Basic Audio 2020 and/or 2021 Tourbox Review Thread

[cbm]

It took me quite a while to get to these pedals, what with everything that’s going on in the world. Sorry about that.

I have more Basic Audio fuzz than any other builder’s fuzz. The way John voices his pedals just works in my setup and/or for my ears & fingers. I started out comparing a couple pedals in this tourbox to a couple BA cousins I have. The Low Volt is a cousin of the Zippy, and the Kay is a cousin to the Super Fuzz. I tried to dial in the cousins to similar zones.

I’m don’t think I will replace either the Zippy or the Super Fuzz, but if I was buying today, I would for sure get the Low Volt instead of the Zippy. The Low Volt has more body than the Zippy, and in general is more flexible. It doesn’t _quite_ have the same zizzing and dripping like with the Zippy, but it’s pretty close.

Low Volt & Zippy - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvolt-zippy2
Kay & Super Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/super-kay

The Low Volt feels a little better under the fingers than the Zippy to me, and the fuller low end is a plus.
All Low Volt - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvoltalert

I have never played a Kay Fuzz other than this one, but I really liked it. In some ways it’s better than the Super Fuzz I have (more rasp to the octave), but with the octave off, the Super Fuzz has a bit more clang, which I like.
Kay Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/kay-1st-m01

I am not a giant fan of oscillating fuzz, although I have a few. The Pendulum is on the subtile side, as far as these things go. A fairly droney track with the Pendulum hanging in there with some lower drone at places.
Pendulum - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/pendulum

Most of my tracks tend to be real-time improvs using various looping systems and delays. These are no exception. I can’t get the Soundcloud files to embed so these are just links.

[Chankgeez]

Excellent sounding stuff, as usual, Chris! Thank you!

[Dandolin]

wow - there's a lot there, CBM - just dipped into your Low Volt cut and i am charmed and becalmed - a happy ending to a radically stressful day, so thx

[goroth]

It took me quite a while to get to these pedals, what with everything that’s going on in the world. Sorry about that.

I have more Basic Audio fuzz than any other builder’s fuzz. The way John voices his pedals just works in my setup and/or for my ears & fingers. I started out comparing a couple pedals in this tourbox to a couple BA cousins I have. The Low Volt is a cousin of the Zippy, and the Kay is a cousin to the Super Fuzz. I tried to dial in the cousins to similar zones.

I’m don’t think I will replace either the Zippy or the Super Fuzz, but if I was buying today, I would for sure get the Low Volt instead of the Zippy. The Low Volt has more body than the Zippy, and in general is more flexible. It doesn’t _quite_ have the same zizzing and dripping like with the Zippy, but it’s pretty close.

Low Volt & Zippy - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvolt-zippy2
Kay & Super Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/super-kay

The Low Volt feels a little better under the fingers than the Zippy to me, and the fuller low end is a plus.
All Low Volt - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvoltalert

I have never played a Kay Fuzz other than this one, but I really liked it. In some ways it’s better than the Super Fuzz I have (more rasp to the octave), but with the octave off, the Super Fuzz has a bit more clang, which I like.
Kay Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/kay-1st-m01

I am not a giant fan of oscillating fuzz, although I have a few. The Pendulum is on the subtile side, as far as these things go. A fairly droney track with the Pendulum hanging in there with some lower drone at places.
Pendulum - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/pendulum

Most of my tracks tend to be real-time improvs using various looping systems and delays. These are no exception. I can’t get the Soundcloud files to embed so these are just links.

Listened to the zippy and low volt demos and both were brilliant.

[Seance]

Low Volt & Zippy - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvolt-zippy2
Kay & Super Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/super-kay

All Low Volt - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/lowvoltalert

Kay Fuzz - https://soundcloud.com/cbm/kay-1st-m01

Fantastic explorations!

You capture the cellophane kites that skitter and circle around
above the reflecting pool of the note with the Low Volt/Zippy.
A mesmerizing swivel.

I like how you highlight the slippery slope of the BA Kay octave/textures.
If the Low Volt circles above the reflecting pool, the Kay is like the tarp
over a koi pond that the wind has caught and sent tumbling uphill towards
the escarpment, trailing carp and pond scum the whole way.

[cbm]

Thanks for listening, everyone. The brotherhood of fuzz is strong.

[cbm]

I recorded a couple more wank-a-thons before sending the box on. Here they are, clams and all:

One with the Pest Tattern:
https://soundcloud.com/cbm/pesttattern2
Quite a few sweet spots on the guitar's volume / tone controls with this fuzz.


And Yet Another Low Volt track:
https://soundcloud.com/cbm/yetanotherlowvolt

I'm really glad that I got a chance to give these pedals a spin. Once again, thanks to @Chankgeez for organizing the tour.

[Chankgeez]

Thanks to John for allowing us to do this… and thanks to you for makin' all those clips!

[Dandolin]

...aaaaannnddd the box has safely traversed the continent, thank you good Sir CBM

[Chankgeez]

[cbm]

...aaaaannnddd the box has safely traversed the continent, thank you good Sir CBM

But, of course. Sorry I kept it so long.

[Seance]

No more clips?

[Chankgeez]

Dandolin just had this (don't know if he was able to record any clips?) & Pete should have it now. Hopefully he'll be able to record some clips.

[Pete]

Yep, I've got it! Enjoying the pedals, and will hopefully record and share some clips with you guys within the next few days!

[Pete]

My first low quality video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9WYN9RuaBU&t=4s

Playing some Melvins riffs in Drop C, with the Fuzz Rite

More to come, hopefully!