the fuzz, you will get different flavors and
responses. A silicon fuzz is generally brighter
and more aggressive, while a germanium
fuzz is usually darker and woolier. A fuzz is an
incredibly basic circuit, and many first-time
DIYers will start off building a fuzz pedal.
Since it is so basic and so primitive, there are
many extra tonal artifacts that are generated
along with the desired fuzz tone. Each tiny
change in the circuit makes the fuzz react
wildly different, and other pedals in your
signal chain, power supplies, RF interference,
temperature, and many other factors can
contribute to the tone of a fuzz.
So what makes Z. Vex’s latest line of 7 pedals
so great? While on the surface, they look and
sound like a basic fuzz, Mr. Vex has essentially
provided players with a cornucopia of fuzz
tones contained within one single enclosure,
14
TONE TALK //
without having to bust out ol’ Sparky (the
nickname for my soldering iron). Without
further ado, let’s see what these babies
can do.
First on the chopping block is Z. Vex’s classic
Woolly Mammoth fuzz. Created originally for
bass, at the heart of this woolly beast of fuzz
lies the 2N3904 silicon transistor, and it’s a
favorite among guitarists seeking a deeper
and darker silicon fuzz tone. On the Woolly
Mammoth 7, these little transistors are
viewable in action through a window, giving
the player a view into the dirty and blackened
heart of this formidable fuzz. The tones on
tap here are quite numerous, but still share
the same characteristics that make it a Z. Vex
fuzz pedal. At times these pedals feel like a
blank map; giving you the compass to chart
new sonic territory.
Z. Vex’s Lucky 7: New Takes on Tried and True Classics