ilovefuzz.com

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.

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

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

cbm wrote: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.

cbm wrote:
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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

No more clips?

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.

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

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!