Many reviews make these seem like some outlandish, unusable device, but since it's release years ago, it's been not only widely used by many pro musicians, but has been copied and used as a platform by other builders .It's become nothing short of an all time classic, like the Big Muff or Fuzz Face.Gabor gets the flexibility and beauty of the circuit. What makes it exceptional, and stand out, is that you can find useful settings, -( that vary)- and just use the guitar volume to go from really sweet cleans, to total harmonic chaos.(The " in betweens" are often the most unique.) All Germanium circuits have a few idiosyncrasies; needs to be first in chain, if you want the volume control capability ( impedance sensitivity), the power supply changes the basic sound and response( vintage, non alkaline batteries, which are difficult to find in many places, are best),-the voltage sag found on isolated power bricks work well, and ,- they are temperature sensitive, operating best in mid to lower temps.(These "issues" are why Silicon elements were introduced, due to greater stability, however, - all but very few types do not sound/ respond similarly.) Like other Drive and Distortion circuits, they are also not always buffer compatible, meaning ,-that if you have non True Bypass pedals before, or sometimes, even after,- the range and base sound is adversely affected.(This includes wireless systems). What I've found is , that after years of trial and error, and then more educated experimentation, - it's difficult to get the range of sounds / tones possible with other types of circuits.For straight out" Rock"/ Alt, it's the the only thing you need, and for more experimental and Ambient, it's a singular piece to have in the arsenal.Also a great way just to learn what Fuzz ,and driven tones ,are really about. Peace.
I've done the same with a Big muff. Some of these high gain Fuzzes are like fucking radio towers, I swear. I was listening to NPR like it was saturday morning.
Great review! Definitely have to experiment a lot and learn how to play the pedal...your review is taking away some of my fear. This pedal intrigues me, and frightens me.🤯 -- Just picked up the 25th anniversary Fuzz Factory! Have yet to plug it in...😬
Since this is so wild, is it better to run into a clean amp? Usually other than big muffs you want some dirt in the amp for some fuzz, as they sound thin or brittle
Hey guys cheers for this demo, really helped understand what the fuzz factory is all about. Just one question though. I'm thinking of buying a Cort MBC-1 guitar and you can upgrade it to have the Zvex fuzz factory and a Sustaniac built into it, my question is if I could only pick one, which should it be? Thanks!
Really depends what you are after...I guess getting a Sustainiac pickup installed gives you sounds you can't really achieve with pedals...and a Fuzz Factory is just as good as a pedal on the floor...you probably actually have more control over it when its a pedal on the floor! Gabor
Ah so the Sustaniac provides an effect you cant really get on pedals? Well if thats the case i'll make sure to at least get the Sustaniac upgrade! And lastly the fuzz factory would be more effective/usable as a pedal rather than an in-guitar feature? Cheers!
Yes..I think the only pedals that do similar things to the Sustainiac (infinite sustain) would be the EHX Freeze & Superego...the HOG too...or an Ebow! As for the Fuzz Factory...most of the time its easier to access and change settings on the pedal version...when they are built into a guitar its usually only 1 or 2 knobs that you can access from the top of the guitar...the other knobs are in the wiring cavity (the ones I've seen anyways)...but in the end it always depends on what works best for you!
The stuff right at the start? Check at about 0:20...you can get tons of those kinda sounds out of the Fuzz Factory by playing around with the "Stab" knob...its an impedance thing...but you have to make sure there are no buffers between your guitar and the Fuzz Factory! Gabor
Hi there guys, odd question but the music site i normally buy my gear off (gear4music.com) has got a few different versions of this pedal (all of which are standard, not the fat fuzz or anniversary one). Any clue which version yours is before i fork out on this unbelievable pedal? Cheers!
Hi Joe...I think all the Fuzz Factory circuits are pretty much the same...now if there is anyone out there who can correct me please do but as far as I know they all sound pretty much the same...its really just the aesthetics! Gabor
Mine doesn't make crazy noises like this... is my guitar too weak? When I put a rat in front of the factory, it is usable but still doesn't squeal like that! What's wrong with mine??
You have to have the FF first in the chain...if you have other pedals between the FF and your guitar it probably won't work - the other pedals change the impedance of the signal...put the FF first in your chain then it should work
I use active EMG 808 in my 7-string and also have hand wound Jazzmaster pickups. it reacts a bit differently depending on the pup output from what i can tell. I had much more control over the chaos with my EMGs… nvr had to use gate to get it quiet. Jazzmasters…. I NEED the gate or im forced to turn the drive down a bit (noise issues)
This is exactly how not to review the FF. there are such huge non stupid sounding tones in this pedal and yet no one captures or does a usable demo of them.
Many reviews make these seem like some outlandish, unusable device, but since it's release years ago, it's been not only widely used by many pro musicians, but has been copied and used as a platform by other builders .It's become nothing short of an all time classic, like the Big Muff or Fuzz Face.Gabor gets the flexibility and beauty of the circuit.
What makes it exceptional, and stand out, is that you can find useful settings, -( that vary)- and just use the guitar volume to go from really sweet cleans, to total harmonic chaos.(The " in betweens" are often the most unique.)
All Germanium circuits have a few idiosyncrasies; needs to be first in chain, if you want the volume control capability ( impedance sensitivity), the power supply changes the basic sound and response( vintage, non alkaline batteries, which are difficult to find in many places, are best),-the voltage sag found on isolated power bricks work well, and ,- they are temperature sensitive, operating best in mid to lower temps.(These "issues" are why Silicon elements were introduced, due to greater stability, however, - all but very few types do not sound/ respond similarly.)
Like other Drive and Distortion circuits, they are also not always buffer compatible, meaning ,-that if you have non True Bypass pedals before, or sometimes, even after,- the range and base sound is adversely affected.(This includes wireless systems).
What I've found is , that after years of trial and error, and then more educated experimentation, - it's difficult to get the range of sounds / tones possible with other types of circuits.For straight out" Rock"/ Alt, it's the the only thing you need, and for more experimental and Ambient, it's a singular piece to have in the arsenal.Also a great way just to learn what Fuzz ,and driven tones ,are really about.
Peace.
Absolutely...I totally agree!! Thank you Mark!!
Thanks. Helpful information said well. ☺
Thanks
For the record, girls do watch this
YES...I knew it!!! Thanks Kimberley!
but, why?
I have actually picked up radio stations with this pedal. It is crazy indeed!
Haha...awesome!!
I've done the same with a Big muff. Some of these high gain Fuzzes are like fucking radio towers, I swear. I was listening to NPR like it was saturday morning.
You can pick radio and TV frequencies with a cry baby
@@elpiuvros yeah
So did i haha
7:45 Plug In Baby! 😃🤘🏼
At last a reviewer who gets it
Thanks Mark
Bloke on the left seemed genuinely quite freaked out by the pedal! Much fun. I'm going to try one, looks totally great. ☺
i just purchased this pedal and thought it was broken with that squealing, really a crazy pedal.
It's crazy but that's why I love this thing...one of my all time favourites'
Great review! Definitely have to experiment a lot and learn how to play the pedal...your review is taking away some of my fear. This pedal intrigues me, and frightens me.🤯
--
Just picked up the 25th anniversary Fuzz Factory! Have yet to plug it in...😬
Since this is so wild, is it better to run into a clean amp? Usually other than big muffs you want some dirt in the amp for some fuzz, as they sound thin or brittle
So with your 3 fuzz factories… how different do you find them to be between each other?
And what are the differences?
This seems great so I can make PC Speaker music with my guitar!
+Robert Rossignol haha...what else would you want to do with a guitar?
thats all i need it for! that and making people deaf from feedback!The SuperFunAwesomeHappyTime Pedal Show!
Awesome demo! Made me buy the pedal :)
+Funked Up oh cool, can't go wrong :)
I should send you my Fuzz Factory 7 to review...It's a monster of a pedal which I reckon you'd find more manageable that the standard Fuzz Factory
+sam atkins Hi Sam...the crazy unpredictable nature of the Fuzz Factory is what I really like about it!
I would love to try out the Fuzz Factory 7!
Hey guys cheers for this demo, really helped understand what the fuzz factory is all about. Just one question though. I'm thinking of buying a Cort MBC-1 guitar and you can upgrade it to have the Zvex fuzz factory and a Sustaniac built into it, my question is if I could only pick one, which should it be? Thanks!
Really depends what you are after...I guess getting a Sustainiac pickup installed gives you sounds you can't really achieve with pedals...and a Fuzz Factory is just as good as a pedal on the floor...you probably actually have more control over it when its a pedal on the floor! Gabor
Ah so the Sustaniac provides an effect you cant really get on pedals? Well if thats the case i'll make sure to at least get the Sustaniac upgrade! And lastly the fuzz factory would be more effective/usable as a pedal rather than an in-guitar feature? Cheers!
Yes..I think the only pedals that do similar things to the Sustainiac (infinite sustain) would be the EHX Freeze & Superego...the HOG too...or an Ebow! As for the Fuzz Factory...most of the time its easier to access and change settings on the pedal version...when they are built into a guitar its usually only 1 or 2 knobs that you can access from the top of the guitar...the other knobs are in the wiring cavity (the ones I've seen anyways)...but in the end it always depends on what works best for you!
What is the setting to get that Volume Knob controlled squeal???
The stuff right at the start? Check at about 0:20...you can get tons of those kinda sounds out of the Fuzz Factory by playing around with the "Stab" knob...its an impedance thing...but you have to make sure there are no buffers between your guitar and the Fuzz Factory! Gabor
Hi there guys, odd question but the music site i normally buy my gear off (gear4music.com) has got a few different versions of this pedal (all of which are standard, not the fat fuzz or anniversary one). Any clue which version yours is before i fork out on this unbelievable pedal?
Cheers!
I far as I know its just the hand painted version...
Hi Joe...I think all the Fuzz Factory circuits are pretty much the same...now if there is anyone out there who can correct me please do but as far as I know they all sound pretty much the same...its really just the aesthetics! Gabor
Mine doesn't make crazy noises like this... is my guitar too weak? When I put a rat in front of the factory, it is usable but still doesn't squeal like that! What's wrong with mine??
You have to have the FF first in the chain...if you have other pedals between the FF and your guitar it probably won't work - the other pedals change the impedance of the signal...put the FF first in your chain then it should work
I use active EMG 808 in my 7-string and also have hand wound Jazzmaster pickups. it reacts a bit differently depending on the pup output from what i can tell.
I had much more control over the chaos with my EMGs… nvr had to use gate to get it quiet.
Jazzmasters…. I NEED the gate or im forced to turn the drive down a bit (noise issues)
what desk is that behind you guys?
an old Yamaha M1532
Ohh nice! heard they were made to sound like an API console, would you say that was about right?
all talk no play make jack a dull boy
haha like the shining! I agree though.
why is steven wilson playing a jazzmaster???
Haha...I forgot my PRS at home
This is exactly how not to review the FF. there are such huge non stupid sounding tones in this pedal and yet no one captures or does a usable demo of them.
Challenge accepted...we will do a 'non stupid sounds' demo of it...stay tuned
Sounds broken.
I love weird pedals like the DOD Buzz Box, but this is just absurd...
No it's not
Please look more to the camera. It seems weird when you only talk to each other.