CATALINBREAD
FUZZRITE
REVIEW BY DAVID A. EVANS
STREET PRICE $149.99
Germanium or silicon? This
is the question that besets
fuzz-chasing tone hounds
across the land. In the world
of fuzz pedals, attitudes
split between adherents
of silicon transistor fuzzes
such as Mosrite’s Fuzzrite,
and lovers of germaniumtransistor fuzzes such as
the Rangemaster. Now
Catalinbread has added a
silicon-transistor fuzz pedal
to its lineup. The Fuzzrite,
modeled after the nongermanium original Mosrite
fuzz, delivers the sizzling,
electric fuzz that’s familiar
from such tunes as “In-AGadda-Da Vida” by Iron
Butterfly.
48
GEAR REVIEW
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The hype about metal
choice takes its force from
the nearly intangible sonic
characteristics of one over
the other. Some adherents
of germanium-based fuzz
claim that it offers a
“smoother,” or “rounder”
tone. Silicon, they say, is
just a little too harsh and
often doesn’t respond
to playing dynamics in the
way that germanium can.
On the other hand, the
silicon adherents claim
that germanium provides
inconsistent performance.
Variations of ambient
temperature can alter
the way the germanium
component performs. A
germanium fuzz’s tone on a
Catalinbread Fuzzrite
sunny day will, consequently,
sound different within a
cold studio.
Fortunately, the siliconbased Fuzzrite offered
no trouble at all.
The Fuzzrite is a model
of simplicity. Its three
controls—on/off, Volume,
and Depth—enable the user
to dial in just the right fuzz
tone. Catalinbread’s take on
this classic Fuzz reassures
the buyer upon first glance.
It’s made of the usual sturdy
metal enclosure, painted
silver. Coolest of all are the
pedal’s volume and depth
knobs. Each knob has
been machined from what
appears to be aluminum.