not to mention the TLSF...

OptimusPrime · #3 08-01-2009, 08:14 AM

I really, really want to try a Wattson Classic Electronics SuperFuzz.

N.F.A. · #4 08-01-2009, 08:16 AM

Brad Davis at Creepyfingers effects makes a great one called the Harakiri fuzz. He is a great builder and if you look on his myspace page there is an audio demo of the Harakiri. He also plays for Fu Manchu...
G.

**grygrx** · #5 08-01-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Brad Davis at Creepyfingers effects makes a great one called the Harakiri fuzz. He is a great builder and if you look on his myspace page there is an audio demo of the Harakiri. He also plays for Fu Manchu...
G.

+1 I've not tried any of his pedals yet, but the next pedal I order will be from him.

rcubed · #6 08-01-2009, 09:52 AM

Brad's a good dude and certainly know his stuff about fuzz pedals. I don't know if his prices have skyrocketed up, but you could get some boutique builds with NOS parts for reasonable prices. He'll also do some custom work (or at least he used to).

N.F.A. · #7 08-01-2009, 10:00 AM

I have had most of Brad's pedals and his prices have not skyrocketed. His build time turnaround is short. He still does custom work too. Check him out you won't be disappointed.
G.

rcubed · #8 08-01-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

I have had most of Brad's pedals and his prices have not skyrocketed. His build time turnaround is short. He still does custom work too. Check him out you won't be disappointed.
G.

Good to hear. He plays both guitar and bass so if you want to get one of the fuzzes modded for better low end I'm sure he'd be more than happy to do so.

I'm surprised you don't have a Boss FZ-2 Nyarlathotep. It's "Electric Wizard in a box". Although quite a few folks don't like it on bass. But with you're new setup, that might not be a problem if you loose too much low end through it.

RCCollins · #9 08-01-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

I'm surprised you don't have a Boss FZ-2 Nyarlathotep. It's "Electric Wizard in a box". Although quite a few folks don't like it on bass. But with you're new setup, that might not be a problem if you loose too much low end through it.

keep in mind that he's only likely to use it with the gain cranked all the way up

jetofuj · #10 08-01-2009, 10:26 AM

When it comes to Harakiri Fuzz, how's the thing with low end retention?

Mudfuzz · #11 08-01-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

and isn't the katana sound super bass fuzz a superfuzz clone?

Yes it is. From what Andy Babiuk told me about it when I got was it was one of the most spot on super fuzz clones sound wise he ever came across. I don't know myself as I have yet to get my hands on a vintage one. Also I almost never have the upper octave on so you could say I don't use it for a "supper fuzz" type sound at all. I am actually thinking about trying to get a second one for a backup and so when I only need one pedal I don't have to remove it from my board like I have been.

RCCollins · #12 08-01-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

Yes it is. From what Andy Babiuk told me about it when I got was it was one of the most spot on super fuzz clones sound wise he ever came across. I don't know myself as I have yet to get my hands on a vintage one. Also I almost never have the upper octave on so you could say I don't use it for a "supper fuzz" type sound at all. I am actually thinking about trying to get a second one for a backup and so when I only need one pedal I don't have to remove it from my board like I have been.

it's one of the fuzzes i'm most curious about but least likely to throw down the cash for

rcubed · #13 08-01-2009, 10:33 AM

It's one of those circuits I've been meaning to build for awhile now.

Mudfuzz · #14 08-01-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

it's one of the fuzzes i'm most curious about but least likely to throw down the cash for

I felt that way for a year before I plunged on it, but after going through over 10 fuzzes and not finding one that would do what I wanted %100 my frustration overtook me.

If you have a pedal that does what you need then that is the pedal, sometimes it is a affordable pedal some times not. Also I will be the first person to say that I am annalretentive about gear

dannybuoy · #15 08-01-2009, 11:05 AM

The Guyatone TZ-2 is a clone, waaay too much low end loss with the one I had though. Might try another now that I have a blender!

Mudfuzz · #16 08-01-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

The Guyatone TZ-2 is a clone, waaay too much low end loss with the one I had though. Might try another now that I have a blender!

True. I found that other then a blender running it into the "bypassed" moog mf101 brought back all the lows and made the thing much thicker sounding.

markjazzbassist · #17 08-01-2009, 12:29 PM

i owned the original (univox) and loved it. i've never tried a clone and don't want to. i'm going to get another original (red and blue) one of these days when i get some more cash.

the sound is very unique and not like other fuzzes. very very aggressive, biting, bright, and sharp (not pitchwise) sounding. it's a must have for the fuzz arsenal.

funny thing is that the clones are just as expensive as the originals go for on ebay. maybe a little more, but usually the $250-300 range.

biggs1249 · #18 08-01-2009, 01:02 PM

Wyllie Risingsun is a cool looking clone

nad · #19 08-01-2009, 01:27 PM

Possibly stupid question: can someone who loves That Superfuzz Sound comment on how it compares to the fuzz side of the Battering Ram?

Might as well just PM grygrx for this, but in the pursuit of knowledge, I deem it postworthy.

RCCollins · #20 08-01-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

I felt that way for a year before I plunged on it, but after going through over 10 fuzzes and not finding one that would do what I wanted %100 my frustration overtook me.

If you have a pedal that does what you need then that is the pedal, sometimes it is a affordable pedal some times not. Also I will be the first person to say that I am annalretentive about gear

ok well since it doesn't seem to matter to you, feel free to buy me one