my budget fuzz top 3

[AC128]

I was just taking a look at my fuzz pedal collection and I realized that in between the stuff I built for myself and all the other pedals I scored at eBay, garage sales, etc. there are a few low budget surprises that have stayed with me well over a year, which means they are keepers.

here's my top 3 list of low budget fuzzes in no particular order:

- Danelectro French Toast
yes, you have to be able to adjust really small knobs that are really close together, but it's an inspirational and versatile pedal - if you know how to use it (PUs, playing style & amp)

- Nobels Fuzz FU-Z
just three knobs, but with perfectly chosen ranges, if you can't get a good/sick sound out of this pedal, the problem is you

- Ibanez FZ7 Fuzz
not sure why there isn't more excitement out there concerning this pedal. being one of the underappreciated tone-lock series it often goes for under 30 EUR and it's stunning, the Damage switch is really the icing on the cake
I was amazed to find that this pedal, built by the 'tame' company Ibanez, embodied so many facets of what I cherish in a fuzz pedal

so what are your sercret low $$$ weapons?

[friendship]

I picked up an old Dunlop Classic Fuzz from their old "Hendrix Systems" line for like $15. It's a buffered germanium Fuzz Face in a small package, I love it. I wanted to get the Octave counterpart but one never came up with a good deal. No idea how that one sounds.

I also have the FZ-7 which was apparently valued so low on the used market at the time that the guy gave it to me for free. Also a really fun pedal (especially with an EQ), although noisy.

Cheap pedals are my favorite.

[rustywire]

Way Huge Red Llama

Rat

&

Ibanez SB7 Bass Synthesizer.
3 modes: autowah, synth 1, synth 2...all capable of gritty, gated, square filtered fuzz when you hit'm hard

[dubkitty]

Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom

[adapt]

dod classic fuzz is tits

[GardenoftheDead]

Soda Meiser, Big Muff Pi, Visual Sound Angry Fuzz

[zRobertez]

Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom
Algal Bloom

[Ghost Hip]

Lab Ratchet. Devi Torns Peaker. Blue Box. Could probably nail those three for under three hundred.

[rfurtkamp]

Blue Box, Ampeg Scrambler clone (the available circuits are just fine, and pay somebody to build a cheapie), and whatever Devi I can get in stock that's mean and not an OD.

That right there is well under $250.

[Genghis Kanye]

Hot Silicon - DIY counts as low-budget, right? 3-silicon transistor tone bender w/ another tranny buffering a tone stack. Sounds enormous.

SIB! Nick Nitro - don't think they still make these, but ousted to have one and I loved it like a child. The octave fuzz was the most evil sound ever. I got it for $150 new, which, in Australia, was crazy.

How much is the DBA Fuzz War? $150? Does that count? This thing's so fucking nuts even its nuts have nuts.

[hiorgos]

..

[Jero]

I'm a sucker for cheap distortions...dod death metal, danelectro black licorice (octave down), etc
Need to get another blue box soon.

[onyxrhino]

Yeah, the French Toast is an amazing pedal for the money.

And whoever said Ibanez SB7, good call. I wouldn't call it a fuzz but I can get alot of cool synth filter sounds out of it, especially stacked with dirt. Got mine from GC for $9.99.

[DarkAxel]

- Ibanez FZ7 Fuzz
not sure why there isn't more excitement out there concerning this pedal. being one of the underappreciated tone-lock series it often goes for under 30 EUR and it's stunning, the Damage switch is really the icing on the cake
I was amazed to find that this pedal, built by the 'tame' company Ibanez, embodied so many facets of what I cherish in a fuzz pedal

because it's hard to love a pedal that you stomp on and you're never sure if it picks it up and turns on

[julius_deane]

Hyperion and Soda Meiser

NME Donner Party: Check out my demo of it on YouTube.

AB-Synth is a pretty crazy deal for what it does.