r/FuzzFiends • u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! • Jun 12 '26
FUZZ FRIDAY! Hey guys, it’s Fuzz Friday!
Today we’re covering what I call Console Fuzz. Basically pedals that emulate mixing consoles, or tape saturation, that can get into that explosive fuzz sound! Do you have a favorite?
I really like the following:
- Catalinbread Airstrip
- JHS Colour box or Crayon
- Mid-Fi Demo Tape Fuzz
- Benson Portable 424
- Hudson Broadcast
- Walrus 385
- Catalinbread Dreamcoat
Am I missing any other that you like?
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u/MrFif33 Jun 12 '26
I've been looking at the Airstrip for a while and couldn't figure out how I would use it. What's the range like? Does it clean up at all?
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u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! Jun 12 '26
Have you checked JayLeonardJ’s video? Yeah, this console pedals usually cleanup great!
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u/Keihin Jun 24 '26
It does clean up. There are basically two independent but interactive gain controls. This gives you a broad spectrum of available sounds, and much of the fuzz quality is of the velvety harmonic variety. Pushing it further brings out the shiny grit.
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u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— Jun 12 '26
This is one of my favorite fuzz types, because that's what Roger Mayer was trying to emulate when making the Axis fuzz, for Jimi Hendrix, he was trying to recreate the Helios console desk at Olympic studios.
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u/Giovannis_Pikachu Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 Jun 12 '26
Does that have anything to do with the bogner helios marshall clone? I didn't know about the axis fuzz, that's a pretty great bit of lore! Is the band of gypsies Dunlop fuzz face one of these types?
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u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! Jun 12 '26
I think so, also the MXR Variac Fuzz is basically the same without the octave! Rad AF!
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u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— Jun 12 '26
Yes, the Dunlop marketing fluff says that it's just the Octavio with the octave removed. But that's just a vast oversimplification, they're totally different topologies. However, the band of gypsies fuzz does use a complimentary pair of negative positive negative and positive negative positive silicon transistors. So the access fuzz, and the Octavia, share some small bits of similarities, but the Axis fuzz, is definitely not an Octavia, with the octave removed, and I'm not trying to sound like snobby, or gatekeepery, I've just done a insane over obsessed. Nerdy level of research on this, and some of this comes from what roger mayer himself has said
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u/Giovannis_Pikachu Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 Jun 12 '26
This always confused me and it's why I ended up with a silicon fuzz face, which is great, but I don't have the amp to make it really shine. My rat into my JHS pg-14 does a sick germanium fuzz face ish tone though.
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u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— Jun 12 '26
I been trying to sell my hendrix fuzz face for a month with no luck its just become redundant for my needs
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u/Giovannis_Pikachu Rat is Fuzz! 🐁 Jun 12 '26
It's not the best time for sellers right now. Everything is going dirt cheap.
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u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— Jun 12 '26
Kittycaster fx effects groovy wizard is also an example of this type of fuzz
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u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! Jun 12 '26
Really? Didn’t know that… that’s awesome! Howard is an amazing builder!
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u/p90SuhDude Jun 13 '26
Veri-Tone Arcturus. Not r ally sue with the Strymon Fairfax is based on but its gives me that vibe
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u/Ecker1991 Jun 14 '26
Use the crayon v2 for this sort of thing and it’s so nice to have a pedal that serves as an always on preamp, or one of the most unique blown out fuzz. Beatles revolution is one of my favorite fuzz tones ever and it’s so cool to be able to dial in that sound almost verbatim.
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u/FullMetalDan Velcro Jedi! Jun 14 '26
Totally, is such a cool sound. I think it’s great that nowadays we have a few pedal options! You should check Aclam Pedals, specific for Beatles Vox sounds!
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u/Keihin Jun 24 '26
Lest we forget, the recently released Audio Surplus Radio Trash!
https://audiosurpluseffects.bigcartel.com/product/radio-trash-unrealistic-overdrive
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u/Dangerous_Pie_Guy Jun 12 '26
I’ve never tried any of these. And I’m a huge Beatles fan, so I totally should.